Working as a Registered Nurse is one of the most in demand and profitable jobs today. While doctors have much of the prestige in the field of medicine, the importance of skilled nursing has become more recognized. RNs have become valuable health care providers and their expertise is in high demand in all areas of nursing. The requirements to become a Registered Nurse are not easy; however, but you can begin now to prepare for earning your RN.
These tips will help you prepare to become a registered nurse:
- Background: Before you decide to commit yourself to a career in nursing, make sure that you are interested in the field of nursing. Are you interested in helping people? How do you feel about caring for people who may be very ill? Do you have an interest in science, particularly biology and chemistry? You will need to commit to a course of study that includes extensive science and math classes. There are also several ways to obtain an RN license—look at which way will work best for you. Consider where you currently are with your career and education and the required time commitment.
- Paths to an RN:
- Obtain an LPN license first and then work towards your RN with additional classes.
- Go for an associate’s degree in Nursing.
- Get a four-year bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a university—this is currently the preferred route for employers.
- Build on your bachelor’s degree (in any subject) and add a master’s degree in Nursing, which will give you advanced practice options as well.
- There is also an option for a three year diploma in some areas but it’s generally being phased out.
- Grades and Test Scores: Because nursing is such an in demand job these days, more students are applying for nursing degree programs and it’s more competitive to get accepted. In order to make the cut, you’ll need to have high test scores on college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT. You will also have to keep your grades above a B average, or 3.0 GPA. Keeping up with a rigorous academic schedule will also help prepare you for the always evolving field of nursing.
- Choosing a School: Ask your guidance counselor to help you find an accredited Registered Nurse program. The guidance counselor will have an idea of the best schools and which schools may be best for you. Research nursing programs and find universities that have well-established nursing programs and access to good hospital facilities. All nursing programs combine classroom instruction with supervised clinical practice. Investigate where you would do your clinical training if you attended that school. The hospital system where you get training experience may also help you get a foot in the door for a job in the future.
- Licensure and Additional Certification: After getting your degree in nursing, the next step is to get certification and licensure. You may need to pass the nursing licensure examination in your state (often called “state boards”), a comprehensive test of everything that you learned in nursing school. Every nurse has to take the national exam from the National Council Licensure Examination (also called the NCLEX-RN.) After passing the test, you can get additional training and specializations depending on which career direction you would like to take. For example, you can specialize in OB nursing, travel nursing, dialysis nursing or surgical nursing—the options are nearly endless for a licensed registered nurse.
The current average annual wages of registered nurses are between $51,640 and $76,570, with the top 10% earning more than $90,000. In order to maximize your earnings, be sure to attend seminars and take additional classes in nursing even after you get your license. Although prospects for RNs are excellent and predicted to grow, it’s important to keep yourself updated in the field of nursing in order to advance your nursing career. You may decide to become a supervisor or specialize in advanced practice nursing areas, such as a nurse anesthetist or nurse midwife. Plus, the more experience and knowledge you have, the more likely you are to land a job in the nursing field of your choice.