Student Center >> Considering Nursing >> How exactly do I start?
How exactly do I start?
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Posted about 5 years ago I am considering a career in nursing and doing some research on it. I’m going to be a senior in high school and I was trying to look into nursing so I could figure out where I would like to attend college. I know that the first step to becoming an RN is to become a CNA, but how exactly can I take classes to become a CNA and how long do they take? After I become a CNA where is a good place to start working? I read that most people worked in nursing homes. Also, in order to become an RN do I have to go through a BSN program or is that after I become an RN? So, if you could help me out with these questions I would really appreciate it! Thank you so much. |
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3 posts back to top |
| Posted about 5 years ago The first step to become a nurse is not to become a CNA!! The first step is to decide if you want to earn an LPN, ADN or BSN degree. Then whether you want to college in your home state/town or if you're venturing off. After you decide that you need to check out the nursing programs at the local community colleges, colleges, and universities and find out what their prerequisites are. I know about ADN/BSN programs so those are the ones I will be discussing. I imagine the prerequisites are all pretty similar... for example in FL where I live you have to have most of the classes you need for an AA degree anyway, before you even start nursing school..... so you might as well get your AA degree so that you qualify for ADN (2 year nursing programs) AND your BSN (4 year nursing degree). The reason for doing so is that there is a shortage of slots for nursing students and you want to be able to apply to as many schools as possible to increase your chances of being accepted. Finish your prerequisites... and when you're almost done.... ...Find out what kind of entrace exam if any the nursing programs have... here in FL they use the NET test (Nurse Entrance Test) LPNs and RNs to be take this test. Then apply!!! And make sure you apply to every possible school in the area! After your first semester in nursing school you usually qualify to work as a Patient Care Tech. This will help you learn how to work with patients and to see how different places work :) If there is a type of nursing that interests you then you should try to find a job in that area to see if you really enjoy it as much as you thought... all the while realizing that what you do as a Tech is WAY different than what you do as a nurse :) Then you graduate, take your boards... its a test called NCLEX. When you pass you're an RN... there is also an exam for LPNS but I don't really know what its called :) Hope this helped! |
