Detailed steps on how to become a RN

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Hi Everyone,

I am being asked by my English teacher to write a paper (9pgs) on my career field (RN) that I am taking in school. Basically I have to persuade my college to host a seminar to educate possible students interested in becoming a RN.

I have been reading up on things on and off "allnurses". Most of the insight found has been from this forum. So thank you to all the members for sharing and helping.

right now I have a rough idea on what steps are expected (school wise) for a RN. But I'm kinda not sure of what I have read. I live in Maryland and currently taking the community collage route. Below are the steps I think are needed. Please let me know if they're wrong or any other detail you may know. Any and all help is appreciate.

  1. HS diploma/GED
  2. Pre-reqs for nursing from community college (~2yrs/68 credits)
  3. apply for nursing school
  4. attend nursing school at a university ~2yrs (? because its not offered in the community college)
  5. take NCLEX-RN and pass
  6. Done.

Now my confusion is taking the pre-reqs in the community college and then going to nursing school....not sure if that's right or the community college has the RN needed classes imbedded into the list to pass. I also have seen something about TEAS? Is that for other states not required to take the NCLEX test?

Also I cant find much detail on what happend in nursing school

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You have to take either the TEAS or the HESI before acceptance into nursing school. A person's acceptance depends on the score achieved on the test.

NCLEX is the state board that is taken after nursing school.

You have everything else right.

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Community colleges also have nursing programs....at mine, you take the necessary pre-reqs, apply for the nursing program, and then take classes for ADN. After you finish the program, you take the NCLEX-RN (and pass). ;) Then you can go on to get your BSN. Some people take pre-reqs at a CC and then apply to a nursing school; while others apply to a university, take the pre-reqs there, and then apply to that university's nursing school. Personally, I like the community college route because it's smaller and the price works better for me.

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I see. My CC has a nursing program build in as it has the following class's listed "NUR 101/ NUR 104/ NUR 105/ NUR 115/ NUR 114/ NUR 201/ NUR 204/ NUR 206/ NUR 211/ NUR 214.

I think my confusion is if I have to take all the above classes and then apply for nursing school? Or are these classes nursing school classes?

Sorry if I sound confusing...because I am a tad confused about the process.

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Here is the coure. So I assume the the Nursing school part is included...

Required courses would consist (according to ___ Community College) of 68 credits and they are as follows, ARTS/HUM – Arts and Humanities Elective, BIO 200 - Microbiology, BIO 210 – Microbiology Lab, BIO 208 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BIO 218 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, BIO 209 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II, BIO 219 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, ENG 101 – Freshman Composition, ENG 102 – Composition and Literature, MAT 123 – Finite Math, NUR 101- Concepts and Processes in Nursing, NUR 104 – Nursing Fundamentals Theory, NUR 105 – Care of Adult and Aging Clients, NUR 114 – Clinical Lab I: Nursing Fundamentals, NUR 115 - Clinical Lab II: Medical/Surgical Settings, NUR 201 – Care of Childbearing/ Childrearing Families, NUR 204 – Care of Clients Affected by Complex Stressors, NUR 206 – Professional Legal and Ethical Issues, NUR 211 – Clinical Lab III: Care of Childbearing/ Childrearing Families, NUR 214 – Clinical Lab IV: Medical/Surgical/Psychiatric, PSY 101 – Introduction to Psychology, PSY 201 – Human Growth and development, and SOC 101 – Introduction to Sociology

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

This is usually what occurs. There are courses that you will have to take in order to be accepted into your program which will be your "pre-requisite" courses.....

ARTS/HUM – Arts and Humanities Elective, BIO 200 - Microbiology, BIO 210 – Microbiology Lab, BIO 208 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BIO 218 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, BIO 209 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II, BIO 219 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, ENG 101 – Freshman Composition, ENG 102 – Composition and Literature, MAT 123 – Finite Math,
These courses are required to be accepted into a nursing program with a GPA somewhere greater than 3.0. This will usually take one year.

The following courses that are take after being accepted to a program will be your nursing classes

NUR 101- Concepts and Processes in Nursing, NUR 104 – Nursing Fundamentals Theory, NUR 105 – Care of Adult and Aging Clients, NUR 114 – Clinical Lab I: Nursing Fundamentals, NUR 115 - Clinical Lab II: Medical/Surgical Settings, NUR 201 – Care of Childbearing/ Childrearing Families, NUR 204 – Care of Clients Affected by Complex Stressors, NUR 206 – Professional Legal and Ethical Issues, NUR 211 – Clinical Lab III: Care of Childbearing/ Childrearing Families, NUR 214 – Clinical Lab IV: Medical/Surgical/Psychiatric, PSY 101 – Introduction to Psychology, PSY 201 – Human Growth and development, and SOC 101 – Introduction to Sociology
That will take another 2 years.

There are tests you will need to take in order to be accepted into a nursing program. Some schools require the TEAS (https://www.atitesting.com/Solutions/PreNursingSchool/TEAS.aspx) , others require SAT (SAT - College Board - The Most Widely Used College Admission Exam) or the ACT(http://www.act.org/)and require a certain score for acceptance.

Once you are graduated you will apply to the BON of your state for approval to sit for the NCLEX exam. You must pass the NCLEX and obtain a license in order to practice nursing.

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1. Take as many science and math classes as you can handle in HS.

2. Graduate HS with good grades.

3. Take the ACT... My school requires a 18 or higher on the ACTs.

4. If your going into a program, take the pre-Reqs. Some people do this at a CC, some folks enter a 4 year BSN program. My CC has a Nursing program that allows you to graduate with an Associate Degree and qualifies you to take NCLEX.

5. Before you get into most Nursing programs, you will have to take TEAS or a similar test.

Schools will use the GPA you achieved while taking pre-Reqs (A&P for example), your ACT score, and the results from your TEAS test to determine if you will be allowed a slot in the Nursing Program. Some 4 year schools don't have a TEAS test, instead your grades determine if you advance or not.

6. Study Hard, maintain a "C" or better in all classes while in school.

7. Once you graduate, take NCLEX to get your RN license.

Hope that helps :)

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Thank you Esme12 !! This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for clearing things up. I was really confused about how things worked

May I ask what is BON?

ETA: weird typo

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And thank you DadStudentPerhaps :yes:

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Specializes in Hospice.
Thank you Esme12 !! This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for clearing things up. I was really confused about how things worked

May I ask what is BON?

ETA: weird typo

Board of nursing.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I wrote an article last year about the different ways a person can become an RN. Click on the link below to read more.

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/nursing-degrees-different-744542.html

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

1. Yes on High School diploma or GED.

2. Perquisites can be done in one year, and can b e under 50 credits. Some places will accept high school chemistry and biology if one received good grades and took the college prep versions.

3. Community colleges can and do offer nursing school programs. Two in our geographic area do.

Of note, NOT all nursing schools use TEAS or HESI. Of the four schools in our geographic area, one uses TEAS V, one goes by a variety of factors including GPA, the other two use a point system.

4. Nursing school can run between 1 and 2 years depending on what's left after prerequisites; generally it is closer to take.

5. After graduating, NCLEX-RN

6. BSN is a good route to go before thinking one is done.

Thank you.

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