How does one start a career in nursing?
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Helpful Tips on Starting a Nursing Career\n\nGraduates completing their nursing program can look forward to entering a profession that is in great demand.  Across the country, there are over 20,000 openings for staff nurses to work in hospitals, clinics, home care, private practice, schools, military service, occupational settings, and health and wellness centers.\n\nEntry-level nursing positions start in the range of $35,000 to $50,000 with additional compensation for overtime, night and weekend work.  Given the nationwide nursing shortage, employers often “sweeten the pie” by providing sign-on bonuses of $3,000 to $6,000 along with up to $5,000 in reimbursed relocation expenses. In addition to competitive salaries, employers typically offer benefits packages that include health insurance, vacation and holiday pay, college tuition reimbursement, childcare allowance, flexible scheduling, and pension plans.\n\nThe nursing profession offers many challenges and significant rewards to those who enter the field devoted to the calling of relieving human suffering and dedicated to advancing their career.  Although it is not difficult finding a job as a new graduate, it does take careful planning to carve out a career as a distinguished Registered Nurse.  Here are some practical pointers to accomplish that goal:\n\nProvide quality patient care.  This is what your training has prepared you for as a personal caregiver and valuable member of a medical team.  Be diligent in establishing a reputation for providing quality patient care and supporting your health organization’s mission.  Along with demonstrating core competencies, develop the “people skills” required for you to work comfortably with all types of patients, physicians and other medical staff. \nStay on the cutting edge of medical knowledge.  To maintain state licensure and remain in good standing with your employer, you will need to accumulate a number of Continuing Nurse Education credits (CNE’s) each year.  In addition to acquiring CNE’s through formal classroom instruction, why not take advantage of the numerous online opportunities for CNE training?  (As one example, check out what’s offered on Nursingcenter.com:  www.nursingcenter.com/ce/index.cfm). \n\nTo stay abreast of medical advancements, trends and social issues that impact the nursing field, take time to regularly read professional publications like Nursing 2001, RN Journal, NurseWeek, RN Magazine, and Journal of the National Black Nurses Association.  Some have online versions that you can easily access at your leisure and convenience.\n\nBecome more “culturally competent.”  Nurses, like physicians and other health practitioners, are challenged to provide care to patient populations that are becoming increasingly culturally diverse.  One way to achieve this goal is to take advantage of any in-service training related to heightening cultural sensitivity, working with language translators, and so on.  More ambitious RN’s might also consider learning “medical Spanish” in order to better relate to the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States—persons of Hispanic/Latino background.  (One example of a medical Spanish program is found at www.idrama.com/MedSpan.htm). \n\nNetwork with other medical professionals. Topping the list would be other RN’s who have distinguished themselves in their field.  Networking contacts can also include nurse educators, career strategists, and nurse entrepreneurs (such as Nurse Legal Consultants), who can all provide valuable perspectives on career advancement issues.  Another important avenue for networking is to become involved in one or more professional associations, such as the American Nurses Association and the National Black Nurses Association.  The contacts, information sharing, and career resources these associations offer are invaluable for RN’s who are serious about career advancement. \nMake yourself more marketable.  Like other professi
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I would suggest a 2 year RN program at a community college.  I would then complete the BSN while working as a nurse (to make sure you like it) then apply to a CRNA (or other nurse practitioner school if you want to explore other nurse practice opportunities) and work while in school.  That way you are making a fairly good living and working in the field. \n\nThe link below may prove informative. \n\nGood luck!
