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There are hundreds of prospective students each year who choose to pursue nursing as a major. While it is a financially and morally gratifying field, you must always address essential questions before deciding. Let’s get one thing straight: nursing is a serious undertaking. As a nursing student, you must squeeze in the course load, internships, clinical, and even keep up with extracurricular activities. There isn’t enough time to do everything, and not everyone is okay with that. Since nursing students tend to have their hands full, it’s best to know what you are getting yourself into from academic, social, and professional points of view. Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions by nursing students.
1. What academic background do I need for applying to nursing school?
Nurses need to have excellent proficiency in medical knowledge as they can administer treatments, provide general care, and even perform low-level procedures. That is why most colleges prefer individuals with Science A-Levels; nonetheless, non-science applicants are not completely out of luck. Each university has the power to specify its eligibility requirements. Fortunately, it’s not always the case that you need to open an anatomy book before going to nursing school. Many nursing schools have courses built into the program, while others require you to take prerequisite courses before applying. For a bachelor’s program, common prerequisites may include biology or microbiology.
2. Is it beneficial to go for a BSN degree?
Bachelor of Science in Nursing is considered a set standard in nursing education. One of the most common questions about earning your RN to BSN online degree in today’s competitive world must be how is it beneficial? Compared to ADN and diploma programs, BSN offers better opportunities for growth, better nursing assignments, and higher pay. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, employees strongly prefer BSN-prepared nurses. It offers benefits from both career and clinical standpoints. As a nursing student, you may be confused about pursuing which type of degree. While every program and degree is worthwhile, some are more valuable than others. You might be interested in programs like BSN, which provide greater closure, better leadership possibilities, and evidence-based practice.
3. Is nursing a growing profession?
The nursing profession can offer students the opportunity to make a career across various chronic, community-based, and acute care settings. According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the registered nurse job outlook is likely to grow by 9% in this decade. In contrast, about 194,500 job openings are expected each year on average. As a student, it may give you comfort to know that nursing is one of the fastest-growing professions globally that offer a stable income and career growth.
The best thing about nursing is that it’s not monotonous, as every inch of this profession feels like you are discovering something new. If we talk from an income standpoint, an RN can earn an average median pay of approximately $75,000 per year as of 2020. Bachelor’s degree is considered as the typical entry-level education while it may differ from organization to organization.
4. Can I work while attending nursing school?
There’s no definitive answer to this question as it mostly depends on which program you get enrolled in. You can work while attending nursing school, but you should know that attending nursing school is hard work. It requires almost all of your time and energy managing between coursework and clinical training. Nursing students usually don’t have much flexibility in their schedule, but it ultimately depends on how you make it work. Many schools don’t recommend their nursing students work more than 20 hours. The lack of sleep and energy may jeopardize your performance as a student and later your career as a nurse.
One of the best ways to have a good time working while in nursing school is finding a part-time job within the healthcare field. That will allow you to gain actual field experience and can help you expand your clinical time and training. Suppose you are too dedicated to work but don’t want to compromise your education. In that case, you can always opt for an accelerated program as it allows you to go all-in for a comparatively short period.
5. What career opportunities do I have for a nursing major?
As a registered nurse, you can work in various healthcare settings ranging from hospitals to assisted-living facilities. You can be of service in multiple departments in a hospital, or you can serve as a family nurse practitioner; there are plenty of options to go around. After graduating, nursing students are typically required to take the National Council Licensure Exam to become an RN. Only approved applicants receive authorization to test. Nursing students can take the following pathways to almost all kinds of nursing careers:
- Becoming a registered nurse
- RN-to-BSN degree
- AND degree (Associate Degree in Nursing)
- BSN degree (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
- MSN degree (Master of Science in Nursing)
- PN diploma (Practical Nurses)
- CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants)
Some of the most sought-after career opportunities registered nurses can go for today include:
- ER nurse
- Dialysis nurse
- Oncology nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- Nurse midwife
- Nurse manager
- Home healthcare nurse
- Telehealth nurse
- Nurse educator
- Legal nurse consultant
6. How can I manage nursing school?
Things being difficult is sometimes a matter of perspective. Some students find it easy to gain practical experience rather than learning facts in class, while others have the opposite. However, the overall consensus about nursing school is that it is typically tough and challenging. But that does not mean at all that it isn’t manageable. Nursing is a rewarding career, especially for those passionate about being part of something bigger than themselves. Therefore, if you want to excel as a nursing student, you need to have excellent time management and organizational skills along with immense passion and efficiency. You must implement a good routine without getting too distracted and consider nursing a lifestyle rather than a career.
Conclusion:
Nursing is a fabulous career choice from all standpoints, whether pay or growth opportunities. Students preparing to take on this massive role may have heard many things about nursing school. That’s why we’ve gathered the most commonly asked questions that are also the most important and answered them for you. Hopefully, you get a better idea of what to expect as a nursing student.
