How To Become A Registered Nurse Without A Bachelor's Degree

Registered Nurses are in Demand

The demand for registered nurses is high. With the aging Baby Boomers population requiring medical intendance and with many nursing reaching the age or retirement, RN positions demand to be filled.

Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient centers are in desperate demand of registered nurses to care for the constant influx of patients. And, the nursing shortage is expected to get worse as the years get by.

But, this is nothing new.

The call for nurses has been made past commercials, media, nursing schools, and hospitals. Students accept heard the cries and have heeded the call! So now, then many students want to be nurses that getting into nursing school has never been more competitive!

Many prospective students have completed their prerequisites and are not-so-patiently waiting on academy waitlists while they retake classes to re identify B'due south with A's. Most are working students and struggle to balance work and school while fulfilling volunteer hours and extracurricular activities to try to stand out to a higher place the crowd.

Many students begin to wonder whether in that location is an easier way!

Have no fear! The pathways to earning a career as a registered nurse are evolving and there is a shortcut to getting started faster as a registered nurse!

How?

Accept It Pace-By-Stride

Earn a certificate every bit a nursing assistant (CNA) then piece of work as a CNA while attending a CNA to LPN plan. Many are tailored to working students. The CNA program is usually just a couple of months of office-time piece of work and the CNA will earn experience in nursing while earning more than money than virtually college-aged jobs pay.

CNA's tin work in domicile wellness, for private homes, in hospitals, and in skilled nursing facilities.

Side by side, keep the CNA job and become to LPN school or consider a CNA to RN programme is available.

These are usually full-time programs but the beauty of working in healthcare is the 24/7 hours! CNAs can work evenings after LPN school is out for the mean solar day. The program is usually about a year-long, prerequisites vary by schoolhouse, and the waitlist is usually fairly short. LPN careers while important, it is being emphasized to continue your nursing education in most states; instead, utilize information technology equally a stepping stone to authorize for an LPN to RN plan or discover a direct BSN program.

Once LPN school is completed, work equally an LPN while attention an LPN to RN plan. This is an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN).

These are ordinarily designed for the working nurse and many schools offer evening and weekend classes. Online classes may exist available but because clinical hours are required by each state these must be fulfilled in-person. Some schools may offer online classes with a preceptor to fulfill clinical hours, but in this nurse'south stance, beingness present in a classroom is important for this year of nursing school. The core of nursing is taught in the outset 2 years.

Once the RN degree is finished he or she can work, equally a nurse, while earning their nursing caste online or in the evenings. See RN to BSN programs.

And then at present, instead of spending three years on a waitlist for a 4-year Bachelor's Caste in Nursing program, the nurse tin actually be spending that time working, gaining experience as an RN, and earning slap-up coin in nursing.

Many nurses tin can fifty-fifty stay within the same healthcare system equally they proceed to gain teaching and the employer volition probably offering tuition reimbursement!

Learn more nigh how to go an RN traditionally or even going from medical banana to RN.

Then Why Doesn't Everyone Take This Path?

Most students don't realize a Available's degree is non required to start a career as an RN. Let's caveat this past saying that at some point in the distant future information technology may exist required. Merely, for now, in 2016, nigh hospitals and non-hospital do non crave a BSN in nursing to get started.

Some large teaching hospitals may crave the BSN for new graduates, only virtually hospitals practice non. Those that don't may accept a hiring stipulation of obtaining a BSN within 5 years, simply for this, they likely offer tuition assistance. Most BSN programs are designed for the working nurse and are less than 2 years. Many are 100% online. Learn more nearly accelerated BSN programs if y'all are looking for a faster-paced option.

Look up the job requirements for New Graduate RNs on hospital websites. Y'all may be surprised!

CNA & RN FAQs

Do I Have to Sit for the CNA Exam Once more if My Certification is Expired?

Rules and standards for renewing expired CNA certifications will vary from country to state. In California, for instance, if your certification is more than two years expired, or information technology is more than ii years since you accept worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant, you lot are required to have 24 hours of continuing education too as sit for a Competency Evaluation. Cheque with your state's governing board for the requirements on renewals.

Can I Work every bit a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) as a Nursing Student?

Many nursing students detect value in working every bit a Certified Nurse Banana (CNA) during nursing school to add to their bones care and time-management skills. Nearly employers will allow nursing students to bypass the requirement of being certified, but check the job announcements for these allowances. Many states will permit those with nursing instruction and background to sit for the examination without taking an official CNA course. Cheque with your local state certifying board for details.

Enrollment in an accredited BSN programme and completion of foundational nursing skills coursework may qualify the educatee for certification equally a CNA. Depending on the country-specific Board of Nursing regulations, BSN students may utilize for CNA certification and list on the state Nurse Aide Registry. Some states require that students sit for a CNA registry exam regardless of enrollment in an accredited nursing programme, while other states accept completion of nursing courses as verification of skills testing.

Does a Student Nurse Need to be Supervised at all Times?

Each facility should have a process for overseeing students and probationary employees which typically includes a checklist of skills. In one case the preceptor, or person assigned to orient and train the student, has deemed the student capable of managing skills on their own, the preceptor can deed as a resource to the pupil and no longer needs to oversee each task.

If the preceptor determines that the student is non able to manage the tasks on their own after appropriate instruction over time, the preceptor should consult with the accuse nurse or manager so feedback can be provided to the school of the educatee's failure to perform at the expected standard level.

Students should refer to their schoolhouse's policy or the policies of the establishment for further clarification.

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Amanda Bucceri Androus is a Registered Nurse from Sacramento, California. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in nursing. She began her career working night shifts on a pediatric/ med-surg unit of measurement for six years, later transferring to a telemetry unit where she worked for 4 more years. She currently works every bit a charge nurse in a decorated outpatient primary intendance department. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and 2 children.