I need some tips on how to start my career, please, please help me.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 13, 2010

I am intrigued by your user name -- "Mrs. M. . . " srsly?? I'm sure that there must be a story behind that.

I would strongly advise you to set your sights on getting a BSN - but consider taking the first 2 years at a community college to save money if possible. Make the most of your FREE high school education by taking all the science and math that you can. Chemistry is a must! Algebra & Trig for sure. Take any AP courses you can, even if you have to go to summer school to get them. This will save you a ton of $ and time when you are ready to make the leap into college. You need to get used to really studying - and making the highest grades you can. Many people who have never developed study skills find nursing school very difficult.

Talk to your guidance counselor about your decision & get information about any scholarship opportunities you can shoot for. Get some college catalogues for the schools you would like to attend - these will list the classes needed for each type of degree. You will see that nursing is a science-based degree.

All undergraduate (ADN or BSN) nursing programs produce nurse generalists who are eligible to take the licensure examination (NCLEX) needed to become an RN. There are 2 routes to becoming a nurse specialist: 1) clinical board certification - passing a certification examination or 2) advance practice education (masters degree) in a specialty. Both avenues are open to experienced nurses, especially those who have experience in that specialty area.

It will be a lengthy process. Get used to the idea that it will probably take at least 6 or 7 years to achieve your goal. But keep in mind that those years will pass whether or not you are pursuing your dream so you may as well stay on track. Best of Luck to you!!!

blueindigo79 · Jul 14, 2010

i would suggest volunteering at a hospital if possible. not sure if you can volunteer in the NICU but maybe mother/ baby to get your feet wet. If you can't volunteer, maybe find a nurse you can shadow for a day or two in the NICU.

i would suggest getting your BSN - 4 years if you have the time and money. it's hard to work full-time and go to school part-time/full-time if you get your associates degree then have to go back for your bachelor's. people do it but it's harder. good luck!!

cnmbfa · Jul 15, 2010

I agree with the idea of volunteering or shadowing a nurse so you can get an idea of what the job entails. Or consider interviewing an NICU nurse for a school paper. Next summer look into being an assistant to a camp nurse. If the hospitals don't allow volunteers in Mom/Baby, look into going to a senior residence and reading to or visiting with the elderly, who are often quite lonely. You can then ask the nurses at the facility who saw your kindness in action to write a recommendation letter on your behalf

Step one is to get admitted to a good 4-year college nursing program that leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Find out which programs are the most well respected ones in your state. Don't just ask the local nurses who may be biased in favor of their own schools; see if you can email the nurse executvies in your area and find out what they think.

Community college programs have LONG waiting lists. You may end up finishing all the prerequisistes, and still have to wait to start Nursing courses. Instead of wasting time on this, just go straight to a 4-year program. At least one state has passed a law that will require all nurses to have a 4-year degree in ten years, and others are considering it. In more and more areas, hospitals will not hire new grads who do not have a BSN degree. In addition, there are many non-hospital jobs (school nurse, research nurse, staff education, wound care nurse, public health nurse, and more) that are NOT open to nurses who do not have a BSN. Finally, the US Army, Navy, and Air force will not allow nurses without a BSN degree to enlist in their nurse corps.

LOTS of people want to be nurses, so you need to stand out by getting a good ACT or SAT score and graduating with a good GPA. That said, the person who evaluates your high school transcript will look most closely at your math and science grades. Take at least 3 years of math, including alegra 1 and 2, and a year of chemistry. If at all possible, take AP courses and pay the $60 to take the test, so you can start college with credits. My nephew started college with 20 AP credits; if he had to pay for those credits, it would have cost at least $6000.

Nursing is not easy, but if you learn how to discipline yourself now, and put studying and working hard ahead of partying, you will reach your goals. By focusing on and strengthening your knowledge base of the courses that are the foundation of the science nursing is built on, you will handle it just fine.