subject: Becoming A Nurse: Some Things To Consider Before Enrolling In A School [print this page] Most places around the world are experiencing significant shortages of nurses. There are many reasons why students choose nursing as their career path. Some people choose nursing for the satisfaction that comes along with helping other people, while others choose it for its job security, high pay, and benefits. Regardless of the reason, becoming a nurse requires a little background knowledge.
The first thing that you should look into is what type of nurse you want to be. There are wide variety of specialties that nurses can perform, ranging from pediatrics to trauma, from surgical to triage, and many more. When you are looking into the type of nursing that you are interested in becoming, be sure to make note of all the special certifications, training, and experience that you will be required to complete.
If you cannot decide what type of nurse you want to be, do some research. A couple key things to keep in mind are what type of job functions the nurses have and the amount of stress that they endure. Some types of nurses like surgical nurses and midwives have higher degrees of stress and must be good at multitasking. Other nurses, like nurses in family physician clinics or nursing homes, may have more relaxed, less stressful jobs.
Furthermore, when selecting the type of nursing that you want to go to school for, you should research the amount of education, training, experience, and certifications that you'll need. Depending on the type of nursing that you decide to take up, will determine what types of skills you will need to possess. Do not make your decision quickly, because there are literally hundreds of different types of nursing jobs to choose from.
Once you have ultimately determined what type of nurse that you would like to be, you will need to determine your plan for schooling. Some nursing programs are easy and quick to complete but will limit the jobs that you can apply for. Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses require less training than registered nurses, and they require the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. Many nurses start off as LPNs. LPNs can work to gain experience while continuing to go to school to eventually become RNs.
After you have determined what type of schooling that you need it is time to seek out a school that offers the services that you need. The best thing to do is to research schools that are in your local area. One important thing to look for in a school is that they are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, NLNAC. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact the school academic office or career counselors.
There are many of reasons that people choose to go into nursing. Whatever the reason choosing a nursing career is sure to please you. Do not waste money or time without thorougly investigating your options before deciding on the programs that is right for you.
