Nursing

Nursing

My thoughts on going to school to become a registered nurse are somewhat new to me. I have spent years toying with ideas and what possible careers I might like to pursue. My initial interest was brought to light by the fact that healthcare is a stable and rewarding field. Initially I decided to do this because there are not many places you can earn a decent wage without a college education. Both of those reasons are why furthering my education and getting licensed as a Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthetist is very important to me.

With both of these occupations being in the health and science fields, the education and work experience requirements are somewhat similar. Before entering the nurse practitioner program, the credentials of a master’s degree in nursing, or more commonly achievement of your Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing must be attained. The chances of being accepted into the program go up with the more experience you have. The rule of thumb is generally two years working as a registered nurse prior to entry of the program.(kent,2), According to an article entitled, “How to become a Nurse Practitioner”, “The nurse practitioner program itself will vary in length from one to two academic years, depending on the nature of the program and the school which is chosen.” This timeline is one that gives me an indication of what to expect, even if it is not the general rule of thumb.

As in becoming a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetists are also required to obtain a master’s degree or a Baccalaureate degree of Science in Nursing. In addition to the required degrees, according to Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, “a minimum of one year acute care experience is required, some CRNA [certified registered nurses anesthetist] programs require two years’ experience in either the operating room or critical care.” In order to complete my goals, I know I need to follow these timeframes.

With both of these specialty...