How To Become A Registered Nurse

For many young people considering nursing as a career, one of the first questions they ask is how can they become a registered nurse? The simple answer is that you have to complete a number of years of studies, undertake examinations and gain practical experience.

If you are seriously thinking about how to become a registered nurse (RN) one of the first things to do is to get your high school diploma with good science grades. This will give you a huge advantage in studying at an accredited healthcare school.

The next step is to decide whether to undertake a Diploma in Nursing, an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's of Science degree (BSN). A diploma is the most basic certification.

This will enable to become a Licensed Practical nurse, which means that you can become a nursing aide or caregiver licensed to provide limited medical.

An Associate Degree in Nursing is a two-year course that takes your career to a higher level. But if you are really serious about becoming a registered nurse, you should undertake a four-year Bachelor of Science degree at an accredited nursing school.

Once you have finished your training, you will be required to undertake the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to obtain your nursing license. Whether you undertake an accredited nursing program at a nursing school or online, you will also be required to complete clinical internships that provide you with the practical skills to become a good care giver.

As you will be part of a team when you go to work in a hospital or medical clinic, it is important that you learn to to work closely with surgeons, physicians and other healthcare providers. A major part of your time when you study is learning good communication and teamwork skills.

Your care of patients is critical to their well-being. You will spend a lot of your day walking around wards, taking blood from patients, changing bandages and treating wounds and using sophisticated monitoring equipment.

You will also be required to administer medication to patients, help with the patient's rehabilitation and palliative care and also assist doctors when they are providing treatment or are in surgery.

Once you have qualified to become a registered nurse you will have a number of career paths that you can pursue. Your skills will provide opportunities in emergency medical care, neurology, cardiology and heart care, neonatal care, pediatric care, surgery, patient education and palliative medicine.

Nursing is a great career with good job prospects. With an aging population in the United States, millions of people are going to require healthcare in the next 20 years.