A registered nurse ?

Question

i finish high school & so now I'm left in going to college, haven't applied to any school because i don't know how to start. so far I'm interested as a registered nurse but how do i start that & what do i need in becoming one ? is it the same as if you go to a short career college ? i live in Ca & interested in a good nursing school.

Answer 1

Talk to your school counselor. That's what he or she is paid for.  There are nursing programs in community colleges and state universities.  You will be more valueable with a BSN from CSU

Answer 2

You want to go the RN route. I don't know a LPN that does not wish they had done so in the first place.

Try your local community colleges first-they are a lot cheaper then the 4 year schools and it does not take any longer to get your BSN if you start at community college and then get your BSN (if you even want a BSN) after earning your RN.

It will take you at least three years. You will need to get several courses before you can even apply to nursing school. Talk to the community college first, they can best guide you in what is required in your local programs (they often have different requirements.)

Be prepared to study your tail off. Most nurses will tell you that nursing school used up over 40 hours per week when you add in study time. It is not unusual for the hours to increase toward the end of the semester to about 60 hours a week due to finals and other tests.

Nursing school and the related stress and expense basically destroyed almost every aspect of my life. It cost me my relationship, all my life savings, and the stress was so bad it nearly drove me over the edge!

It was also the best choice I have ever made. I love what I do and wish I had gone to nursing school years ago!

Answer 3

Pick the school you want to attend and go in and ask to speak to a counselor.  They will walk you through the process of applying and scheduling classes.

Answer 4

If you want to be a registered nurse you first have to decide if you want to earn an Associates Degree or a Bachelors Degree. Then look at schools in your area which offer nursing programs, apply for financial aid, and talk to their admissions representatives who can give you info on how to get into their nursing program.

If you choose an Associates program, you will first need to complete pre-requisite courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, and perhaps a few others before you can even apply to the nursing program. You'd also be wise to complete as many of the general education courses required for the degree as you can prior to starting the nursing program. Then once you get in and start the program it will last 2 years from start to finish, you'll only have nursing courses if you do the gen eds ahead of time, and it will be less stressful.

If you choose a Bachelors degree program, you apply to the college / university, start working on those pre-reqs and general education courses during your freshman and sophomore years, apply to the nursing program during sophomore year, then start the nursing program during junior year.

Either program allows you to take your RN license exam, but in the long run you have more opportunities for advancement and positions outside of direct patient care (management, administrative, public health, etc.) if you earn the BSN. You can always get the ADN first and complete the BSN later - especially if you have an employer that pays tuition reimbursement.