2 answers
Esme
Student
Kerrville, Texas
6
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What degrees would I need in order to become a nurse?
I like to make people feel safe and comfortable. #nurse
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2 answers
Aaron Chun
42
Answers
Honolulu, Hawaii
Updated
Aaron’s Answer
Hi Esme,
If you decide to study to become a Registered Nurse (RN) you need to first apply to an accredited nursing school usually 4 years that graduates students with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree that is required for RN’s to obtain. If you see a nursing school accredited by the Commission on the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) this school is accredited at the baccalaureate level for the BSN degree. Once you graduate with your BSN you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam to obtain your license to practice or work as an RN. Once you pass your NCLEX exam you are ready to work as an RN at any part of the Healthcare system in the United States such as an Emergency room nurse caring for patients who are brought by ambulance. If you decide to go higher than an RN and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) who is able to write medication prescriptions for patients similar to a doctor you will have to study to obtain a masters or doctorate in nursing after graduating with a BSN. Hope this helps.
-Thank you,
Aaron
If you decide to study to become a Registered Nurse (RN) you need to first apply to an accredited nursing school usually 4 years that graduates students with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree that is required for RN’s to obtain. If you see a nursing school accredited by the Commission on the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) this school is accredited at the baccalaureate level for the BSN degree. Once you graduate with your BSN you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam to obtain your license to practice or work as an RN. Once you pass your NCLEX exam you are ready to work as an RN at any part of the Healthcare system in the United States such as an Emergency room nurse caring for patients who are brought by ambulance. If you decide to go higher than an RN and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) who is able to write medication prescriptions for patients similar to a doctor you will have to study to obtain a masters or doctorate in nursing after graduating with a BSN. Hope this helps.
-Thank you,
Aaron
Alyssa's selimov
Nurse
1
Answer
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Alyssa's’s Answer
Aaron gave a very good answer on the degree and process. I would also suggest looking into concurrent programs. Technically, you can get your Associates in Science of Nursing (ASN) in only 2 years in an accredited school and be able to take the license exam (NCLEX) and then apply to be an RN. However, a lot of hospitals are pushing to hire nurses with a bachelor's degree. For hospitals to get a specific national certificate, 80% of nurses need to have their bachelor's degree. If you are already in school finishing your bachelor's degree, employers will see you as a nurse with a bachelor's degree instead of a nurse with an associate's degree.
So what I did: I got my AA degree at a community college (money saver). This degree just has basic classes like English composition, anatomy, and biology (make sure to work with your school's guidance counselor) and I made sure to take all of the nursing prerequisites during this time. I then applied to a concurrent program at this community college, which means during my 1.5 years earning my associate's nursing degree, I was also taking classes for my bachelor's degree. I did one class per semester in addition to my actual nursing classes, and they were easy classes. With this, not only did I pay less for my nursing degree because I did most of it at a community college, I was able to start my career early instead of waiting a full 4 years to earn my full degree. After finishing my ASN, I only had two semesters left before I was able to receive my bachelor's degree in nursing. I would like to add that although I went to a community college, my bachelor's degree was at a university which allowed me to tell employers that are familiar with my university that I attended that school. Finishing a concurrent degree takes just as much time as getting a bachelor's degree, the main difference is you get to start working as a nurse a little bit earlier with a concurrent degree.
So in short: Look for community colleges that offer concurrent nursing programs with a university, apply to this college and get your AA (make sure you talk to the college so you know you're taking all the needed prerequisite courses), take your nursing entrance exam test (TEAS), apply for an ASN/BSN concurrent program, graduate with your ASN in 7 semesters, finish up your bachelors in 2 semesters after your ASN.
I would also like to add that there is nothing wrong with getting a 4-year bachelor's degree instead of going the concurrent route. Also, there is a huge nurse shortage right now so if you wanted to only get your associate's in nursing, that's okay too. With an associate's degree, you will earn less than you would have with a bachelor's degree, and when you first start off you may not get as much of a choice in where you work because all of the specialized and popular units tend to be competitive.
Good luck!
So what I did: I got my AA degree at a community college (money saver). This degree just has basic classes like English composition, anatomy, and biology (make sure to work with your school's guidance counselor) and I made sure to take all of the nursing prerequisites during this time. I then applied to a concurrent program at this community college, which means during my 1.5 years earning my associate's nursing degree, I was also taking classes for my bachelor's degree. I did one class per semester in addition to my actual nursing classes, and they were easy classes. With this, not only did I pay less for my nursing degree because I did most of it at a community college, I was able to start my career early instead of waiting a full 4 years to earn my full degree. After finishing my ASN, I only had two semesters left before I was able to receive my bachelor's degree in nursing. I would like to add that although I went to a community college, my bachelor's degree was at a university which allowed me to tell employers that are familiar with my university that I attended that school. Finishing a concurrent degree takes just as much time as getting a bachelor's degree, the main difference is you get to start working as a nurse a little bit earlier with a concurrent degree.
So in short: Look for community colleges that offer concurrent nursing programs with a university, apply to this college and get your AA (make sure you talk to the college so you know you're taking all the needed prerequisite courses), take your nursing entrance exam test (TEAS), apply for an ASN/BSN concurrent program, graduate with your ASN in 7 semesters, finish up your bachelors in 2 semesters after your ASN.
I would also like to add that there is nothing wrong with getting a 4-year bachelor's degree instead of going the concurrent route. Also, there is a huge nurse shortage right now so if you wanted to only get your associate's in nursing, that's okay too. With an associate's degree, you will earn less than you would have with a bachelor's degree, and when you first start off you may not get as much of a choice in where you work because all of the specialized and popular units tend to be competitive.
Good luck!