Want To Make Yourself More Marketable Here Are A Few Tips
- Learn another language: Many hospitals need nurses who speak more than English, with Spanish being the second language in highest demand.
- Get certified: If you have expertise in a specialized area, earn professional certification.
- Be flexible: Be open to working for different employers, even if you have your heart set on one in particular. The experience you gain could be valuable.
How To Become A Nurse In Texas
Nursing is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the demand for registered nurses is projected to grow 15% from 2016 to 2026. However, healthcare labor experts predict much stronger growth in Texas. According to a 2018 report by the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, statewide demand for RNs is projected to grow 54% by 2030, creating an estimated 60,000 full-time job vacancies. The career outlook for nurses in Texas is among the strongest in the country.
Climbing The Nursing Career Ladder
First, keep in mind that getting any nursing job often is a numbers game. Submit plenty of applications and resumes but ONLY for positions you want. Accepting a job thats not for you likely will lead to dissatisfaction. If you have a specialty area in mind go for it. If you dont land that position, however, consider another one at the same facility that will enable you to gain experience and show youre right for the unit you really want. Be sure to research the job and facility before going in for an interview, so youre prepared to answer questions about the clinical area youre pursuing.
Be ready to talk about your clinical rotation, cases youve handled, and any challenges you encountered and how you resolved them. Your practical experiences go a long way toward demonstrating how youll react to similar situations on the job.When going for a job interview, dress professionally and always being on time no exceptions.
Once you get that first nursing job, align yourself with a good mentor who can help you be more successful. To review all 15 NurseZone tips, check them out here.Nurse professionals suggest keeping in touch with your college because they frequently get postings for the latest openings. Career Services Departments at many Fortis campuses will offer assistance to their nursing alumni , no matter when they graduated. Its beneficial resource worth exploring.
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How To Change Your Career To Nursing In Six Steps
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
Video: How To Find Transferable Skills When Switching Careers
You may have more skills to bring to the table than you expect! Jenn explains how your soft or non-technical skills can apply to new jobs or careers.
Changing careers to nursing is a decision that may present both challenges and rewarding experiences. Current job experience or an existing degree may contribute to the skills and education necessary to change careers to nursing. There are several paths you can take that may coincide with your current educational level or that meet the time frame to complete your degree. In this article, we explain what a career in nursing entails and outline the steps to change your career to nursing and begin a rewarding new path.
Licensed Practical Or Licensed Vocational Nurses
Licensed practical nurses , also known in some states as licensed vocational nurses , can move into entry-level nursing jobs relatively quickly. Becoming an LPN or LVN generally requires a high school diploma or GRE, successful completion of a 1-2 year accredited program that includes 700-1,000 hours of clinical experience, and a passing score on the NCLEX-PN exam.
LPNs and LVNs work under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. They assist with procedures, monitor treatments and medication, maintain patient records, and often help with daily patient care including bathing and dressing. While they may find positions in hospitals and clinics, they often find employment nursing homes and residential care facilities.
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What Is An Entry
Entry-level nurses begin their careers after completing a certificate or licensing program, a nursing diploma or associate degree, or a college-degree. These nurse training programs and degrees do not require prior nursing education or work experience. Because of the continuing demand for healthcare professionals, entry-level nurses find ample job opportunities as NAs, LPNs/LVNs, and RNs.
What Degree Do You Need To Become A Nurse
While it may seem obvious that you’ll need a nursing education to become a nurse, there are a few things to know about how to proceed. Nursing is a field with many pathways. The required degree level and other qualifications you’ll need to break into and advance in the profession depend on your career aspirations.
Fortunately, there is a range of options: from the bedside to the boardroom, hospitals to hospices, schools to specialty niches, and opportunities in between.
Some types of nurses and their required level of education include:
- Registered Nurse: Associate degree in nursing or bachelor’s in nursing
- Critical Care Registered Nurse: Bachelor’s in nursing
- Oncology Registered Nurse: Bachelor’s degree in nursing
- Nurse Practitioner: Master’s in nursing
Whether you want to work with a specific patient population or already know you plan to become a nurse practitioner, the key to achieving your goals is to consider your interests and start building credentials and experiences that align with them.
