The position of registered nurse is one of the most in demand jobs in the health care industry today. When you become a registered nurse, you get to help patients on a regular basis and make a difference in their lives. In order to become a registered nurse, you have to complete the proper educational requirements.
Prerequisites
To study to become a registered nurse, you have to have the proper prerequisites. Depending on which nursing school you plan to attend, the prerequisites could be different. For example, you will have to have a high school diploma or a GED. You also might have to have a certain grade point average and a certain SAT or ACT score. Having classes like math, English and science on your transcript can be helpful also.
Associates Degree
One of the paths that you can take to becoming a registered nurse is to obtain an Associates degree. This is a type of degree that you can acquire at a community college or a vocational school. Nursing-specific schools also offer this type of program. You can generally complete an Associates degree program within two years of study. This degree can provide you with a way to get entry level nursing jobs.
Diploma
Another route that you could take to becoming a registered nurse is to complete a diploma program. These programs are offered by hospitals as well as dedicated nursing schools. It typically takes about three years to complete this type of program. You will take a few prerequisites followed by all classes that relate to nursing and the medical field. These programs are competitive and can be difficult to get into.
Bachelor's Degree
Some registered nurses choose to obtain a bachelor's degree. With this type of degree program, you would go to a traditional college or university. This program typically takes four or five years to complete, depending on where you go. As part of your curriculum, you will take a large number of nursing classes as well as classes on other areas to round out your education. This degree is required for some registered nurse positions that involve management roles or highly specialized areas of medicine.
Exam
Once you graduate from your degree program, you will have to take a licensing exam to begin practicing as a registered nurse. This exam, National Council Licensure EXamination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) is administered on a state level. You pay a fee to take the exam and you can take it multiple times if you do not pass it the first time. Once you pass, you can begin the process of applying for jobs.
Read more: Education for Becoming an RN Nurse | eHow.com
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