Registered Nurse

You could get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (a "BSN" degree). This would qualify you to take the tests to become a Registered Nurse to begin your career (and someday become a nurse practitioner if you want). The second option that is common is to become a nursing assistant directly after high school and then get an associate's degree in nursing, and then get a bachelor's degree in nursing later on. It really depends just on whether the bachelor's program is available to you or not (it might be expensive, for example).

I hope that's helpful Eve! It's awesome that you're interested in becoming a nurse. It's an awesome occupation and one of the largest occupations in America, with over 2 million people serving as nurses right now. We're looking forward to your next question!

Hi Eve, If you want to be a registered nurse you can get an associates degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree. Graduating with either of these degrees will allow you to take the NCLEX exam which gives you the "Registered Nurse" title. Getting a JOB as an RN is easier if you have your Bachelor's Degree because most hospitals only hire nurses with a BSN (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing). If you decide to become a nurse practitioner, you will need to get some experience and continue to get your master's or sometimes doctorate to practice.

Best of luck as you make these important decisions! Hope you love nursing like I do!
Teresa

Hi Eve,

There are a few different routes you can take depending on what path you want to take with your career. Currently there are a few different degrees to become a nurse - you can become an LPN (licensed practical nurse) which is roughly one year of school, achieve your ADN (associate degree in nursing) which is roughly 2 years of college, or achieve a BSN in nursing (bachelor of science) which is a 4 year college degree. If you are planning on obtaining your nurse practitioner license you need to achieve first a bachelors degree in nursing and then a master's or doctorate degree in nursing, depending on which state you reside in. It is a good idea to get your feet wet by working in a nursing home or hospital as a certified nursing assistant to get an idea of what nursing entails. I hope this answers your questions. Depending on what you want to do with your nursing degree and the amount of money you want to make will depend on which degree you may want.

As a nurse with an associate's degree, my advice would be to pursue a bachelor's right off the bat. Regardless of whether you get an ADN or BSN, you'll take the same NCLEX, but you'll find that there are more opportunities for a BSN graduate and you'll also be paid more to start. I got lucky and had no trouble finding a job right after graduation, but many facilities are beginning to require a bachelor's. They're phasing LPNs out completely, so don't waste your time there. If you decide to go further with your nursing practice, you can get your masters to become a Nurse Practitioner or they now offer a doctorate in nursing as well. Nursing is a great profession to pursue because there are so many different specialties and opportunities for growth within the field- you really can't go wrong. It's a stressful job, but it's also the most rewarding thing I've ever done. Good luck to you!

Getting a BSN will become easier as the vast majority of employers are moving toward ONLY hiring RN's with BSN's so most schools over the next 4 years or so will be BSN programs and Associates programs will begin to be phased out. Once you go to 4 years of college, including 2 years of being in the Nursing program specifically, you will get your nursing degree and be allowed to take the NCLEX licensing exam. You will then get a year or two of experience and then you may apply to go to Nurse Practitioner school. Keep your mind open to all options and if you will to have a job like a Nurse Practitioner where you are a provider and clinician and patients come to you for prescriptions/treatment and such, you may decide Medical School is a better path for you as you get even more training and more salary and greater privileges

Hi Eve,

To become registered nurse you can get the degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree
RN courses are most often taken in an associate's and bachelor's degree programs in nursing. While both types of programs prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and get licensed to work as an RN, bachelor's programs can lead to additional career opportunities in teaching, research and management.
Few of the nursing courses which you can get in to .
Medical-Surgical Nursing Course.
Nursing Pharmacology Course
Mental Health Nursing Course etc

A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body in order to obtain a nursing license.[1] An RN's scope of practice is determined by local legislation governing nurses, and usually regulated by a professional body or council.

Registered nurses are employed in a wide variety of professional settings, often specializing in their field of practice. They may be responsible for supervising care delivered by other healthcare workers including enrolled nurses, licensed practical nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, nursing students, and less-experienced RNs.