How to Become a Nurse
How To Become a Nurse
If you are interested in how to become a nurse you are looking at a career field that offers great opportunity for employment and advancement as well as being one that helps others.
There are several paths you can take to reach your goal; each of these has its own set of requirements, including education, and job responsibilities.
How to become a nurse covers a broad category of career options. There are few other fields that offer the variety of jobs and training that nursing does. From nurse’s aides to those with highly specialized credentials, all levels of nursing, which is the largest health-care occupation, are dedicated to some type of the medical and health care of patients. The medical field is an exciting, fast growing one as well as one that for those interested in nursing can be entered at a number of different levels.
How to Become a Nurse – Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered Nurses (RNs) comprise the largest group of healthcare workers and the majority work in hospitals. In most cases RNs are the liaison between the patient and the doctor. RNs perform patient evaluations, including monitoring and tracking vital signs, performing procedures such as IV placement, phlebotomy, and administering medications.
Specific responsibilities and titles for RNs will vary depending on the work setting and the population they serve. But the overall duties for RNs are to treat patients, educate patients and the public about various medical conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients’ family members. They record patients’ medical histories and symptoms, help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment and medications, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation. These rewarding task will make one glad the investigated How to Become a Nurse .
RNs can and often do specialize in one or more areas of patient care after their formal education has been completed and they are already on the job. There are many opportunities for RNs to specialize and typically specialization occurs in one of the following ways:
- work in a surgical practice and specialize in assisting in an operating room
- work in a general practice but they specialize in helping patients with specific health conditions such as diabetes, blood pressure, etc…
- work in a specialized practice such as cardiology
- work with a well-defined population, such as geriatric nurses, who work with the elderly.
RNs frequently combine specialties. For example, pediatric oncology nurses deal with children and adolescents who have cancer.
How to Become a Nurse or To become an RN requires completing at least an associate’s degree, which takes about two years of college or a bachelor’s which takes about four years to complete. The other option is a nursing diploma which can usually be completed in three years. Many RNs opt for a bachelor’s of science degree and often continue with their education to earn a master’s. Earning a BSN is not only a stepping stone for further education along the path to how to become a nurse for specialization it often also means a higher salary.
General requirements in all states include passing the NCLEX-RN exam and then renewing license periodically, this is a required part of How to Become a Nurse .
Many think the only jobs in nursing are for registered nurses. There are jobs, however, within the nursing field that can be entered with much less education and training after obtaining a high school diploma or GED. For those who are not really sure nursing is the career for them or those not ready or able to be in school for a lengthy period of time the options below are well-worth considering. For many these occupations have led to becoming an RN.
How to Become a Nurse – Nurse Aides
Nursing aides, also known as nursing assistants, geriatric aides, unlicensed assistant personnel, or hospital attendants provide hands-on care for patients and perform routine tasks under the supervision of nurses and/or other members of the medical staff. Aides play an important role on a health care team. To be an aide does not require an extensive amount of formal training. Most receive on the job training in the areas where they are working. Those desiring to work in specialized settings, such as a psychiatric hospital, would probably be required to have some formal training. This exiciting specialized training can be part of how to become a nurse.
Basic tasks aides perform include:
- taking and recording vital signs
- bathing the patient
- assisting with grooming: teeth brushing, nail care, hair care
- helping with feeding when necessary
- keeping the patient/resident’s room safe and tidy
- exercising with the patient/resident
- changing the patient’s bed linens
- answer patients’ call bells,
- deliver messages
Aside from these tasks, an aide may be the one person on staff who will have or make the time to talk with and listen to the patient. When people are sick, scared, hurting, confused, sad, or lonely, stress buildup can be counterproductive to the healing process. Having someone patients can just “chat with” can make a real difference. Knowing the difference that doing a simple thing like giving a patient a little extra attention makes is one of the most rewarding parts of a nursing aide’s job.
How to Become a Nurse – Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
Before nursing aides can work in nursing care facilities in the United States they are required by the Federal Government to complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved training and pass a competency test. These aides are then known as certified nurse assistants (CNAs) and are placed on the State registry of nurse aides. Additional requirements may exist for how to become a nurse CNA, but vary by State.
CNAs have more responsibilities than nursing aides. While all nursing assistants are trained in how to provide daily care to clients, CNAs often provide some of the medical care that historically was done by LPNs or RNs. These duties include taking a patient’s vitals by checking blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and oxygen levels. The growing demand for CNA has led to an increase in the number of schools offering classes making it more convenient to become certified and enter this highly rewarding and vital field. For some becoming a CNA is a stepping stone on the path to how to become a nurse.
CNAs jobs are challenging and demanding but also rewarding. They are employed by hospitals, long term care facilities, assisted living centers, adult day care centers, home health agencies, hospice agencies, and other medical, community, and residential settings, CNAs are authorized to perform specific duties to assist nurses. They work closely with patients to care for their basic physical and emotional needs. These kinds of caring duties go all the way back to the days of Florence Nightingale’s training on how to become a nurse .
