How to Become a Nurse in 5 Easy Steps

We all want that dream job, right? The one with an amazing salary. The one that feels meaningful. The one you wake up every day genuinely excited to do. But it can be hard to find it. Even if you hear of a career that sounds cool, it can seem difficult to know how to get started. If taking care of the sick sounds like your ideal career, free online nursing courses could be for you. Becoming a nurse is a great way to achieve career and life satisfaction. We’ve broken down the five steps you need to get there. 

1. Get Your Degree…With a Twist

   Now, a lot of you might have seen that heading and wanted to click away. You might already have a bachelor’s in some other field. You might have dropped out of college. You might just not have the time to commit to a full-on course or be able to handle the student debt.

   However, you don’t actually need a bachelor’s to become a nurse. 

   Of course, a bachelor’s can be the most obvious avenue to becoming a nurse. But all you need is the training to complete the licensing examination (more on that below). That can come from a free online nursing course that supplies a certificate. Associate’s degrees are also an option, where you’re only required to do two or three years of coursework. These are particularly handy because you don’t need anything more than a high school diploma to start one. If you have an undergraduate degree in another field, an accelerated nursing program could be for you. These can be completed within 12-16 months. If you have any relevant coursework from your previous degree, this will also count towards this program.

2. Get Your Licence

   Once you have a relevant qualification in nursing, your next step is to get your licence. This is obtained by passing the National Nursing Licensure Examination. While requirements for this vary depending on your state and what you’re aiming to do with it, they’ll all allow you to progress to the next stage of your nursing career. Some examples of variations on the exam include the Certified Nursing Assistant exam and the National Council Licensure exam. It might be tough, but if you’ve done a course that properly prepares you, you’ll easily get your license. This is what will make you a fully qualified nurse.

3. Find a Job

   Once you have the education and the license, the next step is to find the job you’ve been working for. This will probably be the easiest step of the bunch. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that it expects nursing to grow by 15% by 2026. This is more than double the growth rate for other sectors. There are also particular areas of nursing that are expected to grow hugely in the near future, such as nursing in long-term care facilities for the elderly. Anywhere with established, large hospitals, such as Philadelphia, are also likely to have plenty of jobs for nurses.

   Nursing is such an essential job that no matter where you go, you’ll have no problem finding work. You could even use your newfound skills as an excuse to travel. Since nursing is a skill needed all over the world, you could even go abroad and experience other cultures while earning money. 

4. Pick Your Specialization

   Of course, you can pursue a career as a nurse while being a generalist. But finding a specialization after you’ve gained some experience as a nurse will help you up your salary, focus on what you’re truly passionate about and make you more in-demand on the job market. These may need other certificates or more advanced degrees. However, they’ll be worth it when you find the job you truly love. Some examples of in-demand specializations in nursing include critical care nursing, neonatal nursing, nurse midwives and clinical nursing. It’s best if you get some work experience first, so you know what you most want to do. Work experience will also help you get a better-paying, more specialized job.

5. Pursue Additional Training

As discussed above, specializing further in nursing might mean getting more training. This could mean a Master’s, or a shorter course, or some other avenue to get the knowledge you need. For example, clinical nursing needs a master’s or doctor’s in nursing in whatever area you’re interested in. Meanwhile, travel nurses usually need two years of nursing experience to get jobs in that specialization.  Free online nursing courses are another way to go about this – just make sure you pick one that’s certified.

Of course, if you’re considering a career change, it’s always best to do your own research. But nursing could be the path that leads to your dream job. You’ll never have a problem making money, and you’ll always know you’ll be helping the sick and doing meaningful work. Explore free online nursing courses, and see if you could become a nurse and spend your life making a difference. 

References

1. “Guide to Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Programs 2021”, Nurse.org, accessed 22nd Jan 2021, https://nurse.org/articles/accelerated-bsn-programs-fast-track-into-an-rn-car/.
2. “Guide to the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses”, Healthcare Daily Online, accessed 22nd Jan 2021, https://www.healthcaredailyonline.com/guide-to-the-national-council-licensure-examination-for-registered-nurses/.
3. “Healthcare Occupations”, Occupational Outlook Handbook, accessed 22nd Jan 2021, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm.
4. “20 Best Nursing Career Specialties”, NurseJournal, accessed 22nd Jan 2021, https://nursejournal.org/articles/best-nursing-specialities-for-the-future/.