Matthew Verley, GRAAHI Student Intern, 2004

I. Courses You Should Take in High School

• Freshmen Yr.
  • Physical Earth Science
  • Algebra I or Geometry
  • English 9
  • U.S history
  • Elective (Physical Education)
  • Elective 
• Sophomore Yr.
  • Biology
  • Forensics Science
  • Algebra II or Algebra I
  • English 10
  • World History
  • Elective (Foreign Language)
• Junior Yr.
  • Anatomy
  • Chemistry
  • Pre-calculus or Algebra II
  • English
  • Economics
  • Elective (Foreign Language)
• Senior Yr.
  • Physics
  • Dual Enrollment (College Course) preferably science based
  • Calculus or Pre-Calculus
  • English
  • Internship
  • Psychology

1. Looking more in depth
There are a lot of career choices in the health sciences field. There are different kinds of nurses. The first choice you must make is what kind of nurse you want to be. The employment future for Registered Nurses is slightly better than for Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, but both groups will continue to be employable. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) go to school for about one year, and typically perform nursing tasks under the supervision of the Registered Nurse. So choose carefully and make sure that becoming a nurse is want you want to do. After choosing a career begin to research on what that doctor does and what are their pros and cons of their jobs. Also you should enroll in summer programs as well as any after school activities that will advance you in the medical field.

2. Soul Searching
Do you have the right character to be a nurse? Do you have the willpower to complete the preparation and training? Do you have the aptitude to perform well in school? Do you have the heart to care for a terminally ill patient or a wounded individual? Are you a good at taking standardized tests? Are you willing to forfeit your personal time to complete vigorous amount s of school work? Lastly, do you have a strong aspiration to give people aid? Are you eager to help all kinds of people, from child with a cold, to patient who is HIV positive? Is it in you?

3. Choosing a Specific Career
After you know what you have to take to become a nurse look into a specific field of medicine. Take the time to look at what certain nurses do in their units. Research this field and choose whether you like it or if you can see yourself doing that in the future.

4. Volunteering or an Internship
Do something that gets you in touch with the medical field to see if it is right for you before putting in all that effort. Learn about other fields that may interest you so that you can compare them to medicine. Also, for the same reason, take elective courses other than sciences to see if these are of more interest to you.

Volunteer or do an internship so you can get a general feel of what it will be like being a nurse. This concept is like an introduction to the field of medicine. You will be able make the decision whether this career is for you or not.

5. Study Skills and GPA
Your study skills will affect you GPA. Time management is also an important tool, which can create an advantage or disadvantage. The more you study the better chance you have of getting of getting a good grade.” In school it is all about the learning and the grade you receive on your knowledge of the material. If you are moving in the right direction you will notice a change in how you view things. You will acquire the skills needed to perform tasks that nurse conduct. If you are struggling, schedule a tutor to help you.

6. SAT and ACT
These two tests are college entry exams it is one of the first steps to becoming a doctor. Even though your GPA is an aspect in getting accepted to college the SAT and ACT are the biggest factors. These college entry exams indicate the amount of skill one has in performing on standardized tests. The SAT measures ones capability of reasoning and the ACT measures the amount of knowledge you have acquired. Even a little review on answers you got incorrect on a test can improve your score. Doing practice tests and perhaps a taking a review course in the SAT and ACT could also improve your score 4 to 5 points. Standardized test are hard at first, but become easier when you practice.

7. Applying for College or Occupational Training School
After taking the SAT and/or ACT you should begin looking for colleges in the fall of your junior year. Complete the required applications, submit you scores and transcript, and write any essays that are necessary for acceptance. You may send your information to as many colleges as you want, but you have to pay an application fee. Also check with your counselor about scholarship opportunities and grants that are given to students and how to apply. When searching for colleges look for the one that is suitable for you. You should look at features such as:

• Cost
• location
• majors offered
• male to female ratio
• percentage of minorities,
• teacher to student ratio
• Academic programs
• Extracurricular programs
• Size if the school: small college, medium university, major university.

A good choice may be to select a college that has a medical school as part of the University

In College or Occupational Training School


8. Degrees in Nursing
A diploma nurse goes through about 3 years of training through a hospital. This type of program is decreasing in popularity as hospitals and other health-care institutions seek college-educated nurses.

Nurses with Associate Degrees take this route focus more on technical skills than nursing theory, and it is often the first step to acquiring a BSN. Nurses in this program earn their degrees in 2 years and begin practicing as an RN as soon as you pass your state board examination.

Nurses with Bachelor Degrees are often referred to as the Bachelors of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN). If you take a look through the job classifieds section of your newspaper, you will see that most RN positions are now requiring candidates to have a BSN. Although this program takes 4 years to complete, you will have a better opportunity for advancement.

9. More Nursing Opportunities
Once you earn a BSN in nursing, your career is certain to take off. You can advance to become a nurse practitioner, specialize in critical care, or earn a master's in nursing that can lead to many executive and administrator positions, which is a highly respected field in nursing.

II. Job Description of Nurses

1. Registered Nurses
There are several ways to become a Registered Nurse. The two most common ways are to go to school for two years and earn an Associate's Degree, or to go for four years and earn a Bachelor's Degree. Typically, those diploma schools that remain affiliated with a degree-granting institution so that the graduate earns both a diploma and at least an Associate's Degree. A person with a Bachelor's Degree in another field can go to school for an additional three to four years and earn a Nursing Doctorate, or can go to school for an additional one to two years and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Graduates of all four of these types of programs - Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Diploma and Nursing Doctorate - take the same exam, the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), after graduation.

2. Licensed Practical Nurses
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), care for the sick, injured, convalescent, and disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. Most licensed practical nurses in hospitals and nursing care facilities work a 40-hour week, but because patients need around-the-clock care, some work nights, weekends, and holidays. They often stand for long periods and help patients move in bed, stand, or walk. LPNs may face hazards from caustic chemicals, radiation, and infectious diseases such as hepatitis. They are subject to back injuries when moving patients and shock from electrical equipment. They often must deal with the stress of heavy workloads. In addition, the patients they care for may be confused, irrational, agitated, or uncooperative.

LPNs are required to pass a licensing examination after completing a State-approved practical nursing program. A high school diploma or its equivalent usually is required for entry, although some programs accept candidates without a diploma or are designed as part of a high school curriculum.

Most practical nursing programs last about 1 year and include both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (patient care). Classroom study covers basic nursing concepts and patient care-related subjects, including anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric nursing, drugs administration, nutrition, and first aid. Clinical practice usually is in a hospital, but sometimes includes other settings.

3. Career Depiction of a Nurse
Well, most nurses provide basic bedside care, taking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They also prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, apply dressings, treat bedsores, and give alcohol rubs and massages. Nurses monitor their patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments. They collect samples for testing; perform routine laboratory tests; feed patients; and record food and fluid intake and output. To help keep patients comfortable, nurses assist with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene. In States where the law allows, they may administer prescribed medicines or start intravenous fluids. Some nurses help deliver, care for, and feed infants.

In addition to providing routine beside care, nurses help evaluate residents’ needs, develop care plans, and supervise the care provided by nursing aides. In doctors’ offices and clinics, they also may make appointments, keep records, and perform other clerical duties. Nurses who work in private homes may prepare meals and teach family members simple nursing tasks.

Do you possess these qualities? Take your time and think.

• Competence
• Integrity
• Spirit of enquiry
• Confidentially
• Responsibility
• Caring
• Advocacy
• Compassion
• Commitment
• Opportunity to serve
• Action
• Respect
• Integrity
• Protection