How to Become a Registered Nurse

If
you want to know how to become a registered nurse, the answer depends
on where you are in your current education.  If you're still in high
school, do well in your science courses like biology, chemistry and
health; this will give you an excellent background for nursing school. 
If you already have your high school diploma or GED (one or the other
is necessary for becoming a nurse), the next thing you'll have to
consider is whether or not you want to get an associate's degree or a
bachelor's degree in nursing school. 

Nursing school is
necessary if you want to know how to become a registered nurse.  Your
options are to get an associate's degree (a two year program) or a
bachelor's degree.  Each has its own advantages—the associate's degree
costs less and gets you into the workforce sooner, but the bachelor's
degree is more prestigious and qualifies you for more opportunities to
advance your career, like becoming a nurse practitioner.  You don't
have to decide right up front; it's also possible to start with your
associate's degree and finish up by getting a bachelor's degree. 

After you've taken the
exam, the next step in how to become a registered nurse is to do well
in nursing school.  While you're studying it's also helpful to
volunteer at a hospital, work as a nurse's aide, or participate in an
extern (work-study) program so you become familiar with the day-to-day
aspects of a nurse's job and have experience when you're applying for a
permanent job.   

Once you've completed
nursing school, the next step in how to become a registered nurse is to
take the NCLEX-RN exam.  Find a study group or study preparation
program and do your best to prepare for the test, because you need to
pass it in order to become a registered nurse. 

Now that you've completed
all the steps necessary in how to become a registered nurse, the final
thing you need to do is apply for jobs.  There is currently a nursing
shortage so you should have no problem finding a desirable position. 
Think about where you might most like to work, whether it's in a
hospital, as a school nurse, in a nursing home, as a visiting nurse, or
some other more specialized field like a nurse practitioner or triage
nurse.   

Be proud of yourself and
don't let external considerations like gender or age stand in your
way.  Many people have turned to nursing as a career later in life and
done very well because they already have the practical nurturing skills
needed through being a parent or other life experiences.  In addition,
men are increasingly becoming part of the nursing force and have a lot
to contribute to the field.  You need to have patience, stamina and a
strong desire to help people in order to become a good nurse.  If that
describes you adequately, then it's full speed ahead.