Health Care Facility Studies. If you plan on entering a nursing program right after high school, certain programs will require that you take a lab science class for a two-year period before you can begin your degree. One of the most important curricular subjects of a typical nursing science class is biology, and it is a requirement for all nurse degree programs.
Career Planning. If you’re going to major in a subject such as nursing, it is critical that you understand what career options are available to you upon graduation. Some students choose to go straight into the hospital or medical field while others wish to pursue a career in other fields such as psychology or social work. If you are interested in a more specialized area of nursing, you’ll want to understand exactly what kinds of opportunities are available to you. This can help you determine whether or not you really want to pursue a nursing career.
Math. If you plan on getting your bachelor’s degree from an online college, make sure you have a solid understanding of how to use calculus in order to calculate certain financial figures that pertain to your degree program. The average nursing major spends about three to four hours a week studying mathematics and the financial aspects of their programs.
Foreign Language. You may want to take up a foreign language such as Spanish, French, or Chinese if you plan on continuing your education.
Clinical Experience. Many nursing schools will require you to complete a number of hours in the lab as part of your basic training before you graduate. This experience will help you get a feel for the medical field and give you a general understanding of the nursing process.
Community College Classes. Although many nursing schools do offer online programs, it can be a good idea to complete a number of classes through community colleges. Because community colleges offer a variety of classes at their discretion, they are very affordable. When you take these classes, make sure to complete them in a reasonable amount of time.
Once you’ve completed your classes at the colleges listed above, you’ll then be ready to enroll in a Master’s Degree Program at a university or college. If you have taken a course or two in your bachelor’s degree program, you should have enough knowledge to continue. Once you finish, you will be ready to begin the work necessary to receive your RN license.
In order to get your Bachelor’s degree, you will have to pass many prerequisites. These include courses such as English Composition, Math, Biology, Business, Psychology, English Composition, Statistics, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Nursing Practice and Ethics, Psychology, Medical History and the Law.
At this point in your career, you’ll need to begin taking a few clinical hours in order to get your masters’ degree. During these sessions, you will learn to evaluate patients, evaluate their needs, and prescribe the appropriate medication. Once you have your master’s degree, you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN, the test that is used for licensing purposes.
Once you have your NCLEX-RN, you will be eligible to take the certification exam to become a licensed registered nurse. In order to practice as a registered nurse, you will have to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and pass the state licensing exam, to become certified.
