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Nursing Schools: How to Select One
Nursing Schools: How to Select One
Nursing schools can prepare students to enter one of today's most fulfilling career fields. If you are considering nursing as your future occupation, attending a nursing school is the first step. However, before you choose, there are some important tips for selecting a nursing school that you should take the time to consider.
Be Clear About Your Career Goals
In order to select the best nursing school to match your future goals you need to first clearly identify the type of nursing career you want. There are many different positions within the nursing field, so it's important to decide which one is the best fit for you. Here are some of the most common nursing positions:
- Nursing assistant: Provides patient care related to comfort and personal care, under the direction of a licensed nurse.
- Nurse aide: Acts as part of a nursing team, working under the direction of a vocational or registered nurse, assisting with anything from acute care to rehabilitation.
- Practical nurse: Licensed nurses who are prepared to perform complex treatments and procedures.
- Registered nurse: Licensed nurses who perform direct patient care, and can also be responsible for leadership and management duties.
Understand the Available Education Levels
Once you have a clear nursing career path in mind, the next step in choosing a nursing school is to decide on the education level you wish to pursue. Nursing schools can offer a variety of options to choose from. Here is a list of the choices that are typically available:
- Certificate and diploma programs: Generally career-focused, short-term programs that allow you to focus on gaining the hands-on skills required for an entry-level nursing position. These types of programs can often be found at vocational nursing schools and colleges, and range from less than a year to two years in length.
- Degree programs: Associate's and bachelor's degree programs are usually two to four years in length, and can provide hands-on and theoretical training, as well as business and general education classes.
- Master's degree programs: These advanced degree programs are usually open to those who have already received a bachelor's degree in their field of choice. They range from two to four years in length, and can prepare you to take on nursing management, leadership, or education-related positions.
Research Certification Requirements
Another vital consideration when preparing to choose a nursing school is to find out about certification or licensing requirements. Depending on the state in which you plan to work, and the position you wish to pursue, you may need to pass a national or state-level certification or licensing examination before you can legally work in the field. For example, in order to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), or a registered nurse (RN), you must successfully take a licensure examination from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Therefore, an important part of choosing between nursing schools is to find out if their curriculum includes preparation for licensing exams. Some schools may handle the logistics of setting up exam appointments, and include the exam fee as part of your tuition.
Now that you understand some of the necessary considerations when it comes to choosing a nursing school, your next step is learn about individual schools, and request more information to find out if they are the right fit. This directory of nursing schools is a great place to start!
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