Requirements to Become a Nurse

The basic requirement to become a nurse is to have an aptitude and attitude to work with love and patience, for sick people. In the profession of nursing, there are no fixed working hours. The reason can be understood very well. A nurse has to work both during the day and at night. Not only must she be well versed in the medical treatment basics but also needs to be emotionally involved in her work. If you find yourself capable enough for leading such a challenging life, then you must be interested in knowing how to become a nurse.

High School Credits: The requirements to become a nurse start at the high school level itself. An aspirant should complete high school studies with good credits in the subjects of English, Biology and Mathematics. The scores in these subjects need to be good as most of the well-reputed and accredited nursing schools select their candidates on the basis of these marks.

Degree/Diploma in Nursing School: Getting a Bachelor of Science degree or an associate degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited nursing school, is the most important requirement for beginning your career as a nurse. The nursing degree can be of either three or four years while a diploma is generally of three years. The entire nursing course consists of both theory and practical classes. The first year of the course involves the Common Foundation Programme to make you aware of the fundamental principles of nursing. While gaining education, you would be placed in local hospitals and community settings by your nursing school. This would give you the clinical experience required for this particular medical job. You can also go for a nursing degree online.

Nursing License: To practice as a nurse, you need to have a nursing license. In the United States of America, you are required to clear an examination called NCLEX-RN to obtain a license for the state you want to work in. NCLEX-RN is National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The minimum score to pass this exam is 70%. The eligibility to appear in this exam is to have a Bachelor's degree/diploma in nursing and 40-80 hours of clinical experience in various fields of nursing. For a foreigner nurse to work in USA, passing Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certification exam is necessary. The certification exam is divided into three parts; evaluation of credentials, qualifying exam to check nursing knowledge and proficiency test in English language. It is held four times a year. The questions in both the above examinations are based on knowledge of nursing practices, clinical care guidelines and laws of the state. You can take the assistance of preparatory classes to prepare for these exams.

Sustaining the License: You need to follow all the guidelines issued by the state for sustaining the license. Most states require nurses to continue taking higher education for this. Pursuing higher education would help you in career growth and progress as well. Suppose, you have a diploma in nursing, then you must try to obtain a degree. In case you are a Bachelor's degree holder in nursing, then go for a Master's degree. Keep increasing your qualification to reach higher posts in such hospital jobs. Your main responsibility as a nurse would be patient care. You would need to ask questions about the patients' ailments, note down the symptoms, assist the technicians with the diagnostic tests and administer the treatments prescribed by the doctors. Your work would also include supporting the patients and their families during recovery and giving them the necessary knowledge about medications and precautions. You can specialize in a particular medical branch such as cancer, pediatrics, psychiatry, dentistry, women's health, public health or any other.

The nursing career is no doubt challenging and provides you with various career opportunities for advancement, higher studies and immense job satisfaction. Therefore, try hard to fulfill all the requirements to become a nurse and be a winner for life.