A Guide To Becoming A Nurse

Written by: Kathryn Mckay

There is a unique and special group of people blessed with caring personalities. Perhaps this describes you. Can you picture yourself tending to the sick and ailing? If you do, you may have what it takes to be a nurse.

Good and pure intentions however are not the only qualifications you need in order to become a good nurse. There is a mandatory level of expertise required for any aspiring nurse. Nurses require formal education and training in this field.

While registered nurses offer assistance to doctors, they also tend to the needs of patients. A nurse can find a job in private clinics, special needs centers, hospitals, schools, and anywhere else medical attention is needed. Registered nurses deal with an array of people with a wide assortment of ailments as their careers progress. Some nurses decide to focus on a particular segment of the population. For instance, some nurses specialize in geriatrics, so their work revolves around the elderly.

There are several levels under the title of registered nurse. One of those levels, the nurse practitioner, mandates further education. Nurse practitioners have many of the same responsibilities as a doctor. For instance, they are able to provide diagnoses and write prescriptions for medications. They are also able to determine another course of treatment. Some state laws allow nurse practitioners to start their own clinics.

Your position as well as the rate with which you advance as a registered nurse will be affected by your education. You need a college degree to become an RN. You also must pass a licensing examination after graduation to qualify for employment. Your options are an associate's degree in nursing, a three-year diploma, or a bachelor's or master's degree. The higher your degree, the greater your chances of receiving better positions and higher pay.

You can improve your long-term success as a registered nurse by earning high grades during your education. High school-level biology and chemistry lessons will help you as you pursue a degree in nursing. Diligence and focus will also help you make fast headway. Prior to selecting a school, verify the accreditation status of any school you might want to attend. The Nursing Accrediting Commission will have a list of accredited programs.

Once you graduate from your program, you will have to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam which is the registered nurse licensing test. Every state in the country has their nurses take and pass this exam.

Once the NCLEX-RN exam is completed, you will need to periodically renew your license, according to the rules of the state in which you work. It is also possible that you will have to take the licensing exam over if you relocate to another state. Find out what the requirements are for the state you are moving to by contacting that state's Nursing Board.

It is important that you get hands-on experience in the medical field to boost your skills. Spend some time in a volunteer capacity at doctors' offices or medical facilities. Lend your skills to non-profit groups that work with people who cannot afford medical care. You could also embark on a mission to another country. While this will definitely look good on your resume, it will also help you gain valuable experience in patient care.

Apply to local medical facilities, including clinics, hospitals, doctors' offices, and nursing homes. Don't overlook sports clinics, schools, and government-operated health centers. You will most likely begin at the bottom of the ladder while you establish a work record. By working hard and staying positive, you will move up before you know it. After you have started working, you have the opportunity to pursue nursing certification.

The field of nursing is a career field that will be around as long as humanity exists. As life expectancy continues to increase, the need for registered nurses will continue to grow. Whether the economy is doing well or not, a registered nurse is a challenging and secure job.