How to Make a Career Plan to Become a Registered Nurse
Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) is a solid career move. RNs are paid well and are in high demand. You can choose the type of setting you want to work in, and the area you want to live in. If you are in a life situation where you move often, an RN is the ideal career to go into because nurses are needed virtually every where. The RN program is generally 18 months to two years, and can be completed part time.
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Instructions
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See if the community college in your area offers an RN program. The basic requirement to become an RN is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). This is a two year program if you attend full-time, and involves approximately 17 classes covering medical, science, general education and clinical training. Talk to someone currently in the program to see how they feel about the school and the program.
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Talk to the Student Financial Aid office at the college you plan to attend to see what kind of grants and scholarships are available to you. Also talk to a representative from the school of nursing. Most degree specific colleges offer scholarships to their own students. In addition, most universities offer some kind of scholarship to women and minorities going into medicine so be sure to ask your SFA representative.
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Decide whether you can go full-time or part-time and create a timeline. If you are able to go full-time, you already know it should take two years. However, if you can only go part-time, you need to determine how many classes you can take each semester and whether or not you can attend classes over the summer semester to determine how many semesters it will take you to graduate. For example, if you can only take two classes at a time, it will take you approximately nine semesters or three to four years.
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Look into career opportunities in your area. There are nursing opportunities in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, doctor's offices, mental retardation facilities, schools and prisons. Watch your newspaper to see how many ads there are for nurses each week. While you are still a student you should start networking with people in the nursing field who may be able to help you get a job after you graduate.
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Think about your long term goals because it may affect the decisions you make about schooling now. If you go to college full-time for two extra years you'll be able to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree. This can give you an edge in the workforce. A BSN is also required if you plan to go on to earn your Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN). An MSN can allow you to go into Nurse Administration, become an Advanced Specialist, a Clinical Nurse Specialist, a Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Anesthetist.
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Tips & Warnings
When it is time to buy your books, check you various libraries and used book stores. You may be able to get them cheaper than they are at the campus bookstore.
When figuring out the cost of your RN program, do not forget to get an estimate for the cost of books and fees, as well as the cost of living.