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How To Start A Nursing Career In Australia
Nursing is seen as one of the most promising career options by a large number of people around the world. Thatâs likely the same reason why many people start a nursing career in Australia as well. Nursing is unlike those typical jobs that people choose to do in their day-to-day lives, such as retail or sitting behind a desk. Whilst it can mean long hours and shift work, it also means a sense of satisfaction and helping other people.
In this article, we are going to cover some of the factors that you should consider before becoming a nurse. We also cover pre-registration tasks, describe the in-demand nursing roles, and provide nursing career tips.
If you decide to choose nursing as a career, then you should know that it offers great opportunities to work both within Australia as well as overseas. It all depends on what you have chosen and your nursing preferences.
After reading this article, I trust that you will be able to decide by yourself whether you should start a nursing career in Australia, or if this career path is just not for you.
Associate Degree In Nursing
An Associate of Science degree in nursing is traditionally a full two-year college-level program that places students on the path to becoming a Registered Nurse . This type of program allows you to earn your RN credentials, but it is only the first step in a full-time professional nursing career. As with any nursing program, youll want to choose one approved by your states board of nursing.
With Labouré College, an ASN degree allows students to begin working in the field of nursing while pursuing degrees at higher levels. Not only is this helpful if you need to continue working, but it also provides practical, real-life experience in different healthcare settings while building confidence.
An associate degree in nursing allows you to take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a Registered Nurse and to reap the benefits of having such licensure.
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How Long Does Nursing School Take To Complete
The field of nursing makes up a substantial number of jobs in the medical field and healthcare industry. In fact, the United States federal government predicts that over the next several years, the nursing sector will add at least 200,000 jobs per year. When it comes to training to be a nurse, many students ask, How long is nursing school?
When you begin any academic program, its normal to want to learn more about career options and job availability based upon your year of completion. Because each training program is different based on the education provider and the specific program you choose, these options may change from year to year.
Regardless, with more than 3.8 million registered nurses in the United States, this is a popular field that many individuals wish to pursue. In this article, youll learn more about the levels of nursing degrees you can earn and what sets each of them apart. Youll also learn about unique nursing school programs that are available as you advance in your education and professional career.
Complete Lots Of Practice Questions
One of the hardest parts of nursing school is definitely the tests and the type of questions in them. The way to tackle this is by doing loads and loads of practice questions and exams.
Practising answering questions after youâve studied the materials is really going to help you in preparation for various exams and tests. They will get you thinking about common nursing scenarios as well.
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Further Education For Nursing
Many nurses pursue additional education for nursing specialties, including cardiology, surgery, prenatal, and gerontology. Most concentrations require additional certifications. Professionals should prioritize organizations with accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American Board for Specialty Nursing Certifications.
Certification boards for nursing specializations include:
Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing often takes four years to complete. This degree is ideal for those who want to learn the full professional scope of nursing as a career choice. There may be additional job and salary opportunities at this level as well.
Registered Nurses who have earned bachelors degrees are more likely to be employed in hospital settings, rather than medical offices or other types of care facilities. Becoming an RN with a bachelors degree can also mean higher entry-level salary requirements and further educational opportunities down the road.
LPNs or RNs who are seeking a bachelors degree may be eligible for LPN-BSN or RN-BSN programs, which typically take one to three years to complete. Because these candidates already have prior education and licensure in nursing, they can put those prior credits toward their bachelors degree and finish faster than a traditional 4-year program.
Accelerated BSN programs are another option for career changers who may have a bachelors degree in another field and would like to become a nurse. State-approved accelerated BSN programs – like 4-year BSN programs – allow the graduate to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam at the end of their program.
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Be Confident About Your Age
Be confident about your decision to start a second career as a nurse. No matter your current age, it is possible to begin a new career that you are more passionate about. Even if you are nervous about becoming a nurse at 30, try to project confidence when writing your personal statement or speaking with admissions counselors. If you believe in your ability to begin a second career, those around you are more likely to believe in your potential for success, too.
Learn To Prioritize From The Very Beginning
Dont waste your energy on studying whats not important while working on multiple projects. Focus on the tasks that are more complex while you still have energy.
Studying for nursing school can be intimidating with some areas being too complex to decipher. Its best to get done with these areas first while you still have the inclination.
You may be inclined to complete simple tasks first, but considering the complexity of nursing courses, you may not have the energy later. The least important material normally doesnt take much time and can be completed with little effort.
