Nursing Advice

Hello Rogelio,

If you are thinking of becoming a Registered Nurse, you will need to take basic General Education classes first (English, College Algebra, History, Humanities, etc). Then, you will move onto more science-related classes such as Biology, Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology, etc. You may find this information online rather easy from any of the institutions close to you. This is separate from being admitted to a nursing school.

Before you can apply to a nursing school, you will be required to take an entrance exam. Some institutions ask for TEAS, others HESI, others ask for the Kaplan exam. There are several books out there to help you prepare for them. The topics are basically english (comprehension/grammar), math, and general sciences. While these tests are not nursing, they give an indication of how broad of a general knowledge base you have to build upon it.

Once in Nursing School, you will learn about Health Assessments, Fundamentals of Nursing, Medical/Surgical topics, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, OB, Pediatrics, Critical Care, Mental Health, and other topics. These curriculums should also be readily available online from all universities/colleges.

Volunteering at the local hospital is a great start. It gives you the opportunity to observe some of the dynamics you will encounter on the floor as a nurse. A lot of what a nurse does is critical thinking, so you will need to study and experience that yourself to understand why they do things differently sometimes. It can be overwhelming, but if you give yourself time to really learn and be inquisitive, you will do great!

Nursing will open up many doors for you to serve your community. The sky is the limit! Feel free to ask more questions anytime!