Nursing Degree - An Inside Look
Nursing Degree - An Inside Look
Learn about the nursing degree process, what it takes to become a nurse and the roles nurses can and cannot perform.
Learn about the nursing degree process, what it takes to become a nurse and the roles nurses can and cannot perform. A bunch of nurses have shared their stories on this blog about how they ended up in nursing school, why they decided upon this career path, if there are any red flags in regards to becoming a nurse or tips for getting into nursing school. With each entry you will learn more about what is required for becoming a registered nurse. This blog is also meant to address all of you skeptics who believe nurses do nothing but just sit around all day, do laundry, and go around checking blood pressure. If you believe that nurses don't have any real responsibilities, this blog is for you too.
My name is Sarah, better known as Nurse Nerd (if I had a dollar for every time someone has told me that). I am a registered nurse (RN) in Quickcare. In my spare time I blog about all things nursing related at www.thenursernerd.com . My goal is to allow others to see what it is really like to be a nurse. There's so much more involved with being a nurse than just checking vital signs and administering meds, although that is part of it. I also want people to see how much of an impact nurses have on the lives of their patients and their families. During my nursing career, I have worked in many different areas such as L&D, med/surge, ER, PCU and now Quickcare.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Temple University. This entire blog is based upon my experiences as a student and an RN in a variety of clinical settings. I could easily write pages and pages about how much I love nursing and how thankful I am to be a nurse, but that is not what this blog is about. This blog is intended to give others a glimpse into the world of nursing as well as to share my own experiences. It will also help prospective students that are trying to decide if this is the career for them.
So, why should you read my blog? And what should you expect from it? Well, whether you read this blog or not, no one can ever tell me I do nothing. Or at least that's what one of my former co-workers told me after a particularly busy night in the ER. Which brings me to this question: Why become a nurse? Many people have asked me this question, some who already know I'm a nurse and others who are considering it themselves. My answer is always the same: because I love it.
My love for nursing began when I was just fifteen years old. A family member had suffered a traumatic brain injury, and no matter how much I tried to help him feel better, there was nothing I could do. That experience really solidified my feelings toward nursing. From that point on, I decided my calling was to help people who were in pain and needed a helping hand.
But is nursing really the right choice for you? Of course it is. But did you know there are more than 100 different specialty nursing jobs out there? Read this article to find out more about some of these specialties and how they can help your career as a nurse.
So, after deciding to become a nurse, what's next? Well, the first step is to get certified as a nurse! To become a registered nurse (RN) you must complete an Associate's Degree program or Bachelors Degree program in Nursing. These programs can be done in two-year, four-year, or even online formats. Many hospitals also require you to complete a clinicals program after you graduate. This is a more hands-on program that allows you to apply what you've learned in school in a current and practical environment. At this point, you will most likely be given the opportunity to become a CNA as well as take additional classes such as anatomy and physiology. These are important classes that will help prepare students for the NCLEX exam which is required for licensure in all states except California (California Commission on Nurse's Certification). To learn more about becoming certified as a CNA, visit the About.com guide here .
So, you've decided to become a nurse, now what? Well, becoming a nurse is a fairly lengthy process, but one that will be well worth it in the end. So don't give up! Keep working hard and learn as much as you can. It is also important to keep in touch with others who are already in the profession. That's why I decided to start this blog. I wanted others to know what being a nurse is really like so they can decide if nursing is for them or not.
My name is Sarah, better known as Nurse Nerd (if I had a dollar for every time someone has told me that). I am a registered nurse (RN) in Quickcare. In my spare time I blog about all things nursing related at www.thenursernerd.com . My goal is to allow others to see what it is really like to be a nurse. There's so much more involved with being a nurse than just checking vital signs and administering meds, although that is part of it. I also want people to see how much of an impact nurses have on the lives of their patients and their families. During my nursing career, I have worked in many different areas such as L&D, med/surge, ER, PCU and now Quickcare.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Temple University. This entire blog is based upon my experiences as a student and an RN in a variety of clinical settings. I could easily write pages and pages about how much I love nursing and how thankful I am to be a nurse, but that is not what this blog is about. This blog is intended to give others a glimpse into the world of nursing as well as to share my own experiences. It will also help prospective students that are trying to decide if this is the career for them.
So, why should you read my blog? And what should you expect from it? Well, whether you read this blog or not, no one can ever tell me I do nothing. Or at least that's what one of my former co-workers told me after a particularly busy night in the ER. Which brings me to this question: Why become a nurse? Many people have asked me this question, some who already know I'm a nurse and others who are considering it themselves. My answer is always the same: because I love it.
My love for nursing began when I was just fifteen years old. A family member had suffered a traumatic brain injury, and no matter how much I tried to help him feel better, there was nothing I could do. That experience really solidified my feelings toward nursing. From that point on, I decided my calling was to help people who were in pain and needed a helping hand.
Conclusion
So, after deciding to become a nurse, what's next? Well, the first step is to get certified as a nurse! To become a registered nurse (RN) you must complete an Associate's Degree program or Bachelors Degree program in Nursing. These programs can be done in two-year, four-year, or even online formats. Many hospitals also require you to complete a clinicals program after you graduate. This is a more hands-on program that allows you to apply what you've learned in school in a current and practical environment. At this point, you will most likely be given the opportunity to become a CNA as well as take additional classes such as anatomy and physiology.