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Overview Of Nursing Degrees
Nursing schools offer an array of degree options, from associate degrees through postgraduate programs. Each level is designed to meet different career needs, so courses, curricula, and skills learned vary. Understanding how nursing degrees differ–and how these differences translate to the workplace–allows future nursing students to choose programs that are in line with their goals and interests. In addition to the degree information provided below, students can visit this nursing program search tool and rankings page to help round out their research.
What Does Allied Health Refer To
Many great stepping-stone careers for future nurses are in the allied health field. The term “allied health” is used to describe the multitude of healthcare workers that do not include physicians, nurses, dentists, or pharmacists. In fact, allied health professionals actually make up the majority of all healthcare workers. They perform both direct and indirect patient care and can also be highly specialized. Allied healthcare workers include:
- Medical assistants
- Medical billers
Allied healthcare workers can work in various environments. Examples include hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, and dental offices. They are vital to the healthcare industry because patient care is so multi-faceted one patient may need care from multiple disciplines. For example, a patient admitted for a stroke may need physical therapy, medication regimens/adjustments, dietary services, spiritual services, and assistance with ADLs. Therefore, the physician will need to involve allied health professionals such as physical therapists, pharmacy technicians, dieticians, social workers, and nurse assistants.
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How To Find Nursing Jobs
Once youve graduated from school, youll want to find your first job as a nurse. Many nursing programs offer career counseling to help you identify potential employers, prepare your resume and ace the interview. Its important to note that new nurses can face hurdles since employers often look for experienced staff.
S To Become A Registered Nurse
After youve decided that you would like to pursue a career in nursing, the steps to becoming a registered nurse are fairly straightforward. First, you must earn the appropriate degree. Then, you must pass the NCLEX Exam. And finally, you must obtain a license in the state that you wish to practice in.
Below, we explore each of these steps in more detail.
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Consider The Effects On You And Your Family
Think about how your decision to attend nursing school might affect you and your family. Starting a second career you’re passionate about can be a great decision, but it’s important to plan for the possible effects. If you’ve decided to attend nursing school, think over ahead of time logistical factors such as your time commitment, the cost and any schedule or budget changes you’d need to make. Figuring the logistics out ahead of time can help you balance your nursing school with other aspects of your life.
What Do Nurses Do
The question, What does a nurse do? is more complex than it might seem. A question that might be more helpful is, What does an RN do? More helpful information may surface if you specify the type of nursing youre interested in. Here are some responsibilities that are important across many different nursing specialties:
- Assess the condition of their patients
- Record patients medical data and relevant behavior
- Work and communicate efficiently with other members of the healthcare team
- Effectively use and maintain medical equipment
- Assist in forming a treatment plan
- Assess patient and families teaching needs, develop an individualized teaching plan and provide relevant teaching
- Advise families on the condition of the patient and post-hospital care
For more in-depth information on what nurses do, check our page dedicated to the topic.
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Mental Health Nursing In Australia
In this field, the nurses work to improve the health situation of people with depression or mental disease. There are two classifications in this field too. When you choose it as a career option, you can either work inside a general hospital or else be employed in external organisations dedicated to treating mental health issues. It all depends on which type of work environment you prefer.
What Does A Normal Nursing Career Path Look Like
For many professions, a normal career path is relatively simple: Start in a junior-level specialized role, then advance to either a senior specialized role or a management position from there, its a climb to higher-level management positions.
Nursing career paths, however, arent quite as tidy. There are several educational levels for nurses, which translates to several entry points into the field. Add to that the fact that many nurses are perfectly happy to spend their careers working in a specific, specialized role, and it becomes clear that theres really no such thing as a normal nursing career pathnormal is what you make it.
Whether your sights are set on a management role or on finding your groove in a specialized care unit, it certainly helps to know the path ahead. Thats why we compiled 10 of the more common nursing specialties to provide you with a sampling of the various different ways you can break into a fulfilling career as a nurse.
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Why Get An Online Doctorate Degree
On average, doctorate degree employment is projected to grow by 9% between 2020 and 2030.* So if youre looking to become a leader in your field, our doctorate degree programs can help. You can gain the knowledge and critical skills you need to stay competitive in growing fields like business, education, healthcare and nursing.
*Information based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is not specific to University of Phoenix.
