How Long Does It Take To Become a Registered Nurse?
Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) is not out of reach! Whether you want to make a total career change or just want to advance in the medical profession from an EMT or a Paramedic, becoming an RN does not take as long as you might think.
Health Career Institute’s associate of science in Nursing program can be completed online and on-campus, allowing for flexibility as you fit in your education and training around your current responsibilities. RNs have to complete a certain number of hours of instruction and clinicals before they qualify to take the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX) for Nursing and become approved by the state of Florida to work in the field.
Nursing Program at HCI
The nursing program at HCI can be completed in as little as 20 months. Students engage in theory and practicum courses to learn what it means to be a professional nurse, what roles and responsibilities RNs have, and how to work with a variety of patients. Skill courses will cover nursing techniques, such as drawing blood or administering medications. Understanding how to work the medical equipment and read the outputs is also critical. Students will also learn what it means to provide quality patient management and care.
The labs and clinicals allow for students to practice the knowledge and skills they learned in the classroom in a simulated medical environment. Lectures become tactile learning experiences through the labs and clinicals. For example, it is one thing to read about drawing blood and quite another to actually do it. These simulated lessons make the transition from classroom to real-world vital to the success of the Registered Nurse.
Field experience at a hospital or other medical facility will give the nursing student more hands-on experience with actual patients in a real-life medical setting under the supervision of doctors and RNs. Nursing students will be able to apply what they have learned in the classroom and practiced in the labs in the real world. It is also a great opportunity to make connections within the medical profession.
NCLEX and Final Steps
After graduation, you qualify to take the NCLEX and become approved by the Florida Board of Nursing to begin work as a Registered Nurse. Education, training, and the exam can take as little as 20 months or as much as 24 months depending on your schedule and availability. Contact us to learn more!
