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How do you first start becoming a nurse?

I'm a high school student who is looking for advice on becoming a nurse or a doctor. #nurse #student #doctor

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Doc’s Answer

Naomi there are many different levels of nursing degrees and credentials, and many specialties and job titles under each umbrella. So a Nursing degree isn’t exactly one-size-fits-all. There is a precise path and various nurse education requirements you’ll need to meet to pursue the position you have your sights set on. The fact that there are different credentials in the nursing profession is exciting news. It means there are potential opportunities out there for those wanting to make an impact in the healthcare field—no matter their level of educational attainment. And the options don’t end once you’re employed, either—you can mold your career to fit your passions and priorities by continuing to climb the nursing hierarchy later on.

Within the nursing industry, there is a wide variety of career paths and career specializations. Working as a nurse, you may choose to concentrate on a specific health issue, such as diabetes or HIV, work with specific types of patients, as a neonatal care nurse or geriatric nurse might, or choose to work in special situations, like a travel nurse or a transport nurse might. Choosing the best career path for you may depend on the types of patients you would like to work with, the types of environment you would be in, and the costs and lengths of time required for necessary education as compared to the eventual earnings potential.

NURSING ASSISTANT (CNA) • Median Annual Salary: $32,500
To become a CNA, you must complete a state-approved education program. A nursing assistant training program can will typically take three to eight weeks to complete. Upon completion of the program, aspiring nursing assistants must pass an exam to earn their CNA (or related) title. After successful completion, CNAs are state-certified.

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE (LPN) • Median Annual Salary: $50,900
LPNs get their start by successfully completing a Practical Nursing Diploma program. These programs can be found at technical schools, community colleges or career colleges and can usually be completed in as few as 12 months.2 After graduation, you’ll be required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to receive your state license and be qualified to work.

REGISTERED NURSE (RN) • Median Annual Salary: $80,500LPN
There are two levels of nursing degrees that can lead to a career as an RN: earning an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN program can be completed in as few as 18-months. On the other hand, earning your BSN could be done in about 36-month. When choosing which track to take, it’s important to think ahead and determine what the educational preferences are for the type of work you want. Some employers (especially hospitals) prefer RNs to have a Bachelor’s degree. Many working RNs with an ADN opt to go back to school later to earn their Bachelor’s degree through an RN-to-BSN online program.

Hope this help Naomi
Thank you comment icon Thank you Raquel for your continued support. “Our generation has the ability and the responsibility to make our ever-more connected world a more hopeful, stable and peaceful place.” — Natalie Portman Doc Frick
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Emily’s Answer

Hi Naomi! I am a high school teacher in Newcomb, NM. It's nice to see a fellow New Mexican! :)

I am a high school teacher now, but in college, I worked at a hospital for over three years. Also, my sister is a nurse. I'm so excited that you are interested in the medical field! I truly enjoyed my time working for a hospital. In my opinion, there are a few different routes you can take. It varies from professional to professional which route is the best to pursue, and it depends on you personally and what you want!

Option 1: (Good option if you aren't completely sure about the medical field) Become a Certified Nurse's Aide, CNA, once you turn 18 and graduate high school. As a CNA, you can work in home health care, nursing homes, and hospitals. Then, you can make sure the medical field is what you want, and go to college!

Option 2: Once you graduate high school, go to college and major in nursing. After becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), you can stop there, or eventually continue your education and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Option 3: You can also go to college and pursue any major to get certain jobs in the medical field. As long as you take the pre-requisite classes for Medical School or PA (Physician's Assistant) School, you can apply for those schools with any bachelor's degree!

Option 4: There are also a few PA and NP programs that do not require pre-requisite classes, so you can enter them with a bachelor's degree in anything, even art or music, without taking certain science classes!

I hope this helps. You have a lot of options, and there are many doors open to you. Research the different options I listed and see if any seem like a good fit for you. Try not to feel overwhelmed by them; the plethora of options creates some flexibility for you, so you can major in something totally unrelated to the medical field and still become a medical professional later on! Please comment and let me know if you have any other questions or concerns about my answer.
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Gloria’s Answer

Hi Naomi,

I would say that you should focus your efforts on the sciences that would benefit you as a medical professional. Do you have some idea of of what type of medicine you would like to practice? I would start with your goal and then work backward on what subjects you may need to be very good in for that role.

Gloria
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Atul’s Answer

I am not an expert for the nursing field but you have a choice to become LN or RN - the latter is a four year degree.
Explore the community college to see if they offer LN which will be cheaper and go to your state school/university website on learning the requirements to become RN.
Your high school counselor if he/she is there can also help.
If not, seek one of your teachers assistance on how to pursue Nursing.
Also explore volunteering at a local hospital to learn more.
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HP’s Answer

Naomi - Congratulations on choosing a noble profession. My wife is a nurse. If you are in High School, you have options. One option might entail volunteering at a medical facility (hospital, clinic, convalescent home, any medical environment) where you can get exposure to what a nurse may be required to do. As others have stated, nursing (CNA, LVN, LPN, RN, MSN, NP) can be very rewarding, personally, professionally and financially.

You can also teach nursing if you have an advanced degree and the right combination of experience and temperament.

Enjoy the journey and good luck with your research as you embark on the next chapter of your life.
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