Become a Nurse >> Browse Articles >> Nursing 101
10 Steps to Becoming a Nurse
Beth Anderson, RN
Do you want to become a nurse but don’t know where to start out? This 10-step guide will help you find your way. You’ll learn about the nursing profession, find out about the educational requirements and certifications, and get tips on how to survive your first year as a nurse. This guide is meant for prospective, current, and second career nurses – everyone can use this valuable information!
Click on the links below to access a comprehensive description for each step.
Would You Pass the NCLEX?
NCLEX Review: Part INCLEX Review: Part II
NCLEX Review: Part III
NCLEX Review: Part IV
NCLEX Vocab Review
NCLEX Math Review
Step 1: Learn Everything You Can About The Nursing Profession
Step 2: Find Your Path to The RN Title
Step 3: Choose the Nursing School That Fits You
Step 4: Get into the School of Your Choice
Step 5: Survive Nursing School
Step 6: Decide on a Nursing Specialty
Step 7: Pass the NCLEX
Step 8: Consider Possibilities for Your First Job
Step 9: Get Hired
Step 10: Get Prepared For Your First Year As A Nurse
Still have questions? Check in with the pros and compare notes with students in our Student Lounge forum.
ansha2282
over 5 years ago
4 comments
i want to cancle ansha2282
ansha2282
over 5 years ago
4 comments
Hi i want to be a nurse to help patient
jurantus
over 5 years ago
2 comments
hi i had work as driver. i would love to be a nurse and i learning to become one. i like to help others and give the best of me to help the patients feel better.thanks
dorjee
over 5 years ago
2 comments
i m from india, working in india, i m giving nclex exam, after passing my exam i want to work in US. also i would like to come to US along with my husband. at the moment i came to know about retrogration. So how soon retrogration is going to be over. and how long it ll take for the processing after retrogration gets over.
zambart
over 5 years ago
2 comments
MENN I LIKE THE SITE ,I TINK IT HAS ALL I NEED FOR MY NUSING SCHOOL THAT I WANT TO START, I WILL LIKE YOU TO SEE MATERIA FOR THE COURS(NURSING) IN THE SITE SO WE CAN BE HELP WITH IT WHEN WE NEED THEM.
Vbridges
over 5 years ago
4 comments
I need to know if there is a class that i can take to obtain my rn License or can I just re-take the exam I am a graduate from1996
Vbridges
over 5 years ago
4 comments
I need to know if the their is an exam to take to obtain my license in Nursing i graaduated in 1996.... If not what are some courses that I can take?
regina1
over 5 years ago
2 comments
I have a dream of becoming a nurse. I have been a CNA and I also went to school for Medical Assistant, but didn't ceritified. I had to drop my classes from college due to my grandmother being sick with cancer and I had to see about her. Now they are saying that I have to pay back some money in which I recieve pell and hope only no loans, but until I repay this money I can't get back into school and this job just doesn't pay enough, what can I do to get help with paying for school and have enough money to pay back this money I owe?
pami
over 5 years ago
2 comments
I am a CNA in the atlanta area and I sincerely feel like my life is going nowhere and I feel nursing is what GOD put me on this earth to do working private duty offers no rewards and no stability does anybody know the next step for me to find a school and money to become a LVN first and becomes a RN my dream job
allen00
over 5 years ago
4 comments
I am in a vocational LVN program and will be graduating in Dec 2008. My next step is to go for my RN and would like to take some pre-req's for that while i am doing my LVN. Does anyone know if there online courses i can take for this?
allen00
over 5 years ago
4 comments
I am in a vocational LVN program and will be graduating in Dec 2008. My next step is to go for my RN and would like to take some pre-req's for that while i am doing my LVN. Does anyone know if there online courses i can take for this?
waggeh
over 5 years ago
2 comments
want to become a nurse and go to college, but am not a us citizen and am nt qualify for financial aid to be able to pay for my school wat do i do
nathalene
over 5 years ago
2 comments
you can choose an accredited college and attend as an international student, after completion the government has a program that will allow nurses to gain residency thru sponsorship with the hospitals
gabrielesther
over 5 years ago
2 comments
want to become a nurse but am not a U S resident how do i go about it