What to do before becoming a nurse?

What should I do now if I'm interested in becoming a nurse?

• I'm a sophomore in high school and I'm interested in becoming a nurse, I would love to work in an emergency room. I would like to know what steps i should be taking now as a ...show more

• Answer:

  Get your high school diploma. This is needed for pretty much all walks of life. Step2)Determine which level of nursing degree is best for you. You can get an Associates degree all the way to a Ph.D. Your high school or college counselor can help you. Step3)Find and enroll in the right college. This is one that has the degree plan you are looking for. Your counselor again can help you find the right school as well as financial plans. Step4)Complete your nursing degree. This can take 2 to 8 years, depending on the type of degree. Step5)Study as a nursing assistant or technician at a clinic or hospital. Step6)Complete the state nursing license exam. Apply in as many states that you can. An Associates degree in nursing with a license will help land any ground level nursing job, but advancement may not be possible without a higher degree. You can also get a Nurse Practitioner degree, which ranks between a Masters and a Ph.D. This will allow you to open your own practice under the guidance of a doctor, although this is not available in all states. A Ph.D. is required if you wish to teach nursing.