 |
|
How to Become a NurseA step-by-step guide to becoming a nurseRegistered nurses go to college for 2 - 4 years. After obtaining their license, registered nurses can independently perform a wide range of complex health care in many types of settings. Qualified registered nurses may perform more advanced activities such as in the case of nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, or nurse anesthetists. Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) Licensed vocational nurses go to school for about one year and typically perform tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse. Although the activities of licensed vocational nurse are not as complex as those of the registered nurse, they provide clinical care that has a direct impact on the patient's return to health. How To Become a Registered NurseSelect the item that describes your situation:
New Registered Nurse
1. Take college prep classes in high school You need a high school diploma to become a registered nurse. Check out nursing prerequisites at colleges you are considering. Individual nursing schools vary in their nursing course prerequisites. If you did not take the required courses in high school, you may be able to make them up at college. But the more prerequisites you take in high school, the more quickly you can become a registered nurse. Talk to your high school guidance counselor, and check out the California Nursing Schools you are considering. In general, take the following classes in high school, and you will have a head start on your nursing class prerequisites at college:
2. Choose the type of nursing school you want to attend In California, there are three types of pre-licensure nursing programs, and two alternative routes to become a registered nurse: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Masters Entry Level Program in Nursing LVN 30 Unit Option Military Corpsmen 3. Select a college and apply for admission You should find out how far in advance to apply by checking the nursing school's website or contacting them. Find out which entry exams are required at the colleges you are considering. Many require the SAT or ACT and the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam. It is better to apply at more than one college to give yourself options since some colleges have limited space for nursing students. You may want to visit the websites and campuses of the colleges in the geographic areas of interest to you. You can choose from nearly 100 California Nursing Schools. Opportunities abound for nursing scholarships, loans, and loan forgiveness programs. 5. Obtain a registered nurse license To practice as a registered nurse in California, you must be licensed by the California State Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). You must meet educational requirements, pass a criminal background check, and pass the national licensing examination. To apply for licensure: get an application package and detailed instructions online at the BRN, send your application and have your school send your transcripts to the BRN, complete a fingerprint background check and apply for an interim permit if you wish to work in a supervised nursing capacity while awaiting your application process. Take and pass the National Council Licensing Examination ( NCLEX ). New graduates are advised to take the exam soon after graduation because research has shown that there is a higher success rate for early test takers compared with those who wait several months. Out-of-State Registered NurseTo qualify for endorsement (reciprocity) into California as a registered nurse, you must hold a current and active license in another state, have completed an educational program meeting all California requirements, and have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) or the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE). If you do not possess these qualifications, you do not qualify for licensure by endorsement and must apply to take the examination instead. International Registered NurseIf you are licensed in another U.S. State and have passed the U.S. licensing exam, you may qualify for endorsement licensure. Here are the basic steps to become a California registered nurse if you were educated in another country, and have never been licensed in another state in the U.S. First you need to request or download an application packet from the Board of Registered Nursing. You need to submit your application form, with appropriate fees, your fingerprints for a criminal background check, a (translated) copy of your license or diploma that permits you to practice as a registered nurse in your country ( have your college transcripts sent directly to the California Board of Registered Nursing and if your college has never submitted a transcript to the BRN for evaluation, the BRN will also need the college's curriculum, catalogs, or other documents for evaluation ), and provide your U.S. Social Security number. You can apply for an Interim Permit if you wish to work under supervision temporarily while your licensing application is being evaluated. If you are from a non-English speaking country or did not take your country's licensing examination in English, you will need to take an English comprehension examination to qualify for an Interim Permit. The last step is to take and pass the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX). Former Registered NurseCalifornia registered nurses can easily reactivate their licenses if they are inactive or lapsed. Experienced nurses are highly valued and needed in today's health care market. A licensee cannot practice as a registered nurse in California with an inactive license (registered nurses who have paid the appropriate renewal fee, but have not completed the required 30 hours of continuing education). To change from inactive to active status, the licensee must submit proof of 30 hours of continuing education taken within the past two years to the Board of Registered Nursing. Registered nurses may choose to let their license lapse, or expire, if they no longer wish to practice nursing in the state of California. If the registered nurse chooses at a later date to return to nursing and it has been less than eight years since the license expired, the RN will be required to submit the appropriate renewal fee, and proof of 30 hours of continuing education within the prior two-year period. If the license has been lapsed longer than eight years, the registered nurse must submit a renewal fee, proof of 30 hours of continuing education, and proof of competency to practice by either a verification of a current active license in another state, or by retaking the licensing exam. |
Nursing Schools Turn Away More Than 30,000 Qualified Applications WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Association of Colleges of Nursing released preliminary survey data which show that enrollment in entry - level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 13.0 percent from 2004 to 2005. Though this increase is welcome, surveyed nursing colleges and universities denied 32,617 qualified applications due primarily to a shortage of nurse educators. AACN is very concerned about the increasing number of qualified students being turned away from nursing programs each year since the federal government is projecting a shortfall of 800,000 registered nurses (RNs) by the year 2020. "With the nation's health care system calling for more baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce, AACN is pleased to see that the trend toward enrollment increases has continued for the fifth consecutive year," said AACN President Jean E. Bartels. "Despite the successful efforts of schools nationwide to expand student capacity, our nations nursing schools are falling far short of meeting the current and projected demand for RNs." According to research conducted by Dr. Peter Buerhaus from Vanderbilt University, enrollments in nursing programs would have to increase by at least 40 percent annually to replace those nurses expected to leave the workforce through retirement. AACN's annual survey is the only resource for actual (versus projected) data on enrollment and graduations reported by the nation's baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in nursing. This year's 13.0 percent increase in enrollments is based on data supplied by the same 408 schools reporting in both 2004 and 2005. This is the fifth consecutive year of enrollment increases with 14.1, 16.6, 8.1, and 3.7 percent increases in 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. Prior to the five-year upswing, baccalaureate nursing programs experienced six years of declining enrollments from 1995 through 2000. Read more about the nursing shortage. |