where do i start?

Elenaster · Apr 4, 2003

Clair,

The first thing you should do is contact nursing schools in your area and find out what they require for admission to their programs. Secondly, you need to figure out which route you want to take (LPN, RN, etc.). In the meantime, you should look into becoming a CNA. This will give you some hands on healthcare experience as well as show what nursing is really like. If you still think its for you, start taking prereqs and get yourself ready for nursing school.

Nursing school is demanding but with good time management skills you will be able to support yourself financially. There are also tons of incentive programs, loans, and scholarships available to nursing students. You might try to find a hospital or other healthcare facility that will pay for you to attend nursing school if you agree to work for them after graduation.

Best of luck to you :)

altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Apr 4, 2003

hey Claire and WELCOME:)

My advice to you is to go to your local college and get all the requirements and information on their nursing program. Speak with an advisor at the college also. An Associates Degree is a two year nursing program, Bachelors is 4yrs. There are prereq's normally that you would have to complete, but you would find that out when you go speak with someone.

Qualifications to become a nurse....THE DESIRE, COMPASSION, AND HEART to care for the ill and their families. What we do may not always be glorious, but we make a difference in people's lives which is gratifying.

Getting to your goal may take awhile, but if it is what you really want it will be worth it.

The first step, get the info from the college, speak with the advisor, and APPLY:)

Good Luck!

colleen10 · Apr 4, 2003

Hi Claire,

Welcome to the board! Ditto to what the above posters advised.

Best place to start is at your local schools and hospitals that may have their own School of Nursing. Read up on the differences of CNA's, LPN's, and RN's. That will give you an idea of what each does, how much each gets paid and the lengths of time and $$ spent to attain a degree/certification in each.

There are many different ways to reach the level of RN. You could become a CNA for little $$ and time and test the waters so to speak while you go to school for LPN or RN. Or, you could spend a little more $$ and time to become an LPN and perhaps work while you got to school to become an RN. You could go straight for an RN and could do a 4 year BSN or a two year ASN/Diploma Program.

There are tons of options and with the shortage it seems that the schools are offering more options as to how you attian your goals. My school offers a 2 year ASN where classes are taken in the evenings and clinicals are done on Saturdays so that if you work regular daylight hours you can still attend class and get your degree.

With so many options it's really up to what you decide to do. It really is a personal choice dependant on how much time and money you can spend on your education and if you need to work to bring money in while you are going to school.

I will start my clinicals this Fall and the program I am in allows me to work full-time during the day and attend classes in the evenings and the weekends. I will try this for my first year at least, after that I know everything will become too difficult and I'll need to find something else with less hours and hopefully in the medical field.

Considering becoming a CNA is a good way to gain experience and work while in school, however you may find that CNA's don't get paid very much and depending on how much you are making at your current job, you may be better off just staying where you are at. I attempted to get training and a position as a CNA but the money I would bring in doing that really didn't compare to what I make now, so for me, it was better to keep my current office job and make more money to pay for school.

Good Luck and feel free to stop by the Nursing Student section!

Col

Clair · Apr 4, 2003

Many Thanks for your help and i have already book an appointment to see my careers adviser at my local night school college

A big thanks again for all your help. X X X X X