1091974
It takes four years to get a bachelor of science in nursing.   The first two years are the basic English , algebra, chemistry, psychology etc.  The 2cnd two years are the nursing core  units... medical-surgical, psych, theory lectures, anatomy and physiology, practicals and hospital clinicals.  You should be strong in science and math.  You will have to write well to communicate and are expected to make a few formal papers with bibliography's etc.  I imagine it varies from uni to uni a little .  When you graduate you take your board exam that takes about 2 days and if you pass then you get your license ...You can contact universities that you are interested in and ask for course curriculum's. you can contact universities over the internet and most will send a full prospectus and application.  You could even tour them at your leisure. While you are still in high school....You can do volunteer work in a medical setting or an internship where available or work after school in a nursing home or hospital to be certain this is what you want to do. Keep in mind that some hospitals (the ones I have worked at) don't recognise anything less than a BSN..and that those who have less than a BSN may get lower pay. *I am not saying you are not as good as an RN...just the facts* Good luck
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Registered nursing actually has 2 different tracks (there may still be 3). One may become an RN by going to junior or community college for 2 years and then taking the license exam. Another way is a 4 year BSN that will prepare you not only for patient care, but for nursing management as well. Many of the nurses I worked with started out the an ASN (2 yr degree) and then went on to the BSN while working as an RN. \n\nThere may still be some 3 year diploma courses, but those are going away. Years ago that was the norm and there were many hospital based diploma courses, but of late they have become college based and ASN or BSN degrees. \n\nAnother route is to take an LPN course which takes about a year and then work as an LPN while going on to RN school. \n\nThere is a well established distance learning program leading to the RN credential at Excelsior College in New York (It was called Regents College and you still hear the term Regents degreed nurse). \n\nCheck with the NLN - the National League for Nursing as it is the program accreditor for Nursing schools. It will be very hard to get a job or a license if your school is not NLN accredited. \n\nAlso check your state's licensing board to see if they have any special requirements.
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Go talk to a counselor at your local college or nursing school.  They can tell you where to start.  Some nursing programs take some time to get in to, but you could be studying the basics while waiting to get into the program of your choice.  Good luck.  It is a rewarding job.
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wow!  where to start, money is great, get to be around people, you learn a lot about the medical field, you understand and can treat diseases better, you become more health conscience, if you are a college student with loans, they will pay them or a percentage of them for you.  and the hype is, the nursing field is extremely low.  many many places need nurses and can't get them because so many people want to do other things.  the more and more people get sick, the more and more they are going to need nurses.  it is extremely marketable.  any small town needs a nurse.  even overseas, they need trained nurses to help with pandemics and epidemics, with all the wars in the middle east and africa, trust me, the need is high!
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It all depends on what kind of nurse you want to be.  RNs have more schooling than LPNs and nursing assistants have even less that that.\nif you want to be an RN, then i suggest going to a four year school and going through their nursing program, then you will graduate with your bachelor's of science in nursing...that's a good thing!\n\nSince you mentioned financial aid, a 4 year school may not be in your game plan and that's o.k.! But, LOTS of poeple go to 4 year schools with financial aid...it's not an issue for some, but smaller schools and tech schools tend to be less expensive.  you can check out technological schools or community colleges in your area that have nursing programs. \n\nFinancial aid is a way a school can provide you with tuition assistance based on your income, or if you are supported by your parents, then it's based off of their income.\n\nalso, look into sholarships that may be available to you. if you're still in high school, then, your guidance office can help you with that!\n\nGOOD LUCK in the future!
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As far as I am aware you need to be registered, depending on your state.  If you have an associates degree, then most likely you earned your RN credentials and should be able to get a job at a hospital or a clinic.  A bachelors degree would look more impressive on a resume, but there is no direct substitute for on-the-job experience.  All-in-all I believe it depends on what you earned with your associates degree, wether it be RN or whatnot.
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I earned bachelors and masters degrees from top level universities. i have yuppie 9-to-5 job at a large organization that is a big name in the field.\n\nmy sister got mediocre grades and earned a bachelor's degree from a no-name college. she makes about 10% more than me, but only works twice a week.\n\nshe's a NURSE.\n\nif you can get into a nursing program (they're kinda impacted in a lot of places) and you can handle the curriculum, then do it! You can make good money with just a 2 year degree. but if you do the 4 year, you make a WHOLE LOTTA MONEY, and you have more opportunites to advance your career.\n\nMed techs don't advance very easily and don't get paid as well. It's better to do med tech if you find that nursing is too rigorous.\n\nPT is only lucrative if you stay for a graduate level PT degree. otherwise, you never advance.
