How to Become a Nurse Your Essential Career Guide

You’ve walked by a nurse without knowing it. More than three million Americans are registered nurses. That’s roughly 1% of the country. 

These statistics may make you believe that becoming a nurse is easy. In reality, the process is extremely difficult. Learning how to become a nurse means learning about a lot of different things. 

What is a nursing degree, and where can you get one? What kinds of tests do you have to take to become a nurse? What does a nurse do, and how can you develop experience? 

Answer these questions and you can get started on your nursing journey. Here is your quick guide.

Get a Nursing Degree

You can become a registered nurse in a few different ways. You can get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, which you can receive in less than two years. 

You can also get a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing. Though a bachelor’s degree takes more time to obtain, it gives you more career opportunities. Hospitals and nursing centers prefer applicants with bachelor’s degrees over applicants with associate’s degrees. 

You can get either degree from a college or university. Yet you should also examine the best nursing schools in your area. After you go to college, you can go to nursing school to develop your skills.

Nursing school can be expensive, but you can apply for scholarships for nursing students. Visit your college’s financial services center and understand how applying for scholarships functions. 

Pass Your Exams

You cannot assume a job as a nurse after you graduate from college. You need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and receive a formal nursing license. 

The NCLEX-RN contains dozens of questions talking about many different issues in nursing. You have to use critical thinking and you must memorize important procedures like CPR. You can take classes for the test, but you must spend a lot of time on your own studying for it. 

Once you pass the NCLEX-RN, you can apply for a license from your state board of nursing. The board may require you to complete additional tests. 

Develop Experience

You should try developing experience while you are in school. You can volunteer at a hospital or nursing facility, helping patients navigate through the building. 

The more hands-on experience you have, the better. You can ask to shadow a doctor as they conduct rounds, or you can go to a lab and help technicians perform tests. 

While you are gathering experience, you should try to examine different types of nurses. A nurse in an emergency room has different responsibilities than a nurse in an outpatient facility. Take notes and decide which type of nursing is best for you.

Learn How to Become a Nurse

The process of how to become a nurse is a long and winding one. You must go to school and get an associate’s degree at a minimum. You then need to go to a nursing school and take years of classes. 

You will need to take the NCLEX-RN, which requires months of studying, and whatever tests your state nursing board asks you to take. Along the way, you need to gather experience as a nurse and learn about various kinds of nursing.

But you can get help on this journey. Read more nursing guides by following our coverage.