Though you can study nursing in a two-year program, the trend is towards
bachelor's degrees.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook says there are three pathways to becoming
a nurse: associate's degrees, bachelor of science degrees in nursing, and
diploma programs in hospitals. You have a better chance of advancement if
you have a bachelor's degree.
You'll need a high school diploma, including courses in English, biology,
chemistry and mathematics. Some programs require entrance examinations,
letters of recommendation or training in CPR.
"We evaluate high school grades, SAT scores, high school class ranks and
recommendations of teachers and counselors," says Rose O'Driscoll, assistant
dean of nursing at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. "Participation in
extracurricular activities is important, too."
O'Driscoll says that science and math grades are especially important.
What you study in nursing school depends upon the type of nurse you wish
to become. Associate's programs include both classroom study and supervised
clinical practice and patient care. Classroom studies span basic nursing
concepts and patient-care subjects, while clinical practice covers the range
of medical specialties.
Clinical practice can take place in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices,
rehabilitation centers and retirement care facilities. A handful of programs
offer a mix of in-person and online training in preparation for associate's
degrees.
Bachelor's programs in nursing generally run four or five years and include
classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences under faculty guidance.
"Students during their first two years take a combination of liberal
arts and science courses, as well as courses in basic nursing theory and
clinical skills," says O'Driscoll.
"Then, at the end of the second year and during the last two years, students
take nursing theory courses and clinical courses to gain experience
in a wide variety of health-care environments."
Most nursing degree programs have agreements with health-care agencies
that provide the settings for their students' clinical experiences.
However you get it, experience in a health-care setting will both enhance
your chances of getting into nursing school and help you decide if nursing
is the right career for you.
The main costs are tuition and books. You may also have to buy uniforms.
Links
DiscoverNursing.com
Learn more about the nursing careers, education programs, scholarship
funds, professional associations and much more
American Nurses Association
This site has a lot of great info on becoming a nurse