Steps of becoming nurse

skimpstah · Dec 22, 2010

I find the community college route worked best for me. I looked into their nursing program requirements and just dove right into getting them done ASAP (my community college has a competitive program). Then I applied for the program, and got accepted. (I start in January). I guess you will have to factor in everything else going on in your life: work, family, and how fast you want to get done. Good luck to you.

CaregiverGrace · Dec 22, 2010

If u are serious about nursing then the best route is the straightest route - BSN. Forget about the cna, associates, lpn, etc. and just get your BSN degree. However, since you just changed fields from business, how sure are you really that Nursing is where you want to spend the rest of your career? My recommendation first is to thoroughly research the career and even do some volunteer work at a local hospital and see if you like it. I see so many nurses that love what they do, and alternately I see so many nurses that are burnt out and/or went into nursing for the wrong reasons and hate their career choice. You're still young, research your career and don't feel like you HAVE to make a hard choice immediately. You will thank yourself later.

MtBpsy9609 · Dec 22, 2010

I agree with Caregiver. If you are serious you should talk to RN's about the job market and their working conditions. Maybe volunteer to see if you like the actual work. I also believe in going straight for the four year BSN. It is a much better route as you will have more jobs open to you as a new grad.

Bandaide, ADN · Dec 22, 2010

You may need more time to get all your science prerequisites done, as they often have to be done in a certain sequence - check that out for your particular college (General Chem, General Biology before Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Organic Chemistry; also General Psychology before Lifespan Development (Psychology of Adjustment) and in my program, Statistics and Intercultural Communications).

The advantage of getting your CNA is that you will have a chance to do, and not just see patient care before you commit to a 2 year program. You can also work in direct patient care, which will help you get into some programs. Taking a CNA course is a requirement for the program that I am currently in. There were a couple of people in my current ADN program that had their CNA but still found the physical contact and cleanup aspect of our rehab clinical to be more than they had bargained for, and they left the program.

Good luck!

Guest27531 · Dec 22, 2010

I love the way you plan...I actually started out in a BSN program at the University of Texas but life had other plans for me...I had to regroup and restart exactly from where you are. Planning the way you are is exactly how I got where I am today (exactly where I want to be) so BRAVO for that.

I agree with all the other posters who have recommendations regarding experience and education but I will add one additional idea about how to go about it...I'll assume for the moment that BSN (or higher) is where you want to be eventually...

Start looking for the actual nursing school that you want to attend. For most people there is one that stands out as being the one you really want (better schedule, better tuition, better prerequisites, close to home/work, etc). Once you have chosen your school find out as much as you can about what they will require and match it with what you already have. You can also contact them and make sure that what you are planning to do will be accepted (so you don't waste time taking a course at a school that won't be accepted). I helped a friend of mine a couple of months ago and she now has clear sailing with all her target dates (course-work plans, target dates for application, target date for the Pre-Entrance exam, etc) all laid out and having talked to the school she knows that her plan is realistic.

Best of luck to you!

PatMac10,RN, RN · Dec 23, 2010

I'm a guy and I chose the ADN (Associates degree in Nursing) route as well. I had the opportunity to pursue a BSN, but chose not to. I simply didn't and still don't want to have to wait 4 years to become a registered nurse. I do however plan to enter a RN to BSN or MSN program immediately after I get my ADN that way I don't get discouraged from waiting a long time to return to school. It is true that most facilities are encouraging and preferring BSN prepared nurses, but places around here will not simply refuse an ADN nurse a job because they want a BSN nurse. When about 60% of the registered nursing population is ADN prepared (What's All the Fuss?), they take those with experience first and that sometimes mean hiring an experienced ADN nurse over a BSN nurse who been practicing for a year or less.

Most places around here know that most can't afford to go straight BSN, so they hire ADNs and employers or the government helps them pay to go back to school to get their BSN. Many of the nurses at the hospital I work were ADN nurses and in the course of 9 to 13 months later the majority of them are now BSN nurses for doing Grand Canyon University or similar RN t BSN programs. I took college classes during high school, which I just graduated from.

I took my General Psych, Sociology, English 111/101, and Intro to computers (CIS 110) during high school. The summer before I started college full-time, I took MY second college English, English 112.

Working as a CNA can give you a good insight of how you might like nursing. Hope we've helped. It isn't easy just trying to get into NS (nursing school) and it get's even harder once you get in a program. If your dedicated, you will succeed, I'm sure. Trust me there mouth be times that you feel like quitting because you are so overwhelmed, but persevere.

Then this fall I finished up my first Anatomy, and my second psych course, Developmental Psych (PSY 241) and some other courses.

It seems to me like you have a good plan. I got my CNA through a Allied Health program at my HS.

I am applying for entry into a fall 2011 program, but most ADN programs are very very competitive, but it is possible to get in, just try to do your best in your classes. Usually most LPN and ADN programs, but not all, require a nursing entrance exam like the TEAS IV or V and the HESI A2 exam. (you can search this sight for more info on theses tests) I've taken both exams and most college give you points based on your score on that exam, because acceptance into a program, that uses the point system, is based on those who have the most points from previous classes and tests.