Academic Requirements
Although an entry-level nurse can find a job with a three-year RN (Registered Nurse) degree, there is a growing national movement to require all nurses to hold a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing. An increasing number of nursing schools are offering accelerated bachelor and master degree programs. There also are a growing number of RN-to-MSN and MSN-to-doctoral programs, designed to meet the increasing demand for more highly skilled nurses in the workforce.
On the average it can take up to four years to complete Nursing pre-requirements and a BSN program.
Once you are a professional nurse will need to take the nursing licensure exam called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). There are two types of NCLEX; NCLEX-RN for registered nurses and the NCLEX- PN for vocational or practical nurses.
You might choose to focus on a particular specialty. There are numerous specialty options -- each of which has its own education/certification requirements and related professional network or organization.
For more information on careers in this field, visit the Explore Health Careers web site.
Admissions
Students complete about 65 credit hours of pre-required college coursework before they can apply and transfer to nursing school of their choice. The minimum GPA and minimum course grade vary among nursing programs. Students should visit the web site(s) in order to explore the pre-requirements and transfer equivalents for the nursing programs.
Application Process
The application process and deadlines vary considerably and prospective students are strongly encouraged to review the nursing school website and make contact with an admissions representative.
Most nursing programs use an online application or the Nursing Centralized Application System (NCAS). NCAS allows applicants to complete one online application and designate multiple programs to receive it. NCAS verifies the materials for authenticity.
Some nursing programs require an application to the nursing school as well as an application to the College or University. Most require letters of reference as well.
In addition, many nursing schools now require the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), or the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) as part of their application process. Both of these exams measure entry level skills and base knowledge in reading, math, science, and English. The exams serve two purposes. First, they assess entry level skills and abilities of nursing school applicants. Second, they serve as a means of standardized students. Programs receive applications from across the country, from students who attend both large and small universities; liberal arts colleges, community colleges in rural counties or large urban communities. Nursing schools may also use the TEAS and NET scores as a way to predict success in passing the NCLEX.