What Are the Prerequisites for Nursing School?

Advancing Your Healthcare Career,education,Healthcare Careers,RN
Written by
Miranda Kay, RN
August 27, 2022

At Nursa, our goal is to connect nurses and healthcare workers, new and old, with hospitals and healthcare centers all over the U.S. so facilities can fill in PRN jobs. For healthcare facilities to recruit new nurses from all over the world, there first must be those willing to become a clinician or healthcare professional such as a nurse. With jobs such as those in the healthcare field, due to the fact they require a hefty amount of education depending on what you wish to do in healthcare, it can be pretty nerve-wracking starting on the journey to becoming a nurse or other medical professional. So if you're here asking, "What are the prerequisites for nursing school?" you've come to the right spot.

These fields require extensive education and knowledge regarding various subjects; behind all the knowledge you must learn to obtain one of these jobs is anywhere from 16 months to four years of learning and training on the horizon. While you can take many pathways and specialization options as a nurse, there are also numerous options regarding education choice and location. It's essential to consider what you'll need to learn and know to become a nurse and where you wish to obtain the knowledge. If you want assistance locating the perfect nursing school for you, be sure to look at the find nursing schools website here.

Understanding the Types of Nursing Degrees

In order to become a nurse, you'll be required to enroll in either a two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree; although similar, these programs both hold quite a few differences due to the BSN being on the more competitive side, seeking those who wish to have a broader range of knowledge than others. However, as noted, to become a nurse, you must have extensive knowledge in your lexicon; this rings true for simply going into a nursing school as well. This knowledge in question is what makes up the prerequisites for nursing school.

As mentioned, the ADN is a two-year program that provides opportunities for aspiring nurses to work in entry-level positions and a great foundation to obtain nursing degrees of a higher level in the future. As this program is two years shorter than the route to get the BSN degree, these programs place students on a steady and swift path to becoming registered nurses in less time than the BSN would require. To enroll in an ADN or BSN program, you will need a high school diploma or GED certificate, proof of completing various high school coursework, official transcripts, a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher, and more or less, depending on the specifics of the program.

What is a BSN in Nursing? 

So while we have the ADN as a selection for becoming a nurse, the BSN, although a more extended option, provides students with even more knowledge and a promising future as BSN nurses are more likely to find jobs quicker. A nursing BSN is a bachelor's degree earned through extensive learning and training; although a longer program to commit to, being BSN certified opens up many new pathways in nursing.

What is Nursing School?

Before going into any highly regarded education program, you'll most likely want to know precisely what it is and what it entails for you in the long run. After meeting the education requirements to apply for a nursing school, taking part in a nursing school is the next giant step to becoming the nurse you dream of being. The prerequisites are necessary because nursing school is the second step in healthcare education; upon joining, you'll obtain further healthcare knowledge and hands-on training on what it's like to be a nurse. These programs are incredibly demanding and time-consuming, which is crucial to remember before diving into nursing.

How to Get Into Nursing School

Now, how exactly does one get into nursing school? You'll be delighted to know upon meeting the prerequisites for nursing school, although some may vary depending on the specific school you're looking to get into; all that's left to do is apply for the nursing school you desire to join. However, remember that this is quite a competitive field, and you may want to use it for multiple locations at once. In addition to this, before applying, be sure to have down how you'll be paying for nursing school, as these programs vary in price from one school to another.

Blog published on:
August 27, 2022

Miranda is a Registered Nurse, Medical Fact Checker, and Publishing Editor at Nursa. Her work has been featured in publications including the American Nurses Association (ANA), Healthcare IT Outcomes, International Living, and more.

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