How to Become a Registered Nurse When You Have a B.A.
- 1). Decide on a program. Both nursing school and an associate's program last a little over two years, while a bachelor's degree program generally lasts for four. On the upside, RNs with BSN degrees tend to make more than those with associate's degrees and certificates. On the downside, you are potentially looking at another four years of school. Any program you choose will give you an RN, so whether you go with a certificate, an associate's or a bachelor's depends on how much of a degree you want and how much you want to spend.
- 2). Find a school. The Honor Society of Nursing has a reference page with links for all of the accredited nursing programs in the United States and its protectorates. It has the most recent information, and is much more efficient than looking in the phone book or researching each school's website individually.
- 3). Meet with an admissions officer or an adviser. Both the bachelor's and associate's programs will require that you complete general education studies, in addition to the core nursing curriculum. If you already have a degree, you may be able to waive courses like writing composition, sociology and speech, which can shave a year off a bachelor's degree program. Make an appointment with the admissions department to go over your transcripts and determine which classes you can waive.
- 4). Take refresher courses. The nursing curriculum covers a lot of anatomy and physiology, and chemistry. Many schools require that you have at least high school-level biology and chemistry before admission into the program. If it has been several years since you've taken these classes, you may want to take a refresher course. Often the nursing school will offer refresher courses that you can take as part of a pre-nursing program.
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