How to Become a Nurse in the USA and Land Your First RN Job?
Nursing is a highly in-demand profession currently. Fueled by staff shortage, the job has a handsome salary attached to it that has attracted many people towards it. Specifically in the USA, nursing is one of the highest-paid jobs in the country, with many added benefits. It is a respected job that provides a lot of fulfilment. So, it is not surprising that many people want to become nurses. Despite the hardship that is prevalent in the field, people still want to pursue it.
This blog will answer the question: How to become a nurse in the USA? It will provide a comprehensive guide on what it takes to be a nurse, as well as all the requirements of becoming a nurse.
Introduction
Nursing is a highly in-demand career for people who want to be healthcare professionals. The field itself provides multiple opportunities for different needs. A registered nurse may provide a variety of care options for a patient, focusing on overall health. They handle a variety of jobs, from patient care to record-keeping to empathetic communication.
With a variety of tasks, the nursing profession is further divided into job roles.
This helps define and divide different tasks within the hierarchy of nurses. The hierarchy of nurses can be divided based on years of experience and level of education. This extends from RN or registered Nurse to APRN or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
Here are the types of nursing careers in the USA?
There are different types of nursing careers in the USA; I’m mentioning a few below.
Registered Nurse (RN):
Registered Nurse (RN) is an authorized professional who checks patients, gives medicines, teaches families, and works closely with doctors. They work in hospitals, clinics, schools, and homes, in areas like ER, ICU, pediatrics, and maternity. In the USA, once you finish the nursing program, you need to pass the NCLEX-RN, and get a state license.
Nurse Practitioner (NP):
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced training who can check patients, order tests, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medicines, and manage treatment. They often act like a doctor for common issues.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN):
An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse with graduate-level training (master’s or doctorate) who can diagnose, assess, order tests, and prescribe treatments. They have more responsibility than registered nurses and often act as specialists.
Research Nurse:
Research-based role for the advancement of nursing practice. They check vital signs, collect samples like blood, give study medicines safely, and write down results carefully. They work with doctors and labs, watch for any side effects, and make sure the study follows rules that protect patients.
Research Nurses usually work in hospitals or universities and must be licensed nurses.
Nurse Administrator:
A Nurse Administrator is an experienced nurse who leads the nursing team at a hospital or clinic. They make schedules, handle money and rules, and help the unit run well, instead of caring for patients all day.
How to Become a Nurse in the USA?
Now, there are various roles that one can take on within the nursing sphere. However, the most basic one or the starting point of this profession is being an RN (Registered Nurse). This position takes the least amount of time and education, compared to other advanced roles. As such, to begin working as a nurse anywhere in the USA, you first need to become an RN.
The path to becoming a nurse is a difficult one. It has various educational qualifications and licensing requirements. You can use online platforms such as GlobeMed Resources to help you understand these requirements. This platform can help you with its comprehensive consultation services and additional support. GlobeMed Resources is the go-to platform for medical students and professionals for their services.
But the most important thing to keep in mind is that nursing takes a lot of time, patience, and money. It is an incredibly labor-intensive and dedicated profession. But it can also be incredibly rewarding if done correctly. So, let us first understand the scope of this job.
Understanding the Role of Nurses in the USA
This profession includes a variety of different roles and expectations. Some of the important roles that nurses fulfill are:
- Patient Care: This refers to basic medical tests that monitor patients' well-being. This can include minor tasks such as feeding and washing. And, advanced care such as handling injuries and administering medication.
- Patient-Doctor Link: Nurses often act as the link between the medical world and the patient and vice versa. They are the ones who help patients understand their issues and treatments. On the other hand, they monitor and report any changes in patient health to the doctors.
- Upkeep of Patient Records: One of the major aspects of patient management is record-keeping. Nurses update patient charts with the most up-to-date information regarding their health. Moreover, any changes in the patient’s overall health are often updated by nurses.
