Nursing is generally a steady job, whether you work at a hospital, doctor’s office, nursing home, chemotherapy center, or surgery center. It’s a popular career choice for people from all walks of life with all sorts of skill sets.
If you’re considering entering the nursing field, you might be asking yourself, “How do you become a nurse?” You may not have attended college, or you may have a degree in another field. You may have been a stay-at-home parent or have spent decades in another job. Whether your current life is related to nursing or not, you always have the chance to switch to nursing.
We’ll show you how to take the six steps involved in becoming a nurse.
Why Should You Switch Careers to Nursing?
First, you may want to know more about the field and why becoming a nurse can be a valuable career change. The salary for an RN is $92,112 on average, making this a lucrative field. RN schooling can take as little as two years. Finally, many people find this a rewarding career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that nurses need to have the skills of both critical thinking and compassion. If this sounds like you, you can learn the way to start making the switch today.
How Do You Become a Nurse?
Step One: Identify What Kind of Nurse You Want to Be
In order of education required and the general salary, nursing career options include CNA, LPN/LVN, and RN. When people think of being a nurse, they’re probably thinking of the RN, or registered nurse, role, but it’s helpful to learn about the other popular options as well.
A CNA is a certified nursing assistant. It typically requires you to take a short educational course that lasts a few months and involves on-the-job training. CNAs are more limited in what they can do in the nursing field, generally performing tasks like monitoring vital signs and helping and bathing patients. Their average salary is $43,895 a year.
An LPN is a licensed practical nurse, and an LVN is a licensed vocational nurse. These similar nurses perform tasks that include monitoring blood pressure, changing bandages, and collecting blood and urine samples. To become one, you generally must complete an educational course that may take 12 to 15 months and pass a licensing test. The average salary is $57,962 a year.
A registered nurse, or RN, is familiar to many people. RNs can specialize in a variety of fields, but in general, they perform the tasks you usually think of nurses as doing. These might include assisting patients with general care and giving them medicines and treatments. To become an RN, you must earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), or a master’s degree in nursing and pass a licensing exam. The average salary is $92,112 annually.
Step Two: Choose Schools You’re Interested In
You have some important considerations when choosing a school. Does it need to be nearby, or can you move for school? Are there scholarship programs associated with your degree or certificate? Browse around schools’ websites and do research on the internet about each school’s quality of education, atmosphere, ranking, and other factors. Make sure your school is accredited with the proper organizations, such as the CCNE or ACEN.
Step Three: Speak With Schools
This step is a bit easier. Find the school’s admissions contact information to get in touch. Tell them about your background and goals, and see what they suggest. They may tell you different steps like taking prerequisite classes. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, you may be told about accelerated programs.
Step Four: Apply for College and Take Entrance Tests
You’ll likely need a small fee, letters of recommendation, and essays or other written works for your application. As you’re applying to a school, you may have to take entrance tests for the program, such as the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (PAX), Nursing Entrance Test (NET), or Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test.
Step Five: Finish School
The three main components of nursing school are coursework (classes and studying), clinicals (simulation labs and hands-on work with patients), and exams (throughout your educational programs). You do your program and complete your education to graduate.
Step Six: Take the Nursing Exam and Apply for Your License
To become an LPN or LVN, you take the NCLEX-PN exam. To become an RN, you take the NCLEX-RN exam. Those with an ADN or BSN are able to take the NCLEX-RN. You are given around five hours to take it and must answer a certain number of questions correctly. Scores are given approximately six weeks after the test is taken.
After passing the NCLEX, you can apply for your nursing license. The requirements for this vary depending on the state you live in, so check closely with the proper board to ensure you do everything you need to. After completing this step, you are officially a nurse.
Changing your career to nursing can seem like a daunting task, and while it is a great deal of work, you can do it by following these steps. You can switch to nursing and start a fulfilling new career that makes a difference in the world.