As a nurse and nurse educator, I have had the privilege of working with a large number of nursing students over the years. They have come from many different backgrounds, geographic locations, etc. and have different career aspirations. However, they do have one thing in common, and that is, they all had to apply to nursing school and were fortunate enough to be accepted.
For those who are still in the process of considering whether to pursue a career in nursing, please allow me to offer four tips on the application process.
- Start preparing as early as possible. As I have told my own children, the post-secondary education application process starts in high school. Currently, competition for spaces in nursing programs can be intense; many more individuals apply than are accepted. The grades that you receive remain a part of your final high school transcript which will be an important part of the information that is sent to your nursing school of choice. If you think that you plan to pursue a career in any health care field, try to take as many science courses as possible. Make an effort to be involved in your community, school activities, etc. so that you are a well rounded individual. This can also be attractive to those who will review your nursing school application. If you have a GED rather than a high school diploma, this suggestion is also important.
- Research your options. There are a variety of ways to achieve the goal of becoming a nurse. If you choose licensed practical nursing, this generally involves a one year course at a community college or vocational/technical center. If you choose registered nursing, you may want to consider whether you wish to pursue an Associate (two year) or Bachelor’s (four year) degree. If financial aid is a consideration, talk to the financial aid office at the school that you are considering to determine what grants, loans, etc. may be available to you.
- Talk to nurses. If you know any nurses who graduated from the school that you are considering, talk to them about their experience.The caveat to this is that you may encounter those with negative opinions about the school and/or the profession depending upon their experiences. Take everything that you learn with a grain of salt, consider the source, and take the information that you do obtain and try to follow up on what is relevant and important to you. It is also a good idea to check with the Board of Nursing in the state where the school is located. Most Boards have websites which contain the nursing licensure exam passing average for their programs as well as their accreditation status. Always be sure that the school that you apply to has full Board of Nursing accreditation, and national accreditation especially for RN programs is also essential.
- Recognize that nursing school is hard, and that working as a nurse is hard too. The attrition rate in nursing schools in this country is significant. This is due to a variety of reasons including personal reasons, illness, academic failure, and the realization by students that nursing just isn’t for them. If a nurse tells you how much work they had to do in their nursing courses and that they were sometimes overwhelmed, believe it. Likewise, also believe that working as a nurse and impacting the lives of others on a daily basis is well worth the effort