How to Start Nursing School Without Any Experience in Healthcare
The nursing field can be very intriguing for someone that wants to care for others and find a steady job that offers great benefits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for registered nurses is expected to grow at a faster pace than the average job. These factors can make it very attractive.
However, jumping into nursing school without any prior experience in healthcare can be a scary thought. It can be easy to doubt yourself when getting started because you may be unsure if it's the right career path for you. Examine what it takes to be a nurse, and make the right decision for yourself.
How Can Someone Figure Out if the Nursing Field Is Right for Them?
There are a few things that you can do to decide whether nursing is the right field for you if you don't have any current healthcare experience. You can take some time and volunteer at a nursing home or your local hospital. They are often looking for people to help out in the gift shop or working directly with the patients, such as pushing wheelchairs.
In these circumstances you can get an idea of what a typical day looks like for a nurse, and decide whether nursing is a good fit. There are also online quizzes that you can take to help you access if you would be a good nurse. Make sure you’re honest. Nursing can be a messy job, but the rewards are great.
What Kind of Skills Make up a Successful Nurse?
There are a lot of different qualities that a nurse will need to have to be successful in their field. A nurse must be able to memorize a lot of information. They have to have compassion and a clear head in an emergency. They must have mathematical skills to compute dosages. A nurse needs to be able to communicate no matter what is going on around them.
A nurse needs to be willing to be on their feet for long hours and often put their patient's needs before their own. They have to be able to help patients move around and be physically fit in case they need to lift patients. A nurse also has to be able to deal with the sight of bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit.
Can Your Prior Non-Healthcare Experience Be Valuable?
Don't sell your prior experience in life short either when making the decision to go into nursing. There are plenty of non-healthcare experiences that you've had in your life that can be applied to a future career in nursing.
Working in any kind of customer service role gave you the opportunity to work with others in all kinds of situations. It doesn't matter if you were working in a fast food restaurant or answering phones at a registration desk. Any type of volunteer work you've done can also be valuable for giving you skills that can help you while in school and after you start working.
How Does School Give Nurses Experience?
Attending a school is an excellent option for people going into nursing that do not have any prior healthcare experience. You'll learn the fundamentals of nursing when it comes to things like giving medications and treatments, but it also provides the opportunity to get hands on experience. While in the classroom, you not only learn from textbooks, but you have a chance to get hands on with models and other students to learn how to put into action what you learn.
In addition, the many programs will require you to go through an externship that puts you in the field getting hands-on experience while continuing your education. You get the opportunity to work for a local health center to gain vital experience that can help to make a difference in your success after graduation. This externship can be done either at a place you're currently working at if you are successful in getting a job in healthcare after starting classes or being placed by the school.
Are You Ready to Take the Next Step Towards a Nursing Career?
Are you considering becoming a nurse without a medical background? If you want to earn an Associate Degree of Nursing, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated rate. For more information about the qualifications and requirements to join the program, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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