The Different Paths To Becoming A Nurse

Nurses today come from all walks of life and from many different educational backgrounds

. Some train at hospitals' nursing programs, others attend a two-year college (usually s a community college) and earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Still others decide to go to a college or university to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. All must take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) in order to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Others, however earn a bachelor's degree in a major other than nursing and then decide to enter what are known as entry MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) programs, in which they study for 16-18 months to prepare for RN licensure and then continue with graduate courses to obtain an MSN degree.

A BSN or entry MSN degree is best for those who will want to take their career to an advanced level. Nurses with advanced degrees can go in to management, either in nursing itself or even at the hospital administration level. Students with a BSN and/or MSN also can train to become Nurse Practitioners or go on to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree or other doctorate.

MSN-trained nurses also can become faculty at nursing schools as well as college and university nursing programs.

No matter what type of entry-level nursing program you choose, you'll engage in your nursing career training in the classroom as well as instruction in a hospital or other health care setting (your clinicals). You'll take classes in such topics at biology, chemistry, nursing theory and practice, physics, social sciences, as well as subjects in the humanities. Your instructors almost always will be nurses or other health care professionals (such as physicians and pharmacists). You'll also get hands-on patient experience during your clinicals. You'll always be supervised by a qualified instructor, of course.

You'll need excellent study habits because your nursing program will require a considerable amount of work outside the classroom/hospital setting. You'll need to be able to memorize facts and you'll need to know how to apply the things you learn in different scenarios and places, so top-notch critical thinking skills are a necessity.

Nursing school is intense. You'll need to have confidence, determination and a huge desire to learn -- all the time!

Finally, to be happy and successful as a nurse, you must possess a genuine desire and ability to care for the sick, disabled and dying, day in and day out, week after week.

Yet no matter how you come to nursing (hospital RN program, ADN, BSN or MSN entry), you're sure to find that nursing is an exciting and ultimately exceedingly fulfilling career.

by: Jean Henshaw

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