How do I become a nurse?

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Okay I know that seems like a dumb question. finished three years of undergrad prevet before my husband and I had our first child. I put off school for 11 years to raise our beautiful kids. Now they are all in school and I have decided nursing is the way for me to go. But I don't even know where to begin. Do I have to get my undergrad? I have heard that at some schools you don't need to. Northern Virginia Community College is one of those. But where does that put me in nursing terms? Am I still a certified RN?

What pre reqs should I be taking while I figure out which schools to apply for?

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Specializes in NICU Someday, I Hope.

You do not need an undergraduate degree. You can enter either a 2-year Associates program at a community college or a 4-year Bachelors program at a university. Go to their websites and you can find out all you need to know, including how to meet with an advisor.

Typical prereqs include:

Survey of chemistry, 1 year with lab

Anatomy & Physiology, 1 year with Lab

Microbiology, 1 semester with lab

Some programs also require:

Nutrition

Statistics

Human Development

Pharmacology

Some also require an intro to nursing class before you can apply. Others also require you to have a CNA certificate.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

In addition to the ADN and the BSN, another option is a diploma program that a lot of hospitals and career institutes offer. You don't have to be a college graduate to go the diploma route, but keep in mind that you'll still need to complete many of the same pre-reqs that you would need for the ADN/BSN programs.

Costwise, diploma programs are comparable to the ADN programs....at least in my part of the world.

No matter which of the three ways you go, you'll need to pass the NCLEX-RN in order to become an RN.

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