RN's How to?????

NeuroICURN · Jun 5, 2004

I am currently working towards getting certified as a CNA but what I really want is to be an RN.This may sound really dumb to you guys already there, but what do you need to do to be a registered nurse?Im interested in knowing how much school is involved and how you go about getting started.TIA:)

Well, you have to go to school. You can either attend a diploma program at a hospital (which is approx. 2 years long), or you can spend those 2 years at a community college and have a degree (ASN) at the end of it, or you can go to a 4 year college and get your BSN. Then, after you finish schooling, you are considered a GN (graduate nurse). You can work on a temporary permit for (depending on the state) up to one year. Within that year, you have to take the NCLEX exam. Once you pass the NCLEX exam, you are licensed as an RN.

As for how to get started, start looking at hospitals and colleges in your area.

This is just the very basic information, but I hope it helps you in getting started!

Good luck!

NeuroICURN

(P.S. One good thing about going the ASN route is this....you can go, get your RN license and then when you work for a hospital that has tuition reimbursement....they pay for your BSN!) Yes, that's what I'm doing! :)

Groovydogg · Jun 5, 2004

finding out the legal requirments is easy, school, nclex, etc. You are on the right track, start by working in a hospital to see what you like, where you want to end up. the experience you get now is super valuable. when I worked as an CNA during nurse school, the nurses knew I was in school and let me do "things", blood draws, sit in on procedures, etc. this helped in school

rnmi2004 · Jun 5, 2004

"2 years at a community college and have a degree (ASN) at the end of it"

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Oh my, I must be tired because that one made me LOL. Two years, eh? I must be doing something wrong.

Seriously, check out what options are available in your area as far as diploma nursing, Associates' Degree, BSN, etc. You can go to your local colleges and they should have counselors who are very helpful at steering you in the right direction as far as admission requirements, coursework, financial aid, etc. Also, when you become a CNA develop a rapport with the RNs and ask them how they went about it. Good luck to you!

NeuroICURN · Jun 5, 2004

"2 years at a community college and have a degree (ASN) at the end of it"
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Perhaps I am missing something here....but what's so darn funny???

It can and has been done in two years....and actually, the program I went through is notorious for being MUCH harder than several of the 4-year schools in this area. As a matter of a fact, we have a darn near 100% pass rate (first try) on the boards for the last several years (actually have had 100% some years).

rnmi2004 · Jun 5, 2004

When I didn't know a whole lot about what it takes to become an RN & I found out I could take classes through our local CC, I was so happy! I had always heard that "2-year college" was another name for community college, so I assumed I'd be a nurse in 2 years. Well, after I'd seen the counselor and found out that not only was there a whole string of prereq's before I could even be considered for the waiting list that would take another year, I'd also be doing gen ed requirements. Your comment just brought back to mind how naive I was then about not only the length of time to get my degree but about a lot of other things related to nursing. I also didn't want the OP to think that it only takes 2 years--which is a good thing when you're talking about a profession as complex as nursing!

BTW, when I say "2 years" I mean 4 semesters @ a CC. If you're not taking summers off and you don't have a waiting list to consider and you're testing out of some of the classes, I suppose it *could* be done (but I wouldn't want to be the one doing it!)