New to Pre-Nursing?
New to pre-nursing? Don't know where to start? You've come to the right place! Navigating the world of pre-nursing while in university can be confusing, overwhelming and sometimes downright scary. But, have no fear! Here at FIU's Future Nurses of America club, we want to help you take the "pre" out of pre-nursing. This is just a very basic guide to help you if you don't know where to begin!!
Step 1: Do your research!
Make sure nursing is the right choice for you!
First things first: if you're interested nursing, you should definitely do your own research as to what it entails.
There are plenty of YouTube videos, articles, books, and other available resources to help guide you in making your decision if nursing is right for you.
Step 2: Find out what program is right for you!
There are many different nursing programs that will help you achieve a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN). Though it's not required to get a BSN to become a nurse, it is highly reccomended. Here are two of the most common BSN programs offered by most schools.
Generic BSN
- This is the most traditional route as far as nursing programs go.
- Undergraduate students pursuing a BSN on this path typically spend their first two years of university completing required pre-requisites.
- Then, prospective students apply to nursing school in the spring semester of their sophomore year and will start the following Fall of their junior year.
- Generic BSN programs are two academic years in length after acceptance, resulting in an overall four year experience.
Accelerated BSN
- Accelerated BSN programs (sometimes reffered to as ABSN or AOBSN), are meant for prospective nurses who have already obtained a Bachelor's degree in another field.
- These programs tend to vary in length depending on the school, but typically last 3 to 4 semsters and can range from 11 to 18 months.
- Different schools have different start dates for their ABSN programs. Most prorgams typically start in the summer or fall semester.
- The programs are known for being high-intensity with an intense curriculum of 18+ credits per semester.
This list is in no way exhaustive; there are so many different paths you can take to becoming a nurse!
Step 3: Start exploring your options!
Once you've determined what program is best suited for you, it's time to start looking at schools.
- Your choice on what program you're best suited for is dependent on where you are in your academic journey. It's important that you consider schools that offer the program you want.
- There are many things to consider when looking at schools: tuition, location, curriculum, clinical opportunities, specialties offered, jobs in the area, NCLEX exam passing rate, etc.
- This part of the process is very personal and it's up to you to see what you're interested in.
Step 4: Ace your pre-requisites!
Different schools and programs have different pre-requisite course requirements. Regardless of the school or program, there are some courses that are pretty standard across the board. Verify that you are completing the pre-requisites for your desired school!
- Some of the most common pre-reqs are:
- Human Anatomy + Lab
- Human Physiology + Lab
- Microbiology + Lab
- Nutrition
- General Chemistry
- General Biology
- Statistics
- Psychology
- Doing well in your pre-reqs is crucial to getting into your dream nursing school!
- A lot of schools will not only look at your overall GPA, they will also calculate a GPA based off of your pre-requisite course grades.
Step 5: Get some experience!
Though most nursing schools have no set requirements as far as extra curricular activities, it is highly reccomended that you do some work outside of your required classes to make you a well-rounded applicant. Here are some ways you can do that.
- Join nursing related clubs and organizations... hint hint. Bonus points if you can get a leadership role!
- Get in some community service! A lot of schools will allow you to submit proof of volunteer hours. It's important that you make sure whenever you volunteer, you get proper documentation from whichever organization you are working with. This includes getting an official letterhead and signature that includes your name and the amount of hours you contributed.
- Get some experience in the field! If you can, try to get a position volunteering at a hospital, nursing home, or medical clinic. One of the best ways to do this is to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)!
- Get certified! There are many certifications you can get that will improve your resume and help you gain some hands-on experience. Here are some of the most common ones!
- CNA Certification
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification
- And many more!!
Step 6: Take your entrance exams!
Most nursing schools require some type of entrance exam as a part of their application. These are often weighed heavily in the admissions process, so it's important that you study hard and ace these exams. Different schools require different exams, here are some of the most common.
- Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
Health Education Systems, Inc. Admissions Assessment (HESI A2)
Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test
National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (PAX)
Nursing Entrance Test (NET)
Step 7: Apply! Apply! Apply!
At this point, you've put in a lot of work leading up to this moment. Now it's time to apply!
- Most schools use a program called NursingCAS to accept their nursing school applications.
- Once you've created a NursingCAS account, you will select the program and school you wish to apply for.
- Different schools have different requirements, so it's important that you see what is required for you.
- It's a good idea that you get yourself organized and apply as early as possible. Waiting until the last minute can be very stressful and lead to complications down the line.
Step 8: Welcome to Nursing School!
Once you've submitted your applications, keep your eyes peeled for those admission decisions! After you decide which school you would like to attend, get ready to work hard because you are officially a nursing student!!
Step 9: Get that license!
In order to practice as a registered nurse, you need to pass the NCLEX exam!
- The National Council Licensure Examination (commonly reffered to as the NCLEX) is a required examination in order to become a registered nurse in the United States.
- You must submit an application for licensure/registration to the nursing regulatory body where you want to be registered in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX.
- Then, you will pay and register to take the exam. After that, it's game time!