Considering becoming an RN? Before you begin a new career, it’s important to do your research. To start your journey to becoming a RN, you will need to know or learn many skills, and not just skills specific to the medical industry. You’ll also need to learn or know how to effectively use:

• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Physical stamina
• Organization
• Emotional stability
• Keeping a cool head under pressure

What are some of the top reasons people are choosing to become an RN in 2024? Job security is a big reason. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for registered nurses is projected to grow faster than the national average for all occupations.1

But there are other reasons to consider becoming a RN. You might make a good registered nurse if:

1. You’re passionate about helping people
2. You want to have a pivotal role in the healthcare field
3. You’re eager to pursue a career that can offer many opportunities

Learn about the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at Dorsey College

You’re passionate about helping people

As a registered nurse, you will often work with people in painful or vulnerable situations. This can be anything from a broken leg to chronic illness to cancer. No matter the illness or outlook, having empathy and people skills is essential. When you become an RN, you will have to provide patient care with compassion daily.

The day-to-day routine of a registered nurse may include:

• Assessing a patient’s condition
• Giving instructions to licensed practical nurses, CNAs, and others on a healthcare team
• Providing treatment
• Performing diagnostic tests
• Operating medical equipment
• Teaching patients and their families how to manage illnesses and injuries
• Observing patients and advocating for their needs

Registered nurses often spend more time with a patient than their doctor will. They will listen to a patient’s concerns and symptoms. The RN may also discuss treatment options with the patient. These conversations are hard for some people. That’s why it’s important for an RN to be positive and compassionate when treating patients. It’s vital to give patients information they need to make good choices for their personal healthcare. When a vulnerable person sees a registered nurse who cares about them, it can make all the difference.

You want to have a pivotal role in the healthcare field

No matter where or when you work, when you become an RN, you’ll be one of the leaders on a healthcare team. You’ll receive complicated instructions from a doctor. You’ll then communicate those instructions to others on the staff, as appropriate.

You’ll also be tasked with making your own decisions to improve patient outcomes. That’s why keeping a cool head under pressure is an important skill. RNs usually manage licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, home health aides, and others. They serve as the glue that holds a patient’s care team together. They also educate the public on good health care and hygiene practices. This is a key strategy for disease prevention. RNs play pivotal roles in the healthcare field, no matter where they work or in what capacity.

You’re ready to pursue a career that can offer many opportunities!

There are other opportunities for people who become RNs. Some nurses choose specializations, such as:

• Addiction nurses, helping people overcome addictions to drugs and alcohol
• Cardiovascular nurses specialize in caring for patients with heart conditions
• Rehabilitation nurses, helping people with chronic illness or disabilities

Other pivotal roles and career paths you might consider when you become an RN:

• Travel nursing. For people interested in travel, you can become an RN that moves around the U.S. and world to work temporarily in hospitals or other places. Travel nurses usually work in places where there’s a shortage of healthcare workers. They usually move around every few months. It’s an exciting career path for RNs and also in high need. If you’re considering this after becoming an RN, make sure you’re adaptable to frequent change!
• Home health. These are public health nurses who travel to community centers, schools, and more for things like health clinics. They also teach preventative measures. This is a great way to get out in your community and give back.
• Midwives. Some RNs go on to become midwives. They assist families with the pregnancy, labor, and after delivery process. For people interested in this career, becoming a RN is a good way to get the education and skills you’ll need. Keep in mind though, additional education and training may be needed to pursue this career.

There are ongoing education options you can pursue after becoming an RN. These career paths include clinical nurse specialist (CNS), nurse anesthetist or nurse practitioner. These roles usually have more responsibilities, which is why they require more education. They also may require passing a specialty certification by the state; who may require passing a specialty certification examination. These career paths also tend to pay higher than traditional RN roles.

After you become an RN, you can also go on to become a nurse educator, teaching nursing students the skills for success in becoming a RN. Other registered nurses become hospital administrators. They manage the daily operations of a hospital facility or staff. And there are also RNs who become healthcare consultants. As you can see, the career paths stretch far beyond a “traditional RN” role. There’s truly something for everyone in this exciting and growing industry.

Steps to becoming a RN

The steps to take to become an RN include:

1. Enroll in the right program for your goals
2. Complete and graduate from approved nursing program
3. Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). This license is required no matter where you work as an RN in the United States

The first step to becoming an RN is to decide which nursing program is right for you. Most programs take between 2-4 years to complete. No matter which program you choose, you’ll typically have the opportunity to learn key subjects related to the field of healthcare, like:

• Microbiology
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Social sciences
• Psychology
• Behavioral sciences
• And more

Becoming an RN with the help of Dorsey College

If you’re ready to become an RN in Michigan, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you want to follow a traditional RN career path, or do you want to specialize? Once you narrow down what you want to do in nursing, you can pursue the best education option for your goals.
• How soon do you want to get started? Some programs offer graduates a bachelor’s degree in nursing. These programs usually take four years. This is a good choice for people who want a more robust education plan. It’s also a good fit for people who want to do teaching, research, consulting, or administrative positions. Other nursing programs offer an associate degree which can take 2-3 years. Then, you can start applying for RN jobs in hospitals, schools, doctor’s offices, and more, once licensed.
• Does the program(s) you’re looking at offer clinical experience? This is necessary to help you learn healthcare experience in real life situations.

Dorsey College offers a robust Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program. The goal of the program is to help you learn the skills needed for becoming an RN. Combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience is a key part of the success of this program. In addition to subjects like microbiology, anatomy, and physiology, RN students have the opportunity to learn:

• Mental Health Nursing
• Nutrition and Health
• Medical Surgical Nursing
• Pharmacology
• Nursing Leadership
• And more

The nursing program at Dorsey College is designed to take two years to complete. Then, graduates can pursue licensure with the State of Michigan, and finally, they can be on their way to becoming an RN and working to make a difference in the lives of others!

1. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-1. Accessed 25 February 2024.

Dorsey College has determined that its Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only. No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district, or US territory in regards to nursing licensure requirements.