From the moment you apply to nursing school, to the time you prepare for the NCLEX, it is a long and difficult journey. Although it is a difficult path, it is necessary if you are determined to become a registered nurse.
Students often find that the first semester of nursing school is the most challenging because they have to adjust so much to the demanding schedule. However, there are ways to overcome these challenges.
Prerequisites
Understanding the prerequisites is crucial if you are interested in nursing school. These courses provide a foundation for your learning, and help nursing schools see how well you’ll do in their academic program.
American Government is a prerequisite for RN school. It provides an overview of the inner workings and functions of the U.S. government at the local, state, and federal levels. This course usually lasts 3 credits and will give you a basic understanding about how the government works and its purpose.
A biology course is also a prerequisite. This course covers the basics and functions of life, reproduction, metabolism, genetics, disease, and genetics. This is essential for nurses, who use a broad knowledge of science to understand the causes and treatments of diseases and injuries.
Nursing students should also take a prerequisite course in microbiology. They need to understand how bacteria and viruses work and how they affect human health. This course will give you a solid foundation in nursing topics such as infection control and antibiotic treatment.
The next prerequisite is physiology. This helps nurses understand the body’s systems, such as respiration and circulation. This will allow them the ability to treat a wide range patients, including children and seniors.
Prerequisite courses in nutrition are another requirement for RN programs. Nurses need to understand how diet and exercise affect patients’ bodies. This will help you better advise them on how to make healthy choices and improve their overall health.
Sociology, which studies how people think and behave, is another prerequisite to RN school. This is a good course to take, as it will allow you to gain a greater understanding of cultural norms and how they can influence your behavior as a nurse. This course will prepare you for the clinical side of nursing, which will require that you communicate with your patients in many ways.
Coursework
Nursing school will provide classes that will help you perform assessments and provide patient-care. You’ll also study different theories that help nurses think more strategically about their work.
Physiology is a prerequisite course for RN school. It gives you a solid understanding of the human body. It also gives you a strong understanding of how diseases and injuries affect the body, so you’ll be better prepared for clinicals.
The course also introduces you to the medications that you’ll dispense as a nurse. It covers common drugs as well as drug interactions, adverse reactions, and other medications.
Additionally, you will learn about mental health and how psychiatric patients are treated. This nursing specialty is very important as it can be used to provide acute care in a hospital or work with people who are experiencing mental crisis.
A major part of nursing school is completing fieldwork hours in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics and other healthcare facilities. These clinicals require you to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-life situations, under the guidance of a preceptor.
Simulation is another way for students to gain a real-world experience in nursing. It is a great way for nursing students practice their skills and to develop their critical thinking abilities.
Nursing school students are subject to a lot, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This is why it’s important to diversify your schedule and take a variety of challenging courses that will challenge you while helping you develop the necessary skills to succeed as a registered nurse.
If you’re a busy professional who can’t attend in-person, an online degree program may be the right choice for you. Some nursing programs allow you complete your coursework online and then place you in a real clinical setting to complete the rest of the hands-on requirements.
Clinicals
The clinical component of nursing school is a requirement. It provides hands-on experience in real-world medical settings. These placements can take place in hospitals, clinics and home health agencies as well as community health centers and assisted living facilities.
You will likely be required to work in these settings as a nurse once you graduate. So, it’s important that you learn how to handle the responsibilities of these positions effectively and efficiently.
Clinicals, for example, require you to interact and communicate with patients and staff nurses in order to ensure they receive the care they need. These tasks can be overwhelming and may require a lot mental energy and physical exertion, especially if you are working in a large hospital.
One way to make the most of your clinicals is to show up on time and put your best foot forward. This will make you a positive impression on your instructors as well as the other nursing students in the program.
Another great idea is to find a clinical buddy to help you out during your clinicals. These are other nursing students that will be able to share their experiences with you and give you advice on how to succeed.
It’s a good idea, too, to keep a journal of your experiences during clinicals. These journals will help you to reflect on your experiences and learn from them.
While clinicals can be difficult, they’re a critical part of your education as an RN. They will help you get prepared for your career and be a valuable member of the healthcare staff. It will pay off long-term if you take the time to learn how best to deal with the challenges.
Internships
In addition to the coursework and clinicals that make up most nursing school programs, internships also play a key role. These practical experiences allow students to gain hands-on experience in their chosen field and help them decide if nursing is the right career path.
They offer networking opportunities and the chance to learn new skills. Internships are available in many settings, including hospitals, clinics and medical offices, as well as abroad. Internships are available at some schools for international nursing students. This can add an extra dimension to your resume and allow you to learn a new language.
The most common way to find a nursing internship is to use the career services or student services at your school. These offices will provide a comprehensive list of opportunities near your campus.
You may need to submit a portfolio, a cover letter and resume depending on the type internship you are looking for. It is best to start your search early to ensure that you have enough time to gather all the necessary materials and submit your application on time.
Mount Sinai Hospital System, New York City, offers a paid internship to nursing students that gives them on-the-job training. Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited BSN Program and have completed at minimum one clinical medical-surgical turn.
Internships are a great way to build a professional network, gain practical experience and develop skills that will help you become a well-rounded nurse. They can be completed during your first or second year of nursing school, and some even take place over the summer between semesters.
Licensing
After completing your nursing degree, it is necessary to become licensed to practice. There are several different types of licensure, and each one limits what you can do in a clinical setting. The most common type of licensure is the RN (Registered Nurse), which allows nurses to perform a variety of patient care tasks in a hospital setting. LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), and CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) are less common types of licensing.
The type and level of your career goals will determine the type of license you need. An RN will have more autonomy than a lower-level nurse and will be paid better.
To obtain your RN license, you must attend an accredited nursing school and pass a national licensing exam. This test, also known as the NCLEX, will be administered by the Board of Nursing in your state.
Some states allow registered students to turn in their applications before they graduate, which can expedite the process. Some states require students to submit official transcripts. This can take some time.
Some states will issue temporary licenses to registered students during this time. These permits allow them to work under the guidance of an RN. However, they can’t practice RN until the NCLEX is passed and they get their license.
After passing the NCLEX exam, you will need to renew your license every three year. During the renewal process you will need to complete continuing education and pay a fee.
In addition, New York nurses must complete a certain amount of coursework in infection control and child abuse reporting. This coursework is usually part of approved degree programs. However, it may be required separately if you are outside New York.