Pursuing a nursing degree is one of the surest ways to secure a job in this field. Such a degree will enable you to fulfill your passion and meet the goals of serving humanity as well as making a living from practicing. While this step is essential, you must first accomplish various tasks in preparation for the course.
Studying to become a nurse is very demanding in terms of both finances and time. You will be subjected to rigorous classwork and clinical practical work that will often take a toll on you. As a new student, you may have many misconceptions about the course so it is normal to feel nervous.
Below are a number of ways you can prepare for your nursing degree:
• Consider your finances
Enrolling in a degree course in nursing is an investment that will prompt you to commit financial resources to it. Therefore, you need to review your financial position and whether you can afford to pay for nursing school.
There are also bills to pay while at school; hence, you need a proper financial plan. You can consider applying for scholarships or financial aid from various stakeholders, or online programs that often have a lower cost while providing the same level of tailored education.
• Deal with the common misconceptions
Like any course, there are many misconceptions about the nursing degree. While some could be true, a huge percentage of information is false. The internet is the most common platform where misconceptions are spread.
The first misconception is that it is almost impossible for some individuals to attend nursing school, especially if they have family or work commitments that prevent them from enrolling in a traditional program. This is a complete and misleading fallacy.
Nowadays, many courses are very flexible, and accredited institutions like the University of Indianapolis offer an online nursing degree like ABSNs. These accelerated programs offer 100% online coursework, clinical placement, and the opportunity to complete your nursing degree in as little as 15 months. Online learning has become a solution that saves time and resources, besides allowing people to study while attending to their families.
Another misconception you will often encounter is that there is an age limit to enrolling in a nursing degree. Although completely false, this phrase is unfortunately very self-limiting. Many nurses with diplomas have practiced and even retired at an advanced age but went back to class to pursue a BSN because of the desire to serve at a greater level. The course will introduce new technologies, but the learning curve is not very steep.
• Build your support system
Studying nursing can be demanding. Most of the time, you will find yourself buried in tons of projects which are also time-constrained. This can leave you with little time to spend with your family and friends. However, you can still build a strong support system among fellow students with whom you spend most of your time.
You can also schedule calls with your family and friends to keep the lines of communication open and strengthen your bonds.
