Becoming a remarkable nurse is one of the most fulfilling careers but the initial step could feel overwhelming. Getting accepted to your ideal nursing school requires adequate preparation. However, with a clear understanding of the entire process and the right preparation, candidates can improve their chances of getting accepted to a nursing school. This article covers the steps on how to get into nursing school.
1. Meet Institution Requirements
The initial step when looking to join a nursing school is checking whether you are qualified to join the school. Even though different nursing programs will have specific requirements, there are some general requirements that are needed to join nursing school. These requirements include:
- Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
- Have a GED or high school diploma
- Obtain a higher than 3.0 GPA for a BSN program or above 2.0 for the ADN program
- Passed prerequisite courses in math, chemistry, or biology with a C or above
2. Exploring the Right Program
There are different career paths to follow as a certified nurse. The path you would love to follow will generally depend on the available resources and your personal goals. Below are four common career paths you can pursue as a nurse:
Licensed practical nurse diploma or certificate
These nurses assist doctors and other registered nurses in nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. One must accomplish a state-approved training course in 12 months, a given number of clinical hours, and a course load that covers various topics like biology, nursing, and pharmacology. You also have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination to be licensed.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
It is the most popular career path to becoming a registered nurse. It takes four years to complete the entire coursework. The curriculum is divided into nursing courses, general education courses, and several clinical rotation hours. After completing the degree program, a BSN holder can sit for the NCLEX-RN and pass to become a licensed professional.
Certified Nursing Assistant diploma or certificate (CNA)
These are assistants that help individuals in nursing homes, living facilities, and rehabilitation centers with their daily healthcare needs like administering medication. To become a certified CNA one must accomplish a state-approved training program and undertake a specified amount of supervised clinical hours. The program usually takes four to 12 weeks. After completing the course, you can then take the CNA exam and pass to become a professional nurse.
Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
It is the fastest route if you want to become a registered nurse. You only need two years of full-time study in a community college or accredited university. These nurses work in diverse medical environments from schools to clinics to hospitals. They help evaluate patients, operate medical equipment, and also prescribe treatments.
3. Preparing Your Application Materials and Early Application
After deciding on the ideal nursing program, you can start preparing for the application process. Take note of the important deadline dates and start working on the application as early as possible to avoid getting caught up with time. There are some important aspects of the application process that need to be completed in good time, they include:
- Test scores – candidates are required to send their TEAS or school copy at least two weeks before the deadline date.
- Recommendation letters – most schools will ask students to have a recommendation letter from two teachers. Get the recommendation letter several weeks before the deadline to be safe.
- School transcripts – part of the application is the GED transcript. That means you must reach out to your school early enough to secure the high school or GED transcript.
- Essays and other materials – most colleges will also ask you to write an essay as part of the application. These written materials could take time to create and should not be ignored until the last minute.
4. Have a Tuition Payment Strategy
Achieving a higher education degree is quite expensive. However, there are diverse ways you can use to pay for your tuition fee. These include government loans, scholarships, and private loans.
Nursing-specific scholarships
There are many learning institutions that award scholarships to applicants to help with their education. Some scholarships can only be used for a given purpose even though many can be utilized for living expenses, books, and tuition. Here are a few scholarship programs you can consider to finance your journey in nursing school:
- National Black Nurses Association – it awards scholarships to NBNA members every year ($1,000-$5,000)
- Jane Delano Scholarship – the scholarship is available to graduate and undergraduate nursing students who have ever participated in a volunteer service
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing – it also awards scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students.
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses – this association awards NAHN members scholarships for eligible nursing programs.
These are a few scholarships you can take advantage of as a nursing student. Research on the grants and scholarships available whether it is via a professional organization or through your school.
5. Picking the Ideal Program
Many students will often think that the best program for them is the prestigious one. Far from the truth, the best nursing program should help you achieve your career goals. So, what do you look at when choosing the best program? Below are key considerations:
- Time to complete the program
- School environment – is it online or in-person
- Program’s flexibility
- Extracurricular activities in the school
- Cost of attendance after factoring out grants and scholarships
Consider the most important factors to you as an individual according to your situation and then choose an institution that will cater to your needs and enable you to launch a successful career in nursing.
Bonus Tip
The nursing industry is quite massive. There are many concepts and procedures to understand and apply in real-time clinical settings. A little help to fully understand these topics would go a long way in ensuring you grasp every topic needed to make a successful nurse. There are numerous websites that claim to help students understand the topics and even pass their exams but they can only help so far. Look for reputable websites such as Nursing Prep Exams where we are dedicated to seeing you succeed.
Our database is updated with all the latest notes, questions, and answers among other remarkable resources that help students learn and grasp nursing concepts. Our resources will also help you prepare for the exams you have to undertake such as NCLEX by providing you with useful resources like practice tests.
Take Away
Getting into nursing school should never be a bother anymore especially if you already know what to do. Follow the steps above and you will be a successful nurse in the nursing career path you choose. Of course, do not forget to seek help from reputable sources such as nursingprepexams.com to fully comprehend and master the complicated nursing concepts. Remember everything in life is all about preparation and being confident that you can achieve it.