The working of any medical practice often depends on the smooth functioning of the nurses. So it is no surprise that the profession asks for a lot of dedication. Now, let us go to the one integral question on everyone’s mind: How to become a Nurse in the USA?
Steps to Becoming a Nurse in the USA
Due to the demands of the job as well as its medical nature, it is a highly regularized job. Here are a few steps you need to undertake to become a nurse:
Step 1: Education
A lot of places in the USA require a certain level of educational qualification. This can be a diploma, an associate degree (ADN), or a bachelor’s degree (BSN). All three qualifications can help you go to the next step of becoming a nurse.
Step 2: NCLEX Exam
The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is the base-level requirement in the nursing profession. An individual needs to take and pass this exam to be registered as a nurse in the USA. If you fail to pass the exam, a wait period of 45 days is applied before you can retake the exam.
Step 3: State License
In the USA, there are different requirements for different states. As such, you might need to obtain a state-specific license to practice in a specific state. Each state has unique requirements concerning the job. So, make sure to check the requirements laid out by your state of choice.
Step 4: Advanced Training/ Education (Optional)
If you want to, then you can take your journey further. There are various field-specific nursing certifications that you can opt for. This includes medical fields such as pediatrics, neonatology, oncology, and more.
You can also take your education further and earn a higher degree, such as MSN and DNP. This can help open up better opportunities with higher pay. However, keep in mind that you might need to take other licensure exams for other roles.
Educational Requirements to Become a Nurse in the USA
Nursing is a highly specific job that comes with a lot of training and educational requirements. Since it is a medical field, one might need to dedicate years of their lives to become a nurse. There are various educational routes that one can take to become a nurse in the USA.
At the first stage, there are three ways to become an RN. This can be achieved through a BSN, ADN, or a diploma course. However, more places in the USA now require a bachelor’s degree as a qualification for RNs. So, a BSN might be the best path to take to become a nurse.
However, if you already have a diploma or ADN, then many institutions offer an RN to BS Completion Program. For people who might have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject, there are specialized nursing programs as well. These options are accelerated programs that can be completed in a year or two. An RN to BS Completion program can take 12 to 14 months for completion. On the other hand, a specialized nursing program might take anywhere from 16 to 24 months for completion.
These various routes can be used to become qualified to take the NCLEX-RN examination. There are further degrees that you can pursue to take higher positions in the nursing department. The educational requirements for some of them are presented below:
Cost of Becoming a Nurse in the USA
One of the biggest worries that anyone faces while pursuing specialized programs is the cost. While the NCLEX-RN examination has a $200 registration fee, other educational requirements have varying costs. These costs can further change based on the type of program one pursues. Moreover, the type of institution from which one pursues their education can also vastly impact the cost. Public institutions are always cheaper than private ones.
An estimated breakdown of the cost associated with various nursing degrees has been listed below:
Nursing Careers in the USA and Salary Expectations
There is no doubt that a nursing program is expensive. But the professional opportunities after graduation are plenty. Moreover, this field also has the advantage of higher and more competitive pay. Nurses in the USA are generally well paid, but the pay may vary from state to state. However, pay can vary depending on your license, specialization, working hours, and more. Additionally, based on whether you do this job part-time or full-time, your salary can vary.
Based on various online sources, the job offers an average pay of around $86,070 to $93,600. This comes to around $41 to $45 of estimated hourly pay. Keep in mind that the salary increases with an increase in experience as well. Moreover, there are many Nursing careers in the USA. This includes RN, NP, APRN, nursing, and more. These provide opportunities for career growth and salary growth as well.
Nursing in the USA for foreigners
Many people dream of immigrating to the USA for professional opportunities. In any case, one needs to fulfill the requirements laid down by the United States Immigration, regardless of their job. Even for people who want to be nurses in the USA, they need either a Green Card or an H-1B visa. Moreover, they need to have completed their education from an accredited program. You might also be asked to show work experience to immigrate.
