What Classes Do You Take In Order To Be A Registered Nurse

how to become a registered nurse

Becoming a nurse may seem daunting when you lot take other things on your plate. Between working, family commitments and the demands of other life priorities, it might seem hard to finally make the decision to get dorsum to school and get a registered nurse (RN).

That's undoubtedly a big commitment that comes with a lot of unknowns that may be property you back. Fortunately, those unknowns are something we can assistance you with! In this article, nosotros'll intermission the process of becoming a registered nurse down into iv steps. While each of these steps is certainly significant on their own, you tin move forrard with confidence every bit y'all'll know the path ahead.

Read on for a simple, stride-by-step guide to becoming a registered nurse.

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4 Uncomplicated steps to become a registered nurse

The four steps to becoming a registered nurse are:

Picking which kind of RN-qualifying nursing degree you lot desire to end up with—an Associate'south Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Gaining admission into a nursing program
Completing nursing coursework and clinicals
Passing the NCLEX-RN® exam and meeting state licensure requirements

Of course, a bullet bespeak doesn't exercise any of these steps justice. We'll become into much further detail for each below.

1. Enquiry nursing caste options

Before committing to a nursing school, yous will want to think near your overall career goals. Since there are two major pedagogy paths yous can take to go an RN, you'll demand to decide what the best fit is for your schedule and long-term plans.

For those who would adopt to go out into the working world every bit soon as possible, there's the Acquaintance's Degree in Nursing (ADN) road. At Rasmussen University, y'all can earn an ADN in as few as eighteen months.ⁱ

Notwithstanding, while this road may seem similar an appealing option right at present, you may eventually have to get dorsum to school to acquire a Bachelor of Scientific discipline in Nursing (BSN) if you are planning on working in some hospitals or specialized nursing roles.

While that may seem similar a deterrent, some employers may help pay for their ADN nurses to go baccalaureate qualified. Working ADN-RNs have the opportunity to pursue their Bachelor's degree via a fully online RN to BSN plan. The RN to BSN program at Rasmussen Academy can be completed in as few equally 12-xviii months.¹

The other option for becoming a registered nurse is to consummate a 4-twelvemonth Bachelor'south degree program. RNs who hold their BSN credential are qualified for more jobs than nurses with ADNs, including jobs in enquiry, consulting or administrative positions.

In the end, both degrees can lead to a career as an RN—your decision only depends on what'due south best for you based on how much time you want to spend in schoolhouse and what your personal career goals are. It'due south important to remember that nursing is a profession with a wide range of opportunities, so you lot always take the option of going back to school to advance your career.

2. Enroll in nursing school

Once you've decided which caste path you'd similar to pursue, it's time to find a nursing school that aligns with your goals and enroll in a nursing program. Nosotros've covered how to get into nursing school before, just hither's a brief summary.

After graduating high schoolhouse, you'll need to inquiry different nursing programs and so complete an application—typically requiring you to round up some messages of recommendation, write the requisite essays and more. Yous'll also likely need to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam and set for your entrance interview.

It may audio like a lot is required of you right from the beginning, but when yous break each step downward and tackle it i slice at a time, you'll outset to see your path toward nursing success have shape. The time and endeavour put into each phase of your process are important factors that can help yous become into the school yous've ready your sights on.

3. Complete nursing coursework and clinicals

Afterwards you've been accepted into nursing schoolhouse, it may seem similar all of the hard work is behind yous. But the next stretch of your life will be spent building and strengthening the foundational knowledge and skills required of successful nurses. You can expect to meet coursework relating to chemical science, biology, beefcake, nutrition and more.

You will also be expected to complete a series of nursing clinicals to help gain hands-on experience and witness what it's really like to work as an RN. Clinicals provide students with an opportunity to apply what they've learned in a real-life healthcare setting, serving as a critical capstone to your education as you learn how to gain your footing in the globe of nursing.

4. Pass the NCLEX-RN examination and meet licensure requirements

Once you've come up this far, you're almost done on your journey to becoming a nurse. Things will start looking upward as you cross the end line y'all've been chasing afterwards, degree in paw. The only thing separating you lot from a rewarding career as an RN once you've walked across that graduation stage is passing the NCLEX-RN and ensuring you meet all land licensure requirements.

The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is a required test for whatsoever prospective nurse. With either an ADN or BSN, you would be qualified to sit down for the NCLEX-RN. No affair the state you plan to work in, passing the NCLEX-RN is a required pace for obtaining land licensure.

The NCLEX-RN contains 75-145 questions that approximate your knowledge of all areas of nursing—and equally you might expect, critical thinking and memorization will be cardinal to your success. Expect to spend some time preparing and prepping for this exam, as it'south 1 of the more important tests you'll take. Don't panic, though—you lot will learn everything y'all demand to in your degree program. Once you've passed the NCLEX-RN, you've cleared the biggest hurdles. That said, in some states at that place may be additional administrative requirements for earning licensure, like completing a criminal background check.

Subsequently obtaining licensure, yous'll be ready to find employment as a registered nurse—and then get your resume ready and prepare to help make full the nursing shortage.

Which nursing path will you choose?

Now that you know the various steps you'll need to have to become an RN, it'due south time to decide how you'll get there. Whether you're hoping to get into your scrubs faster by earning an ADN or you're ready to put in the actress time now to ensure some career advancement later with a BSN, fourth dimension is of the essence.

With that in listen, y'all'll want to bound correct into the inquiry phase of your journeying toward nursing school. Once you pinpoint the specific nursing degree you want to pursue, y'all're that much closer to finding the correct college. Gain the insight you need about earning your nursing degree and dig into the host of ways Rasmussen Academy tin can aid you reach your goal past checking out our commodity "ten Facts Yous Didn't Know Most the Rasmussen University Nursing Program."

¹Completion time is dependent on the number of transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.

EDITOR'South NOTE: This commodity was originally published in Apr 2015. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2021.

NCLEX-RN is a registered trademark of the National Quango of Country Boards of Nursing, Inc.