How to Become a Nurse – Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed Practical Nurses provide the most amount of direct patient care within the nursing category of healthcare. They provide many of the same services of the CNA but have additional responsibilities as well depending on their work sites. LPNs collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, and record food and fluid intake and output. They clean and monitor medical equipment. Sometimes, they help physicians and registered nurses perform tests and procedures. Some LPNs help to deliver, care for, and feed infants. Another set of task and more reasons to investigate how to become a nurse .
In some areas LPN positions in hospitals are declining, but LPN positions in long term care facilities are in as much demand as other nursing categories. With the aging population and people wanting to remain in their homes LPNs are in great demand by companies who provide home healthcare personnel. Another rewarding position and a reason to check into how to become a Nurse .
LPN training is available at vocational centers, community colleges, and technical schools. Applicants to a program must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, the GED.
An LPN certificate can usually be earned in less than a year. Some RN students who want to begin working become LPNs after finishing their first year of study. Course work in the LPN program includes physiology, chemistry, obstetrics, pediatrics nutrition, biology, anatomy, and first aid.
When finished with a training program a prospective LPN is required in all states to pass the NCLEX-PN examination.
An LPN’s compassionate behavior towards patients often makes them a favorite medical staff person among patients. Because of the amount of time LPNs spend with direct patient care they are often the first ones to detect problems, especially emotional ones, a patient may be having.
How to Become a Nurse – Difference between an LPN and an RN
LPNs may work in a wide range of medical settings, but the duties outlines in their job descriptions will be similar everywhere. LPNs usually have one year of practical nursing training that is designed to teach how to provide basic patient care. This level of training does not give the LPN the necessary education needed to pursue more career choices.
RNs career choices, on the other hand, are almost limitless. In addition to the usual jobs of working in hospitals and doctors’ offices, RNs have opportunities as educators, staff nurses, administrators, and in home health care. Becoming a registered nurse immediately increases the responsibilities and the salary of a former LPN. In addition to the initial pay increase becoming and RN offers many more opportunities for future advancement as well as substantial increases in duties and salaries. All part of how to become a Nurse .
LPNs have little, if any, autonomy in their work settings; they function in a role that requires supervision or assistance from an RN or physician. RNs, however, have a lot of autonomy which allows them to take action independently if they see fit.
RNs have considerably more educational training than LPNs. They are in school for two. LPNs can typically complete their training in a year or less. Most RNs pursue either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The associate’s degree takes around two years to earn, while most bachelors programs take four.
How to Become a Nurse – LPN to RN Vid
As challenging and rewarding as an LPN’s job is, at some point many in that role realize they have reached a ceiling and begin thinking about becoming an RN. Unlike the LPN who has limited career opportunities beyond the entry level, an RN has almost unlimited ones. Going from an LPN to an RN can be a great career decision. In addition to the increase in salary an LPN becoming an RN will also have far greater opportunities for where to work and for increased responsibilities which often lead to higher levels of job satisfaction.
How to Become a Nurse – Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
LPN to RN programs are a convenient way for LPNs to transition to RNs. To be admitted into this program that is often referred to as the “LPN to RN bridge” one must first be a licensed practical nurse. Upon completing such a program, which takes about 18 months, one earns an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, or a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, which takes about three years. Those wanting to advance from an LPN to an RN but do not have the time or finances to attend traditional classes can find coursework for some of the best LPN to RN programs on line.
Please note: One does not have to be an LPN before entering nursing programs other than a special one for going from an LPN to an RN. Check with your local vocational schools and community colleges to learn How to Become a Nurse – Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and begin a rewarding career.
In almost all areas of health care the demand for all levels of nurses is expected to continue to grow as the population ages and new technology increases the lifespan. For those LPNs who want to advance in the medical field becoming an RN is a good option. Another rewarding option in how to become a Nurse.
How to Become a Nurse – Accelerated Nursing Programs
An Accelerated Nursing Program enables a college graduate with a baccalaureate degree in a non-medical area to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in 11to 18 months. This is a demanding, intensive program of study that condenses what is a typical four-year program into one to one and a half years.
There are a number of colleges and universities with programs in which those with bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields can complete an accelerated nursing degree. Compared to traditional methods of getting a nursing diploma, an accelerated BSN program actually allows one to make use of previous learning experiences to complete a baccalaureate
If you already have a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree that’s not a nursing degree and want to go into nursing, an accelerated nursing program may be a good option. These programs use credits from your existing degree to enable you to start your educational training at an advanced level.
How to Become a Nurse – Accelerated Nursing Programs
Competition into an accelerated RN program tends to be high and many require a minimum GPA of 3.0. References, both educational and work related are, important. Since being successful in this program is based largely on your passion and motivation to become an RN the more the person who is writing a reference knows about your desire to enter such a program the better your chances of being accepted by the school of your choice.
How to Become a Nurse – Accelerated Nursing Programs present another option for people with a baccalaureate degree and a desire to change careers.
As in almost all areas of health care the demand for all levels of nurses is expected to continue to grow.what is a registered nurse