Have you been thinking about becoming a nurse? Does the idea of providing compassionate care appeal to you but you are worried you don’t have the right A Level qualifications?
If so, you’ve come to the right place!
This blog will walk through everything involved in getting your nursing degree and becoming a licensed RN. There’s a lot to cover but stick with me!
Taking Prerequisite Courses
The first thing you’ll need to do is complete prerequisite courses for nursing school. These usually include:
- Anatomy and physiology – understanding the human body is kind of important! Taking A Level Biology is great preparation for this and will help prepare you for your studies.
- Microbiology – get familiar with all those tiny germs. Your background with A Level Biology helps here too.
- Chemistry – you’ll need a grasp on how drugs interact in the body. Chemistry at A Level builds a strong foundation and gives you the option to diverse into different areas.
- Psychology – learning about human behavior helps with patient interactions as you will be able to understand what your patients are going through
- English composition – got to work on those writing skills; this applies no matter what career you choose.
Nursing programs typically want you to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in these tough classes, standards are high.
I won’t lie, you’ll need to hit the books hard. But all that studying for A Level Biology exams will pay off!
You’ll also need to pass the TEAS exam, which tests your academic readiness for nursing school and will ensure that you are prepared. Be sure to specifically study and prep for this test.
Picking the Right Nursing Program
With prerequisites and TEAS passed, you get to move on to the actual nursing program which is the moment you’ve been waiting for.
You have a few options when it comes to training routes:
- You could follow diploma programs through hospitals which are typically 12-18 months long
- Also consideration could be given to an Associate’s degree at a community college where you would be expected to dedicate 2 years
- Some learners prefer to study a bachelor’s degree at a university and this will take 4 years
Think about your career goals, timeline, and budget to pick the route that’s right for you as these have an overall impact. An Associate’s is quicker and cheaper, but a Bachelor’s provides more advancement opportunities.
Regardless, the admissions process is highly competitive. Nursing schools look at grades, test scores, interviews, essays, work experience, and more. All that knowledge you gained from taking A Level Biology helps you to stand out and ensures that you have the dedication needed!
Give yourself 6-12 months to thoroughly research and apply to programs as you want to ensure that you make the right choice for you. Getting accepted is challenging, but don’t get discouraged as persistence pays off and you will achieve your goals.
Surviving Nursing School
You did it – you got into a nursing program! Get excited, but don’t relax too much as nursing school is no joke and now the hard work begins!
You’ll cram an incredible amount of knowledge into your brain, such as biology, pharmacology, assessments, skills, diseases, and more. Be prepared to hit the books hard, just like you did for A Level Biology and you’ll get through.
Of course, you’ll also get hands-on experience completing clinical rotations in real healthcare settings. This is where you get to apply all that nursing knowledge and turn your dream into reality. Clinicals are crucial for picking up practical skills and learning how to be hands on.
Between intense classes and long clinical days, nursing school is simply grueling. But all that A Level Biology studying will have prepared you for intense academics!
Conquering the NCLEX Exam
Woohoo, you made it to graduation! But there’s still one big obstacle: passing the NCLEX licensing exam.
The NCLEX tests all your new nursing knowledge and determines if you’re ready for licensed practice. It’s a tough 8-hour exam that requires serious prep so once again you are going to have to bury your head in those books.
Give yourself 1-2 months before the test date to drill practice questions, use study guides, and take mock exams. Once studying is completed, if you have time, do it again. Treat studying like a full-time job, just like you did for A Level Biology.
With determination and hard work, you can pass the NCLEX! Then you finally get to officially become a registered nurse, which is your aim from the beginning.
Landing Your First Nursing Job
Almost there! The last step is searching for and accepting your first job as an RN!
Start applying to jobs at least 3-6 months before graduation, giving yourself plenty of time. Consider becoming a nurse tech while still in school to get as much experience as possible.
The job market can be competitive, especially for new grads, but all that science knowledge from your A Levels will help your resume stand out!
Keep all options on the table, as there are many possibilities. You will be able to consider hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, home health, hospice, school nursing, the list is endless. With persistence, you’ll get that exciting job offer in no time!
Final Thoughts
Getting your nursing degree and license takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears as you can see, but it’s so incredibly worth it. As a nurse, you’ll get to directly impact patients’ health, comfort them during vulnerability, inspire hope, and even save lives.
It may take several years, but becoming a compassionate nurse who changes the world – makes it all worthwhile.
FAQs
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What’s the difference between an LPN, RN, and BSN?
You’re probably familiar with RNs, but what about LPNs and BSNs? Let me break it down for you.
LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) complete a 1 year diploma program and provide basic nursing care under the supervision of an RN.
RNs (Registered Nurses) need an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and can provide broader care without as much oversight.
Finally, BSNs (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) hold a 4-year Bachelor’s degree that opens up even more advanced nursing roles.
The training and responsibilities increase from LPN to RN to BSN. But they’re all super vital nursing roles!
Do I need healthcare experience to get into nursing school?
Healthcare experience isn’t an absolute requirement, but it can really strengthen your nursing school application.
Working or volunteering in any healthcare setting – like a hospital, clinic, nursing home – helps you demonstrate passion for the field. It also lets you get familiar with the medical environment.
Some ideas are becoming a nurse aide, medical assistant, EMT, volunteer, unit clerk, or working in other non-clinical roles. Clinical experience shows nursing schools you really know what you’re getting into!
What’s the difference between clinicals, externships, and preceptorships?
These are all ways that nursing students gain real-world experience, but there are some differences:
Clinicals are supervised nursing shifts within your coursework. Externships are optional summer experiences, also with supervision.
Preceptorships are intensive one-on-one training experiences with nurses at the end of your program to transition into practice.
They all provide invaluable hands-on training! Nursing school would feel incomplete without them.
How do I choose the right nursing school?
Choosing the right nursing program takes research! Consider location, cost, degree types offered (ADN, BSN, etc.), program length and structure, admissions requirements, clinical site partnerships, graduate licensing exam pass rates, and student outcomes.
Schedule visits, attend info sessions, talk to current students. Get a feel for the teaching methods, faculty, clinical training, and overall vibe. Make sure the school aligns with your goals and learning needs. This is your future career – take time to pick wisely!
Additional Information for article:
Bio: Angela is a writer and content creator with Learn Now College and is passionate about education.
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