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well first get rid of the F.... \n\nyou need a positive attitude.... even though you want to tell people to go and use the word you did you don't!\nsecond you need to want to care about others and want to improve health conditions for others...\n\nNursing is a profession that not only cares for people but listens, helps and informs people on what to do to improve your health, and your life.  A nurse does this through explaining, showing and doing.  A nurse can not only take your temperature but see when things are going wrong within your body and within you.... via what you say, how you look how you feel and what you can or can not do the make an assessment.\n\nhope this helps good luck
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A High School or GED diploma is a must.  Next step is to complete specific course work leading to your career of choice.  One year of schooling at a technical/vocational school should enable you to get your foot in the door as a Nurses Aide.  A two year Associates degree will earn you a Licensed Practical Nurses credentials.  A four year Bachelor of Science degree will earn you the designation as a Registered Nurse (RN).  The more education you complete, the more money you will make.  Registered Nurses are in high demand.  The annual income of a Registered Nurse is three to five times that of a Nurses Aide depending on geographical location and areas of specialty.\n\nGood luck with your career of choice.
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Registered Nurses generally receive their basic preparation through one of three basic avenues:\nGraduation from an associate's degree-granting nursing program (approximately three years of college level study with a strong emphasis on \nclinical knowledge and skills)earning the degree of ASN/AAS in Nursing.\n\nGraduation with a three-year (diploma) certificate from a hospital-based school of nursing (non-degree). Few of these programs remain in the US and the proportion of nurses practicing with a diploma is rapidly decreasing.\n\nGraduation from a university with a bachelor's degree in nursing (a four - five year program conferring the BSN/BN degree with enhanced emphasis on leadership and research as well as clinically-focused courses).\n\nAs far as courses:\nAnatomy and physiology\nMicrobiology\nPharmacology and medication administration\nPsychology\nNursing ethics\nNursing theory\nNursing practice\nLegal issues in nursing practice
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You can become a LPN or LVN at a community college.  I think it requires a 1 year certificate now in all states.  RN need 2 year for diploma, and 4 year for bachelors degree.  You can become a CNA (nursing assistant) with training, and you usually do the grimy work that the nurses don't want to do, such as removing soil from patients and feeding.
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I think you are out of luck on the nursing front.  I'm not an expert on nursing, but even getting through school requires a lot of needles and no matter what part of a hospital you work in, nurses and needles go together like markers and whiteboards.  \n\nWhat you might want to look into is becoming a doula.  Kind of like a midwife plus if I understand it correctly.  You work with pregnant women preparing them for birth, you stay with them during delivery, and sometimes even beyond.  There is, of course, an association of them and training, certification, etc.  Link below.
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I believe that you can become a nurse in two years. It may only be a LPN rather than a RN, but you can then help people and receive good pay while you continue on to becoming a RN or even attaining a degree. All the while you are dealing with people that that need help! Good luck!
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Nursing is very hard. You can take a one year course. Lpn. Or you can go for two years, Rn with Associate's degree, or three years bacclaurette, or four years bachelor's. It requires you taking sciences and math and English as well as nursing courses. It's tough because you are dealing with human lives and there is no room for error. It is the most rewarding thing you do, however. It's worth all the aches and pains you endure in your back to make a difference to someone. You don't do it for the money, though you are well compensated. You bust your butt, you give up holidays and weekends and sometimes a night sleep.
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well it depends on what kinda work you wanna do. Like if you want to be an LPN, i would suggest becoming a CNA, then you could experience working under an LPN in a nursing home or hospital. Thats what i did and having that kinda experience makes it look good when you go to collage to become an LPN or RN and is actually required to get into a nursing program in most places.. Plus its nice to add that to your resume..