5 Tips to Make Your Pursuit of a Nursing Career Successful

When it comes to jumpstarting your nursing career, it can be stressful trying to determine where exactly the journey starts. Many people find that the path to starting their nursing career can be cumbersome and rather difficult. However that doesn’t have to be the case. By following the 5 tips outlined below you can ensure you are on the path to success in the pursuit of your nursing career.

1. Research the types of nursing

The first step in pursuing a career in nursing is to determine the different nursing career options available to you. There are several different types of nursing careers you can pursue such as any of the following:

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
• Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)

The options for career paths in the nursing field are truly endless; however, they can be narrowed down into 3 specific fields: non-degree (CNA), degree (BSN, RN) and advanced degree (NP).

2. Decide how many years of school you will need

After determining which type of nursing that you would prefer to pursue, you will also need to determine how many years of schooling will be required to obtain your certification or degree in the field. If you’re looking to become a registered nurse, the two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) is the shorted route available. However if you’d prefer to obtain your BSN or a Bachelor of Science in nursing, this is considered to be a four-year degree. Of course it may require more or less schooling depending on how quickly you complete the courses required.

There are other options available for those looking for a more advanced position in nursing such as obtaining your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or even obtaining your Ph.D. in nursing.

3. Find the right school

If you’ve already narrowed down your career path and know how many years of schooling will be required, the next step is to determine the right school to obtain your education. Finding the right school can be a rather difficult task for many, especially since there are so many potential options available. When determining which school is the right fit for you, it’s important to also consider what the school offers both in and outside of the schooling itself. You may consider whether the school allows you the opportunity to gain hands-on internship experience or what the curriculum will include.

You may also want to look into what the school can provide you with as a student outside of your education. An example would include schools such as Berry College that provides its nursing majors with both in-classroom instruction as well as hands-on training opportunities. But the selling point for many students isn’t just the curriculum that they offer, but they also have the world’s largest campus sizing at 27,000 acres. The campus allows students the opportunity to take part in outdoor recreational activities to help alleviate the stresses associated with their education. Extracurricular activities provided by the school and surrounding the school are another integral thing to consider when choosing the right school for you. Of course, there are other things to consider as well such as the potential commute time that would be required to attend that school or the housing options available to you as well.

4. Talk to the school administration

If you have any questions concerning the career path you’re planning to pursue and the education requirements required by the school, it’s important to take the time to talk to the school administration as well. Ensuring that your goals align with what the school will provide you in terms of your nursing education is integral. Does the school offer you hands-on training opportunities? What does the curriculum include? Will the curriculum help you to learn everything you need to be successful in your future career? These are all things you can address by scheduling time to talk with the school’s administration.

5. Get enrolled

After following the previous four steps, the final step is to get enrolled. If you have found the school that offers you both the educational requirements you would like to meet as well as one that has extracurricular activities available that interest you, all that is left to do is get enrolled and start your education process.

It may seem like a long and daunting road, but after obtaining your education through a school that you feel aligns with you and your future goals, you’ll feel much more secure and confident in yourself throughout your future job search and future career.