Additionally, in the USA, you will have to pass the licensing exam, NCLEX-RN, to start working. You must also provide proof of English proficiency. These requirements might sound confusing to a lot of beginners. You can use the online platform GlobeMed Resources for its cutting-edge services related to nursing professionals. The platform provides a comprehensive understanding of the USA’s immigration policies. GlobeMed Resources can also help newcomers apply and find positions that might fit their needs.
Challenges of Nursing in the USA
While the job is definitely attractive because of its pay and opportunities, it brings with it challenges as well. Since this job is more focused on patient care, nurses face a lot more challenges than anticipated. Here are a few difficulties of nursing in the USA:
- Emotionally Exhausting: Nurses often work in proximity to the patients. So, they might need to face difficult patients and their families, and handle their diagnosis with delicacy. Moreover, medical professionals often face multiple deaths on a day-to-day basis. Nurses, especially, will have to deal with these deaths personally.
- Physically Exhausting: Nurses are responsible for handling many patients at a time. Their tasks often involve dealing with patients multiple times over the day. Their workday might also extend for full days, making them work extremely long shifts. Moreover, because of the scope of their jobs, they might need to be on their feet most of the day.
- Heavy Workload: The medical industry in the USA is facing a shortage of nurses. So, often the nurses who are already working have to face the brunt of the workload. This has been the leading cause of burnout in nurses, which leads to further staffing shortages.
Rewards of Nursing in the USA
Alternatively, however, the profession also provides many benefits. Some of the rewards of nursing in the USA are:
- High Earnings: Because of the challenges that a lot of nurses face, the job also comes with higher pay. The salaries provided to nurses are competitive in nature and open up the path for higher potential earnings.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Along with higher pay, nurses are also given added benefits such as insurance and pensions. This can help many professionals to build their careers along with a safety net.
- Job Security: Due to a continuous demand for healthcare professionals, nursing is a very secure job opportunity. Moreover, because of staffing shortages, the demand has already increased in the past few years.
- Emotional Satisfaction: The importance of nurses in the medical field cannot be understated. They are the backbone of medical care. So, many nurses also find fulfillment through their jobs. It is so deeply tied to human life that the profession itself gains meaning and respect.
Conclusion
Nursing is an incredibly tough but fulfilling profession. In the USA and abroad, many people are attracted to this profession. They want to know how to become a nurse in the USA. To be a registered nurse in the USA, all you need is a bachelor’s or associate degree. This makes you eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN examination. After passing this exam, all one needs to do is register themselves in the specific state they wish to work in. And done!
The path to becoming a nurse in the USA is pretty straightforward. Websites like GlobeMed Resources can be a helpful tool for foreign professionals looking to apply for a job in the USA. All you need is dedication and hard work, which are the necessary components of this profession.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to become a Nurse in the USA?
To become a nurse, you first need a degree. It can be a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, or a diploma. Most places nowadays prefer a bachelor’s degree. After earning a degree, you become eligible to appear in the NCLEX-RN examination. Only after passing the exam can you register in specific states to become a nurse. There are further specializations that one can opt for as well.
What is the role of nurses in the USA?
The role of nurses in the USA is very vast. A nurse takes care of the overall health of the patient. Their role can include administering medication, day-to-day care of patients, administrative tasks related to patients, and more. This is why nurses are regarded as the backbone of the medical industry.
How many years to become a registered nurse?
Various factors determine the time it takes to become a nurse. This includes the type of degree you pursue, the time it takes for you to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and more. To become a nurse, it can take anywhere from 16 months to 10 years for a more specialized role.
Can I work as a nurse in the USA without the NCLEX?
No, you cannot work as a nurse; the NCLEX is the primary examination you need to pass to register as a nurse in the USA. There aren't any other paths you can take to earn a nursing license in the USA.
What education is needed to become a registered nurse?
The most basic educational qualification to be a registered nurse is a bachelor's degree (BSN) or an associate's degree (ADN).
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