Nursing was, for a long time, stereotyped as a purely caring role, the people who looked after the patient while doctors did the medicine. But while that stereotype persists for many, it could not be further from the truth. Nursing has emerged as a profession in its own right. With challenging entrance requirements, specialist career paths, and good pay and progression opportunities.
If you are considering a medical career, find out whether nursing is right for you and how to become a nurse. Healthcare is an incredibly diverse profession, both in terms of the roles and the areas it covers, and nursing reflects that diversity. Nurses working on a post-operative cardiac unit and working alongside family doctors may share a profession, but their jobs will be entirely different.
It’s also important to note that a registered nurse is a specific, and often protected, title. Although there may be assistants and workers who offer ‘nursing’, only those that acquired the necessary qualifications and continued their ongoing training will be entitled to use the title of ‘registered nurse’.
But despite the diversity of nursing roles, they almost always require a degree-level qualification. Those wondering how long it takes to become a nurse will almost certainly have to factor in several years of degree-level study.
How to become a nurse
There is no single pathway to becoming a nurse. The exact route each nurse takes will depend on a variety of factors. So, if you are considering a nursing career, it’s not just a case of asking ‘which degree do I need to become a nurse’, and applying, but also considering all those other factors.
The jurisdiction you live and want to work in will be important, since this will affect qualification. In the UK, for example, a single body, The Nursing and Midwifery Council, is responsible for all nursing registrations. In the US, although there is a single qualification, the NCLEX-RN, licensing varies between state.
If you already work within healthcare, for example as a nursing assistant, you might also want to check with your employer how to become a nurse, since there might be opportunities for in-career training. And if you have a particular specialism in mind, you will probably want to research options that might lead more directly into that area, rather than following general nursing. These can all impact which degree you need and how long it takes to become a nurse.
The degree route into nursing
Because also all routes into nursing require a degree-level qualification, for those considering how to become a nurse, starting with a nursing degree is the most popular option. Although courses vary between institutions, these generally follow a pattern of beginning with nursing theory and academic work, before incorporating simulations and building towards placements in relevant wards and units.
Check out available nursing degrees on Studyportals
They will typically last three or four years, awarding a B.Sc. degree, often with a specialization. What happens after that will depend on jurisdiction. In the UK, for example, a nursing degree from a recognized institution will enable the graduate to apply to the NMC for registration immediately. In the US, however, depending on state, there may be additional requirements, such as practice hours, before registration will be granted. To answer the common question, how long does it take to become a nurse, the typical degree route can take between three to five years from starting your course to starting your first day as a registered nurse.
One of the advantages of the degree route is that it frequently allows for specialization from the start. Common nursing degree options will include bachelors in adult or child nursing, with some places offering even more specialized courses, such as community nursing.
Higher degrees in nursing
The modern nursing profession offers exceptional opportunities for progression. The most obvious are leadership roles, which can take a career to a board-level position. Another increasingly common is role is that of nurse practitioner. Qualified nurse practitioners will take on roles more traditionally associated with physicians, for example diagnosing and prescribing, or undertaking some routine procedures.
Many of these roles will require further qualification, or progress to them can be accelerated through additional learning. Master’s degrees in nursing are offered by almost all universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. For some, it might be a harder choice than choosing which degree they needed to become a nurse in the first place.
In very broad terms, master’s in nursing offers an opportunity to either broaden knowledge, or to specialize. For those that are looking to develop their career through leadership, the more generalist courses in nursing, for example in Advanced Clinical Practice in the UK at the University of Exeter does not just enhance the nurse’s skills, but teaches skills like system improvement. Alternatively, those looking at specific sectors might want to consider relevant master’s degrees, for example the University of Arizona’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner M.Sc.
How else can you become a nurse?
If a full-time degree is not right for you, there are still plenty of options available to become a nurse. The UK’s NHS, and many US healthcare providers, offer train-as-you-earn options. These are perhaps the reverse of the more traditional academic route, starting in clinical settings, but supplementing that with the theoretical and academic knowledge while increasing the level of clinical responsibility.
The academic side of this can often be flexible, offering online or blended part-time options, allowing you to continue working, and earning, as you accumulate the credits for your qualification. While an attractive option for those already working in healthcare, the part-time nature of the course might mean adding some time to how long it takes to become a nurse.
Finding the right course
For many, the main determinants of the best course may be location and its links with a suitable hospital for placements, followed by preferences relating to the course structure and content.
The most important factor to consider is whether the course is accredited by the relevant body, so is suitable for NMC registration in the UK, or covers the NCLEX-RN in the US. These are the standards by which nursing courses should be judged, and if they meet those standards, getting a place on them sets you on the right path to become a nurse.
