The main prerequisite to get started in a career in nursing is a high school diploma. When you know that you want to be a nurse, you should take Science courses to make it easier to be accepted into the nursing program at a university or college. The nursing program does involve a lot of science courses and these are prerequisites that you should have before you apply.
You have a choice in the path you choose to become a nurse. Colleges offer an Associate’s degree in nursing and universities offer a Bachelor’s degree. Check out both types of programs carefully because there are more advantages to taking the longer route and obtaining a BSN degree. If you have not been accepted for a Bachelor’s program, you should take an Associate degree because this will ensure that you have the prerequisites that you need.
But there is more to being accepted into a School of Nursing than just having completed the courses. Your grade point average is very important, both for high school programs and those who graduate with a diploma because the courses for nursing are hard and you will have to show that you are dedicated to taking the time to study.
Both the Associate’s and Bachelor’s programs in nursing have a combination of classroom work, lab work and hands-on experience in a hospital setting. This aspect of the training is called the clinical component of the program. The courses that you have to take as part of these programs include anatomy, physiology, biology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other science courses related to the work that you will be doing.
After you graduate from the program, you will still not be permitted to start your career right away. These degree programs are prerequisites in themselves for the licensure exam that is required in all states. When you have the qualifications for the degree you can then apply and pay the appropriate fee to write the NCLEX-RN exam. This is a national exam called the National Council Licensure Exam and is mandatory for nurses all over the country.
Some states also have other exams and licenses that nurses must have in order to be able to work in the hospitals and clinics of the state. For this reason, you do need to contact the State Nursing Office to find out what other procedures you need to follow.
In addition to the educational prerequisites to become a nurse, you must also have the personal characteristics that such a profession demands. You should be able to pay attention to minute details and be caring and compassionate. There will be patients and work experiences that will test the limits of your patience, so you should be a person who can remain calm and be able to handle stress in the work place. You should be able to assess the situation very quickly and be able to offer advice to patients. Good oral and written communications skills are essential as are interpersonal communication skills.
