What Type of Education Is Required for Being an RN in Montana?
Nurses provide patient care in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Registered nurses, or RNs, account for the bulk of jobs in health care, roughly 2.6 million jobs. The Montana Board of Nursing grants licenses to eligible applicants. Criteria include completing both a board approved licensing exam and an approved nursing education program.
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Identification
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RNs perform several functions. They provide patient care, take vital signs and record health assessment information within patient charts and administer medication as prescribed by a doctor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, $62,450 was the median RN salary, as of May 2008.
Nurses typically receive training from one of three types of programs, a nursing diploma program, an Associate degree program (ASN) or a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN). Montana grants approval for ASN and BSN programs in the state.
State License Requirements
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Obtaining a nursing license in Montana requires an application and a fee payment, which costs $100. Other requirements include graduation from a state-approved nursing program and a valid social security number. The Montana Board of Nursing verifies eligibility by verifying transcipts. Nurses renew their licenses and take continuing education courses.
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ADN Programs
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ADN programs comprise the majority of Montana Board of Nursing approved training programs.The board grants approval to programs that grant either an LPN or RN degree. These programs culminate in an associates nursing degree. ADN programs typically take between two and three years to complete. Students study several subjects including anatomy, nutrition and psychology, as well as complete hands on training in clinical settings. Many of the programs carry accreditation from governing bodies such as Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
BSN Programs
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BSN programs are fewer in the state of Montana. Schools offer the BSN as well as an RN to BSN degree for RNs with a diploma or ADN. These programs usually last four years and are taught by universities.These longer programs offer more opportunities for career advancement for RNs because they offer more critical thinking, clinical rotations and supervisory courses.
NCLEX
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To earn a nursing license and the title of registered nurse, RN, nurses must pass a nursing exam. This is often the National Council Licensure Examination, also known as the NCLEX test. All states require nurses to pass this exam in order to practice. NCLEX is a computerized exam with multiple question formats, with a large portion devoted to multiple choice.Applicants have up to five hours to complete the test which has between 75 and 265 questions.
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