Questions about nursing

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2013

Hi, I'm currently a junior in h.s and I really want to be a nurse. It's my dream and I have a deep interest in the medical field (I'm going to EMT school this summer) and have been working very hard to get good grades. My main goal is to be either an NP or a CRNA. CRNA seems the most interesting but I haven't decided on which one. Anyways, I have a few questions. Sorry if I sound illiterate and make typos. I'm typing on an iPad -.-
-once you take the NCLEX and graduate are you certified to work in every state or just the state you went to school in? (I know it might be a dumb question)

Neither. Once you graduate, you apply for licensure by examination in the state of your choosing. Once you pass NCLEX, you become licensed in whatever state you applied for licensure in when you submitted your application to test. Note that this is not necessarily the state you went to school in nor is it necessarily the state you live in. You can apply in any state of your choosing, as NCLEX is a national exam.

-is it true that by 2015, CRNAS and NPS are required to have the minimum of a doctorate degree? I'll do what it takes, but I'm very curious as to why that is.

I've not heard any reliable information confirming this. Rumors like this are always flying about but 2015 is only 2 years away and the schools around me are still enrolling people in Masters' Level Advanced Practice Nurse programs. There have been rumors about BSN being the new entry level for something like 30 years and it hasn't happened.

-is there a nursing shortage or is it really hard to find a job? What's the market like? I hear like a million different things about the market

In general, no there is not a nursing shortage. The market varies based on location.

-as much as I wanna be a nurse, I also play instruments, write, volunteer, and aspire to travel and have the time to go sight seeing and be around my family. Will I have time in my life to focus on those parts of my life or does nursing completely dominate your life and isolate you from socializing? I hear a lot of complaints about this.

Once you are a nurse, it dominates your life as much as you allow it to. It is a JOB. If you are someone who can go to work, do your work and go home, you will be fine having a life. Hospital nursing does mess up your life in some ways... your hours do not match those of your friends, for example. You're at work at the crack of dawn and there until dark so socializing on work days may not happen. You undoubtedly have a weekend requirement in the hospital and if your friends work normal M-F jobs, you may find yourself left out of things they decide to do on the weekends.

-so far, my high school gpa is very low. I used to slack off, skip school all the time and hung out with the wrong crowd, druggie boyfriend. But now I've stayed clean and am working really hard to get good grades. So far everything is over an 80 and I'm going to EMT school this summer. Will my high school GPA be looked at if I go to a community college first or do they only look at pre reqs in college?

I can't really say here... the only thing my school looked at when I applied was high school because I entered college/my BSN program directly out of high school.

mskrisCNA2bRN · Mar 24, 2013

Hi, I'm currently a junior in h.s and I really want to be a nurse. It's my dream and I have a deep interest in the medical field (I'm going to EMT school this summer) and have been working very hard to get good grades. My main goal is to be either an NP or a CRNA. CRNA seems the most interesting but I haven't decided on which one. Anyways, I have a few questions. Sorry if I sound illiterate and make typos. I'm typing on an iPad -.-
-once you take the NCLEX and graduate are you certified to work in every state or just the state you went to school in? (I know it might be a dumb question)
-is it true that by 2015, CRNAS and NPS are required to have the minimum of a doctorate degree? I'll do what it takes, but I'm very curious as to why that is.
-is there a nursing shortage or is it really hard to find a job? What's the market like? I hear like a million different things about the market
-as much as I wanna be a nurse, I also play instruments, write, volunteer, and aspire to travel and have the time to go sight seeing and be around my family. Will I have time in my life to focus on those parts of my life or does nursing completely dominate your life and isolate you from socializing? I hear a lot of complaints about this.
-so far, my high school gpa is very low. I used to slack off, skip school all the time and hung out with the wrong crowd, druggie boyfriend. But now I've stayed clean and am working really hard to get good grades. So far everything is over an 80 and I'm going to EMT school this summer. Will my high school GPA be looked at if I go to a community college first or do they only look at pre reqs in college?

The post above has already answered most of the questions you asked so ill skip right to your last question.

GPA is a prime factor in nursing school acceptance in most places. They will also look at the types of classes you took in high school and some places will also look at other factors like volunteer or work experience in the medical field, how you interview, essays that may or may not have to be written. I'd start looking at where it is that you're looking to go to nursing school and see what it is that they require. BSN programs (a lot of them) can be very competitive so these are things that you need to consider.

Also if your GPA is still to low to get into a BSN program you may also want to consider going to get your ADN at a community college and then doing your RN-BSN after. Community colleges are cheaper and it might allow you to build your GPA. That is the path that I am taking my ultimate goal is to become an NP and specialize in women's health or family health.

I also highly suggest that you speak with a counselor at your high school to see what they recommend as well. While we all here can offer advice none of know the extent of your personal case. They may be able to offer advice that we can't. I wish you the best of luck.