What education is needed to become a registered nurse

Education Needed to Become a Registered Nurse

Registered nurses play an important role in the medical profession, providing direct care and supporting the work of doctors. To become a registered nurse, there are educational and licensing requirements beyond those of other nursing careers. Here is an overview of the most important education elements needed to become a registered nurse.

The first step for anyone aspiring to become a registered nurse is successful completion of high school or equivalent education such as a GED. Once you have obtained your high school diploma, the next step is admission into an accredited nursing program. Nursing programs must be approved by either the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Depending on your area of practice, you have a range of programs available including diplomas offered by hospitals or other health care facilities, two year Associate's degrees in Nursing (ASN) and four year Bachelor of Science (BSN) programs at universities and colleges. In addition to academic instruction in the classroom, all nursing students must complete supervised clinical hours: up to 600 hours for diplomas, 800-1000 hours for ASN degrees and 1000-1200 hours for BSN degrees. Course topics covered within each program include science areas such as biology, anatomy, chemistry and physiology as well as applied areas such as nursing theory and research/evidence based practice. These courses lay the foundation not only for passing your licensing exams once you graduate but also for providing safe and effective care throughout your entire career.

Once you have completed your academic coursework, the next step is passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). This exam assesses knowledge levels related to patient safety and appropriate nursing interventions based on age specific findings, diagnoses illnesses and documents all activities appropriately in accordance with legal standards, including taking into account ethical dimensions of patient care when making decisions relative to healthcare plans among other tasks. Aspiring RNs can find numerous resources online that help review concepts tested on the NCLEX-RN exam helpful prior to taking it so that they can be properly prepared.

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