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what do i need to do to become a nurse?

i’m in high school and want to work in the medical field

nursing high-school medical
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Michael’s Answer

Hi Zayla,

My Mother retired as a Registered Nurse (RN), so I commend you for pursuing this career path. She was a RN who looked after patients on the regular floors of the hospital. There are different avenues for Nurses to serve - Emergency Room (ER), Pediatric, Floor, etc.

While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a nursing career. Physics, chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, geometry and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.

Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration amongst team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a nurse, communication is essential and critical when dealing with patients, medical personnel and other hospital staff. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. While in high school, the debate team will provide the opportunity to sharpen communication skills which are backed with research and factual data and information.

A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing will concentrate more on math and science courses. This will be earned at a college or university for a duration of four years. Clinical experience is gained while in nursing school at a college or university. Physiology, psychology and anatomy are some additional college courses that are required for one to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Here are the Top 10 Best Nursing Schools of 2023 per www.nurse.org:

https://nurse.org/education/top-10-best-nursing-schools/

- Duke University
- Georgetown University
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Michigan
- University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of Washington
- Emory University
- University of Maryland

U.S. News & World Report has additional college listings for the best schools for a Master Degree in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice:

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools

When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:

- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral

Best wishes for your education and career path as a Registered Nurse (RN)!
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Julie’s Answer

Hello Zayla, great question. There are so many possible paths you can take in healthcare, and I would encourage you to follow your interests to see where you are most drawn. As a nurse for over 20 years, I can share with you that I have enjoyed so many different roles... you can never get bored as a nurse. I can also share with you that I see so many students shy away from becoming a doctor because they don't think they can do it/it's too hard/it's not as patient friendly as nursing. The truth is that any healthcare role that exists, is something that you can do. So, in this early stage of your education I would recommend taking as many science courses as you can to see what sparks your interest the most. And if your school offers a psychology course, take that too. Healthcare is people, and understanding people as best as is possible is very helpful. Math is needed too, so don't shy away from it. (Statistics (which is so much fun!) is the highest level you'll need by the end of your college, so just keep getting those done.)
Enjoy the exploration!
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Gina’s Answer

I've been a nurse for 12 years and love it! It's a very versatile field and you can work in a clinic, in a hospital, in an office, sometimes even from home, you can work directly with people in their homes as a home health or hospice nurse. So many options! There are different types of nursing options, the simplest and fastest is an associates degree through a junior college, it's about 2 years of classes in a junior college (make sure they offer a nursing program) and then you take your RN exam. The other option is a bachelor's or nursing (BSN) degree through a 4 year college (you can take 2 years at a junior college and transfer like you would for any other degree). After you get your BSN you would still stake the state RN exam to get the nursing license. I would highly reccomend a BSN. Having a bachelor's is good for your career, resume and personal growth. Just have an RN license can be a bit limiting in terms of growth. Now days most hospitals require managers and directors to have masters or bachelors so you would eventually need to go back to school if you wanted to pursue that path. If you feel that all you want to do is just patient care then an RN through a junior college might be fine but here in California most nurses are either BSN prepared. I myself have a masters in nursing and am a director. So it just depends on your future (which will be hard to grasp at this age). Good luck!
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Rebecca’s Answer

ok. I appreciate your choice of aspiration. You would be required do a biology subject as a part of your schooling. Then, there are nursing colleges available through out the world. with your GCP you can enroll in one of the colleges. Browse through the locations , universities and the hospital associated with them . Then, see if you can afford the tuition, accomodation etc.
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John’s Answer

Hi Zayla - There are some courses that will be very helpful if you decide to work in the medical field. As others here have mentioned, having a solid understanding of the sciences is helpful. Biology, anatomy & physiology, and chemistry are all helpful as baseline knowledge. Anatomy may be one you don't have the opportunity to take until college, but you may be able to do so through an Early College program through your state university system. The other thing that will be helpful is algebra because you will use it all the time to calculate medication doses, IV infusion rates and a number of other things daily. Being comfortable with algebra is a big help, so spend some quality time on that.

With regard to attending a nursing program, think first about what you want and what you need. Nurses have been and continue to be in short supply in the US. The vast majority of states require only a 2-year ADN and passing the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain a license. Your state of New York now requires ADN nurses to obtain a BSN within 10 years of licensure. While this may be a consideration for you as you plan now, you should keep in mind that if cost is a factor, there are many ADN programs through the Community College systems in each state that are very affordable and then if you decide or are required to pursue your BSN, most employers offer tuition reimbursement, so you can save a lot of money utilizing these benefits.

I hope you continue to consider nursing as a profession. It has been a rewarding career for me and 25 years into it, I can say I would do it over again.

John recommends the following next steps:

SUNY Community College Homepage: https://www.suny.edu/communitycollege/
SUNY Early College: https://www.sunyocc.edu/early-college
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