Becoming a Nurse: What are some barriers?

If you are smart and willing to jump through the hoops they have set up, the sky is the limit! They don't make it easy- just don't give up. And that whole "Nurses love to eat their young" thing is more a thing of the past. We are all just so happy to get any help, even if it's a newbie!

Nursing is one of the toughest jobs out there but if it's what you want to do -- GO FOR IT. I don't think there are many 'diploma' programs any more. I think you will need to get at least an Associate Degree but more and more, hospitals only want to hire nurses with BS degrees. If you can't get a BS in nursing right away, I guess an Associate Degree is better than nothing, but once you are hired they will put a lot of pressure on you to get your BSN. (An Associate Degree takes 2 years, a Diploma takes 3 years, if you can find a program and a Bachelor's Degree takes 4 years or more.) Good luck.