How to become a nurse

This article provides in-depth information into What is a Nurse? What Nurse do? Degrees for Nurse, Steps to become Nurse and much more.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a nurse “is a person whose job is to care for people who are ill or injured, especially in a hospital”. That is just the formal definition of a nurse, but we all know that a nurse is a caring and kind angel in comfortable shoes. Careers in nursing are diverse, to become a nurse one must complete the requirements and this article aims at detailing the same. 

What does a Nurse do ?

A nurse works in a wide range of healthcare settings, some of these settings might even come across as a surprise to many of us. The daily duties of a nurse involve a variety of responsibilities such as

  • Administering medications to patients

  • Making sure the intravenous (IV) lines are properly managed

  • Providing and meeting all the needs of patients

  • Keeping a close watch on the patients' conditions and observing and recording their stats

  • Nurses are the communication channels between patients and doctors

  • Nurses take upon themselves the responsibility of providing emotional support to the patients and their families

Steps for becoming a Nurse

1

Research The Career Duties And Responsibilities Of A Nurse

A key role of a nurse includes direct interaction with the patient and keep track of their conditions and symptoms in detail. Duties assigned depend on an acquired level of education and skill shown during the interaction period. The job of a licensed practical nurse involve tasks such as monitoring patient’s vital signs, inserting catheters and giving injections and alcohol rubs.

2

Apply For Nursing Schools

The community college offers a certificate program 1-year diploma or for LPN programs. Nursing program includes courses in nutrition, psychology, chemistry, anatomy, and microbiology, along with specialized courses regulate toward one’s areas of interest. Registered nursing can be achieved in any one of the following ways:

  • Obtaining a 4-year bachelor degree in nursing at any university

  • Getting a 2-year associate degree in nursing from a community college

  • Enroll in a 3-year nursing diploma program at a hospital

3

Decide On A Specialty

Programs must be chosen depending on one’s need and specialization. For example, if a person has an RN license, he/she can either become an infection control nurse, or forensic nurse or a nurse informaticist.

4

Take Licensing Examinations

Once a nursing program is completed, a student can take up National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing. this examination is conducted by the National Council for State Boards of Nursing and covers everything that a student has learned in respective RN program. Likewise, if a student like to become a licensed practical nurse, he/she will have to take up the National Council Licensure Examination for an LPN designation.

5

Advance Your Career

If a licensed practical nurse wishes to increase job responsibilities and salary, consider training to become a registered nurse. This can be accomplished by enrolling in LPN-to-Rn program. Next step in acquiring an RN license is to build experience or obtain an advanced graduate-level nursing degree.

Nurse Salaries

Nurse

Nurse Degree Levels

Masters

Nursing as a Societal and Interpersonal Profession

  • Scope of the nursing profession

  • Mandate for nursing

  • Legal parameters of practice

Objectives

  • Critical thinking

  • Interpersonal relationships

  • Communication

Assessment of Health and Illness

  • This course provides the initial knowledge

  • Evaluate the health status 

  • Developmental emotional, cultural, religious, and spiritual influences
Objectives

  • Develop and refine the clinical skills

  • Provide effective primary care

  • Demonstrate the use of patient coping strategies

Pharmacology

  • Pharmacological concepts 

  • Principles of pharmacotherapeutics

  • Built on the biological and social sciences
Objectives

  • Time management

  • Self-discipline

  • Self-criticism

Associate

An associate degree in nursing (ADN) program focuses more on technical skills than theory, and around 30 percent of ASN graduates use this as their stepping stone to a BSN. This is an ideal opportunity for students who want to start a career as an RN and those who haven’t been working as an LPN/LVN. An Associate’s Degree in Nursing provides a solid career foundation in the healthcare field. ADN also provide an opening to work in an entry-level nursing position. This plays a major role for students with family and work obligations.

Microbiology and Immunology

  • Study of micro-organisms and their effects

  •  How micro-organisms work

  • Awareness of infection and immunity principles

Objectives

  • Provide breadth in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics

  • To introduce and describe bacteria that infect humans

  • To discuss the mechanisms underlying immunological hypersensitivity reactions

Nursing Care of Patients with Complex Needs

  • Teaches students about nursing care process

  • Treat patients throughout their lives

  • Special emphasis is used for treatement

Objectives

  • Enlightens about the experience in clinical setting and how to treat with less supervision.

  • Delivery of outcome-based clinical nursing care

  • assisting students with the transition from student to Registered Nurse

Professional Issues in Nursing

  • Deal with frequent and potential nursing issues

  • Legal and ethical problems

  • Healthcare leadership conflicts and policies.

Objectives

  • Societal and political forces effects

  • Leadership strategies and resolve legal issues

Bachelors

BSN provides best opportunities in the present job market and is the most preferred by nursing leaders and providers.

A bachelor’s degree in nursing builds on the associate degree curriculum by exposing students to an even wider range of nursing and healthcare-related concepts and theories

Practical lessons will be scheduled at any local hospital or in a campus. However, Some BSNs can be done via a hybrid program meaning you can take some classes online.

BSN is the entry point for professional nursing practice. If a student plans to pursue a higher degree, receiving a BSN out of the gate would be the best option as it will be a qualification for master’s programs.

Introduction to Nursing Research

  • Practice methods related research

  • Scientific methods and statistical analysis

  • Critical analysis skills for health research data

Objectives

  • Demonstrate integration of knowledge and professional attitudes through the use of clinical evidence

  • Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the nurse related to research and evidence-based practice

  • Compare and contrast the research process and the EBP process

Public Health Nursing

  • Medical care to communities and populations

  • Practices for population-based health issues

  • Understanding of preventative care provision

Objectives

  • Offer patient-centered care which signifies the patient’s preferences, standards, and requirements

  • Describe the historical development of public health

  • Compare and contrast ethical theories and principles

Chemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia

  • Principles for effective nurse anesthesia 

  • Physical laws and their applications

  • Basis of anesthesiology will be reviewed.
Objectives

  • Identify threats and develop strategies to minimize the risk of harm

  • Apply principles of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics to anesthetic pharmacology

  • Discuss the ramifications of electrical safety