Nursing is a job that is in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nursing is among the top 10 occupations for job growth between 2014 and 2024, expected to grow at 16%.
When providing direct patient care, nurses observe, assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress, which provides the basis for care planning and intervention. Registered Nurses (RNs) also develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health. Registered nursing requires a large base of knowledge in order to assess, plan and intervene to promote health, prevent disease and help patients cope with illness. While state laws govern the scope of nursing practice, it is usually patient needs that determine a nurse’s daily job activities.
In addition, nursing has four advanced practice clinical professions, each of which requires a graduate degree and separate certification:
Most BSN nursing programs require applicants to complete specific courses before admitting students into the program, including courses in Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology and Statistics.
To become a nurse, you must first achieve certification as a Registered Nurse (RN). To do that, the first step is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. While you may also choose to earn a nursing diploma or associate degree, which takes three years, a BSN will make it easier for you to find a job. Currently 55% of the nursing workforce holds a baccalaureate degree or higher. Recent research indicates that patients are safer and have better outcomes when they are under the care of nurses with at least a baccalaureate-level education in nursing.
Most BSN nursing programs require applicants to complete specific courses before admitting students into the program, including courses in Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology and Statistics. Asbury University students can earn a B.A. degree from Asbury and a BSN degree from a School of Nursing by completing the Pre-Nursing (PNR) major. Asbury has agreements with 2 nursing schools that will accept Asbury Pre-Nursing students who have met specific requirements. Read about guaranteed acceptance of Asbury’s Pre-Nursing students to nursing school.
Another option is for a student to complete a 4 year degree in a different major other than Pre-Nursing while still completing prerequisite courses for nursing school. The student may then choose to apply to a “second-degree BSN program” offered by many nursing schools.
Your career prospects will be better if you hold a BSN, as many employers recognize that nurses with bachelor’s degrees are better prepared for a wide range of practice settings and tend to have strong skills in critical thinking, case management and health promotion.
Once you graduate, you will have to take and pass the NCLEX-RN, a national licensing exam, to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Take specific prerequisite courses for nursing school; complete all Foundations requirements and electives.
Apply to transfer to an accredited nursing program; request letters of recommendation from professors; send copies of all college transcripts; gain acceptance(s).
Complete nursing school requirements; transfer 30 nursing credits back to Asbury to complete the PNR major and Asbury BA degree.
Contact Dr. Bruce Branan, Asbury’s Advisor for the Health Professions, for more information and help in preparing for a career in nursing.