How Do I Start a Career in Nursing if I Already Hold a Bachelor's Degree?
If you are feeling the call to become a nurse, it is one of the highest honors in the world. Nurses save lives, put fears at ease, and work tirelessly to improve the field for future nurses. Nurses work alongside doctors to help patients on their road to recovery. Some nurses even operate their own practice. Nursing is one of the most exciting and rewarding careers in the world.
If you are looking to become a nurse, but you have a degree in another field, you may be wondering what your options are. You may wonder if you can use some of the credits from your non-nursing degree to pursue a nursing degree. The simple answer is "yes."
Next, you may be wondering how long it will take to obtain a nursing degree. There are schools that can help you obtain your nursing degree in as little as 12 months, with the help of an accelerated degree program. Regardless of whether you have your initial degree in business, the sciences, or history, the right program could take that degree and help you prepare for the NCLEX-RN examination.
What are the requirements for transferring a bachelor's degree into a nursing degree?
Requirements vary from program to program, but you are usually required to have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of a 2.5. You will be required to have a minimum science GPA of 2.75 in classes such as microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, and chemistry.
Other prerequisites may include:
- Statistics (3 credits per semester)
- English (3 credits per semester)
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II (8 credits per semester/12 credit hours, with labs)
- Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology (3 credits per semester)
- Chemistry (4 credits per semester, with lab)
- Microbiology (4 credits per semester, with lab)
- Social Science courses: Psychology or Sociology (3 credits per semester)
TEAS V and ATI TEAS scores are required for all individuals looking to join the accelerated nursing program. All applicants will be required to undergo a FDLE background check.
If you have previously taken one or more of the above courses for your initial bachelor’s degree, you may find that work counts toward your nursing degree.
How can someone tell if they are cut out to be a nurse?
Being a nurse is not for everyone. It takes an incredible amount of compassion, a thick skin, and the ability to think fast. Nurses are confronted with various situations on a daily basis. They encounter bodily fluids, various wounds, panicked patients, and worried families.
When it comes to stressful situations, nurses must be able to overcome the stress in order to tend to their patients and to comfort family members. This can be difficult, given that nurses can work up to 12 to 16 hours per day, or more. It is required for you to be a people person.
You will be working to help your patients. You will be updating their families on their loved one's condition. You will be conferring with your co-workers, and you will be communicating with other healthcare professionals.
Compassion is the biggest trait one must possess in order to become a nurse. You have to deeply care for your patients and their families.
Another important trait that nurses have is confidence. Confidence is key when you are working with patients and family members who are panicked and stressed out. If you are not confident in the care you are giving your patients, they will not have confidence in you or your medical facility. Nurses go beyond to ensure that patients are receiving the best care.
Are You Ready for a Second Career?
Are you feeling the call to head to nursing school? Check out ECPI University's Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program. Our accelerated degree program could provide you with all the tools to become a hard-working, educated, and compassionate nurse. For more information, contact one of ECPI University's knowledgeable admissions counselors today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Bachelor’s to BSN
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