college

You can do the first 2 years at a college with the degree of "pre nursing" (and you don't have to go anywhere fancy for these). You'll have many science courses that you need to do well on. After your two years of prereqs, you'll apply for nursing school. Research a few nursing schools to gain information about admission requirements. Look at their NCLEX pass rates, their number of acceptances/year, when applications are typically accepted.

You are not doing this alone; your advisor at your college will assist you in planning classes and getting ready for nursing school. They will be an excellent resource.

Some nursing schools require a CNA certification for acceptance. You could potentially get that now and start working in a local hospital/LTC to gain experience and make sure nursing is the right career for you.

Speak with some nurses; ask them what they do if you're unfamiliar, challenges they have, advice, etc.

Once you get into nursing school, you'll typically do another two years of nursing specific classes and clinicals. You'll take your boards at the end of two years to get a licen

I would recommend the following for the new college pre nursing student:

-Learn to study effectively and efficiently. You need to retain the information, such as anatomy and physiology, for nursing school.

-Aim for a high GPA; 3.8- 4.0. Nursing school admissions are very competitive.

-Participate in student groups/associations. Volunteer. You start building that resume now.

-Manage that stress level. This will be key to your success in a highly stressful area.

-Self reflection: what really makes you motivated to be a nurse? What do you want for your career? What is important to you?

-Know your resources; your advisors are usually pretty good. Professors; do not be afraid of asking for assistance in your classes. Study groups: get involved in your college.

-Save your money and take a finance class (it's one of the best things I did at college): Always, always have some cash for an emergency. Start saving a little bit each month for nursing school expenses; books and stethoscopes can be pricey. Some schools offer phenomenal opportunities to travel to different countries and do community nursing. It's expensive, but worth it.

I hope this helps a little. I wish someone had told me some of these things before I started college.