There is no getting around it, there are licenses required for nursing careers and without them, you simply can't enter this profession. You may choose to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), registered nurse (RN) or nurse practitioner (NP). All of these professions have varying levels of education and examinations that are required for licensure. RNs are the most common types of nurses. This type of nursing professionals get higher salaries and are well - trained compared to the licensed vocational nurses, who oftentimes just need to complete at least two years of nursing education; and RNs do not also have to complete the lengthy education that are required for nurse practitioners. You may want to have a good conversation with the different experienced LVNs, RNs or nurse pratitioners so that you will be able to get first - hand valuable information as to which type of nursing career would be best suited for you. You may also get some free CNA training.
The first step that you can make in the educational ladder towards your nursing career and proper license is to get yourself an associate's degree in nursing first from an accredited school who offers this type of program. Some hospitals also offer diploma programs and CNA certification for those who would like to obtain a nursing profession for a shorter time; this could usually take about three years. The most common educational path for RNs is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited four-year university. This path will ensure a wide range of career options upon completion. Many nurses have been quite successful without the BSN, though, so if you're considering one of the other options, don't get discouraged because you will still have a wide range of career opportunities.
No matter which of those educational paths you decide to take, just remember that there is still a licensure exam that you have to pass. One example of this licensure exams mentioned is the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse, which you need to pass to become an RN or get CNA training beforehand. The NCLEX-RN tests nurses' medical knowledge and abilities to provide for patient needs. You have to be prepared of the questioning styles of these exams, because they range from the multiple choice type to the mathematics - based ones that pertains to the diagrams of the human body.
The first step that you can make in the educational ladder towards your nursing career and proper license is to get yourself an associate's degree in nursing first from an accredited school who offers this type of program. Some hospitals also offer diploma programs and CNA certification for those who would like to obtain a nursing profession for a shorter time; this could usually take about three years. The most common educational path for RNs is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited four-year university. This path will ensure a wide range of career options upon completion. Many nurses have been quite successful without the BSN, though, so if you're considering one of the other options, don't get discouraged because you will still have a wide range of career opportunities.
No matter which of those educational paths you decide to take, just remember that there is still a licensure exam that you have to pass. One example of this licensure exams mentioned is the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse, which you need to pass to become an RN or get CNA training beforehand. The NCLEX-RN tests nurses' medical knowledge and abilities to provide for patient needs. You have to be prepared of the questioning styles of these exams, because they range from the multiple choice type to the mathematics - based ones that pertains to the diagrams of the human body.