How to become a Professional Nurse
Nursing Education Options
Baccalaureate
of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree: Offered at colleges and
universities, this four-year program is the only basic nursing program
that prepares graduates to practice in all health care settings --
critical care, ambulatory care, public health, and mental health -- and
thus has the greatest employment flexibility of any entry-level RN. A
BSN offers the greatest opportunity for career advancement and is
necessary for entry into a master's degree program, which prepares
graduates for leadership, management and more independent roles, such as
clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, educator and researcher.
A nurse with a four-year baccalaureate degree is prepared to practice in all health care settings - critical care, outpatient care, public health, and mental health. The BSN nurse is prepared to deliver care in private homes, outpatient centers, and neighborhood clinics. The demand for BSN nurses is expanding, as hospitals focus increasingly on acute care. Health care has moved beyond the hospital, to more primary and preventive services throughout the community and there are endless options for BSN employment.
In addition to the liberal learning and global perspective gained from a four-year baccalaureate education, the BSN curriculum includes clinical, scientific, decision-making, and humanistic skills, and prepares nurses who have clinical experience in community health, patient education, nursing management and leadership. Such skills are essential for today's professional nurse who must make quick, sometimes life-and-death decisions; be able to design and manage a comprehensive plan of nursing care; understand a patient's treatment, symptoms, and danger signs; supervise other nursing personnel and support staff; master advanced technology; guide patients through the maze of health care resources in a community; and educate patients on health care options and how to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Licensure
Graduates will need to pass a national licensing
examination, the NCLEX-RN, before becoming a registered nurse. These
examinations are offered through state board of nursing. For more
information, see www.ncsbn.org.