What does it really mean to become a nurse? There are some people who would simply look at these hospital workers as a person that makes sure you take your medicines while you are still in hospital care. But in reality, there is a lot more to it than just wearing a white uniform and patrolling the rooms and hallways of the infirmary. As a matter of fact, nursing is a skilled profession that focuses on the caring of not just individuals, but also a large community, in order to maintain, improve, or recover their optimum health. We cannot deny that there are a lot of young adults who want to become nurses since this profession is currently, without any doubt, still in high demand. This is because the medical field has been continuously expanding as the years go by. Due to this undying trend, there are a huge number of nursing schools that started popping out in places. Apart from that, there are also some existing colleges and universities that began offering nursing courses so as to cope up with this current trend. Normally, it will take four years for a student to complete nursing school. However, there are also some schools that offer vocational courses for nursing that can be completed within a span of one to three years.
Taking care of the sick and the wounded is not a skill that can be passed on from one family member to another. Instead, these nursing skills and knowledge are earned through specialised training. As mentioned earlier, one can finish his or her nursing courses within one to four years. For young adults who want to start working as a nurse in a shorter period of time, they can take an Associate of Science in Nursing program, or ASN. ASN is almost the same as taking up Bachelor of Science in nursing, or BSN, only that you are able to finish the whole course within two years instead of the four year standard. For those who are financially on the rocks, taking an ASN program is an easy route to attain your dream in pursuing a nursing career. ASN graduates, like those who have a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, can also sit down and take the National Council Licensure Exam, or NCLEX. The two nursing graduates are then considered as registered professionals once they have passed the exam. Both ASN and BSN graduates are equipped with sufficient knowledge and ideas to perform a complete physical assessment as well as execute intravenous and drug administrations. Nurses who are able to get hold of a bachelor’s degree, however, have the upper hand in advancing to higher positions since they are most of the time considered to be more competent.
In the end, it does not matter whether you finished an ASN program or get a BSN degree. As long as you have enough nurse training that will prepare you for your future career.
