Nursing is a rewarding and highly paid career.
Even with a master's degree, you can always go back to school to learn a new trade or skill. Nursing is a field that requires a high degree of commitment and education. If you already have a bachelor's and master's degree in your pocket, you may have fulfilled some of the requirements necessary to complete a nursing program. There are several levels of nursing care -- certified nurse assistant (CNA), licensed vocational nurse (LVN), registered nurse (RN), nurse anesthetist and nurse midwife. Each requires a different program and level of education.
Instructions
1. Select the type of nursing program you want to enter. Certified nursing assistants require only certifications and the program is available at many vocational and community colleges. Registered nurses require either an associate of science or bachelor of science degree. Nurse practitioners and anesthetists require a master's degree.
2. Examine the entry requirements. If you already have an advanced degree, you will need to show that you have completed transferable prerequisites to enter into a bachelor's program for nursing. For example, Penn State's School of Nursing recommends that transfer students complete introduction to chemistry, biology and human anatomy with a lab, plus a nutrition class. A certified nursing assistant only requires a high school diploma. Those wishing to enter a nurse practitioner degree program will need to have a current registered nursing license, plus a few years of work experience as a nurse.
3. Contact a transfer or admissions counselor at the nursing school of choice to go over your transcript and work experience. Depending on the program requirements, you may have already fulfilled some of the required classes. Some schools will only accept coursework completed within the last five years.
4. Complete the GRE, if applying to graduate program in nursing. Many master's programs in nursing will waive the GRE for applicants who've completed a master's degree as long as they maintained a 3.0 GPA.
5. Apply to the nursing program. Many registered and advanced nursing programs are competitive and space is limited. Apply to several programs, if possible. As part of the application, you will need to include three recommendations and an official transcript from all previous educational institutions.
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