Answers from the Experts

Career Path to Become a Nurse

"Next year I am going to be a junior. After I get out of high school I really want to become a nurse. The problem is that I have no idea what, I guess you can say, levels of nursing there are. I've heard of graduate and undergraduate studies but I really have no idea what they mean or what am I supposed to be looking for once I get out of high school. Am I supposed to go to a college and then medical school like doctors do or go to college for nursing. I am really confused and I would appreciate it a lot if you could help me. Thank you."

Responses were sent from:
Foundation of New York State Nurses' Association, and American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Member Institution and Association Answers:

From Foundation of New York State Nurses' Association:

Hello! My name is Susan Fraley, MS, RN and I am the Executive Direction of the Foundation of New York State Nurses and Nurses House.

I am thrilled that you are interested in nursing! I have been a nurse for 40 years and feel very fortunate to have chosen this profession. I actually tried to retire a few years ago and I returned to active practice because I missed it so much.

It is important for you to find a college or university that offers a baccalaureate degree in nursing. This is a four year program. Once you complete the basic program you would be eligible to also go for your masters in nursing, decide to be a nurse practitioner or explore a wide variety of options available to you. You are correct that there are many paths of entry and most states are trying to make things a little clearer on this issue.

I am not sure which state you are in, but often the state nurses association in that state can help you find a college. Every state also has a state board for nursing and you can look for them on the internet. They generally list schools of nursing in the state.

If you would like to share your location with me, I will direct you to some schools of nursing. Again, I commend you on your choice of profession and please share your state with me, so I can be of further assistance. If there are states outside of your own where you might like to attend college, let me know and I can give or direct you to appropriate sources of information about them, too.

The sooner you start the application process the better.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Susan Fraley, MS, RN, Executive Director
Foundation of New York State Nurses' Association
Phone: (518) 456-7858 ext. 29
Email: sfraley@foundationnysnurses.org

From American Association of Colleges of Nursing:

Thanks so much for your questions and your interest in nursing. Let me see if I can answer your questions.

First of all, we would recommend that you go to a four-year college/university and get a bachelor's degree in nursing. Once you obtain your bachelor's degree (this is undergraduate) then you could either work in a hospital, clinic, hospice, community health, etc for one or two years and get some experience and/or you could apply for graduate school and get a master's and/or doctorate degree. Many nurses are going back to school for a graduate degree. After graduating with their graduate degree, many are working as a midwife, nurse anethetist, nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist. Many go on and get a doctorate degree, which allows them to teach nursing and/or to do nursing research.

There are a couple of things I would suggest you do right now.

#1: Check with your guidance counselor at your high school and see if he/she has any information they can give to you regarding schools of nursing in your city or state. Do any of those schools appeal to you? If so, check-out their website and see if they offer a bachelor's degree in nursing. Make an appointment to meet with their admission's dean and see what courses would be helpful for you to take your senior year, in preparation for your career goal.

#2: Check-out our website: www.aacn.nche.edu. We have many resources for you there, including some information on financial aid and other information that would be helpful to you.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Thanks so much for your interest!

Pam Malloy, RN, MN, OCN
ELNEC and Secretary's Award Projects Director
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
202-463-6930, Ext. 238 (voice mail)
pmalloy@aacn.nche.edu