Become a Nurse
Become a Registered Nurse (RN)!
Thinking about a career in nursing? Nursing is a very wise choice and not as difficult as you may think. Learn some quick facts about RN careers Click Here.
Third District Nurses offers Adventures In Nursing – Career Camp to help teenagers learn about nursing careers. Please contact us to learn when the next camp dates are scheduled.
There are multiple career paths to take and a wide variety of interesting careers to choose from once you have your RN degree. You might specialize in diabetes education, holistic nursing or become a nurse midwife and deliver babies! Insurance companies, public health and even some law firms hire RNs. But it all starts with the basic education of becoming a Registered Nurse. Click here to learn about Minnesota nursing careers.
Adventures in Nursing - A Career Camp
Join us on June 19, 2010 as we host our annual Adventures in Nursing - A Career Camp. Third District is proud to sponsor the nursing career camp which offers an in depth opportunity to explore a nursing careers. Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to attend.
You will:
• Explore the wide variety of career possibilities
• Learn the difference in the various nursing degrees
• Practice using nursing technology
• Meet with a nurse to discuss career experiences and ask questions
Click Here for additional information and registration options today!
You can start as Nursing Assistant
Sometimes it is good to get basic education and experience in patient care prior to starting nursing school. Most Nursing programs now require nursing assistant training as a prerequisite to admission into Nursing School. Many nurses start working as a Nursing Assistant after about 6 weeks of training. Those RNs reported that nursing school is a little easier because they have experience in working with patients in a health care setting. Some work part time as a nursing assistant while in nursing school.
You might get free nursing assistant training. Minnesota requires nursing homes to reimburse a nursing assistant who has successfully completed training and passed the State Registry, for the actual costs of the tuition and reasonable expenses for testing. Check with your potential employer, for further details.
Once hired as a nursing assistant, some health care facilities will offer tuition assistance to nursing students. This education route is longer but not as stressful. Your stress is lessened because you begin applying your knowledge of patient care to your work. Click here to learn about nursing assistant programs in Minnesota.
Another option to gain valuable skills and experience is to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Paramedic. These programs can offer a great stepping stone to the RN program. Some nursing schools will offer you a less intensive RN education program if you are an LPN or Paramedic. Working at a hospital as a Health Unit Coordinator (HUC) or even a receptionist can help gain valuable experience to prepare you for becoming a nurse. Any of these career experiences give you an increased chance of being accepted into the RN education program.
Two RN Education Options
Please refer to the list of approved nursing schools at the Minnesota Board of Nursing web site. Once you know you want to attend nursing school, you have two basic choices: a two year or four year degree program. The two year program offers the Associates degree in nursing and the four year offers the Bachelors degree. Both are very intense, full time programs. You are often in class all day Monday – Friday with clinical rotations sometimes scheduled in the evenings and weekends. Working part time can be a challenge.
Applying for Nursing School
Nursing school can be tough to get into. Because nurses are well paid and have great career opportunities, the numbers of people who apply to nursing schools are greater than the number of openings. To prepare for nursing school you need courses in sciences including biology and chemistry. And nursing schools do consider if you have any kind of patient experience. Volunteering in a hospital or nursing home can help increase your chances of being accepted in a nursing school.
Two year or four year RN education program
Information on Twin City two year RN degree (Associates degree) Click Here. If you are a Licensed Practical Nurse or Paramedic, you can move through the RN program a little easier because some courses transfer into the RN education program or a four year RN degree (Bachelor’s degree).
Information on four year RN degrees (Bachelor’s Degree) Click Here.
Check out the various colleges, learn about the pay differences and job opportunities to learn which degree path is best for you.
Paying for Nursing School
Once you have narrowed down your choices for nursing schools, check with each school’s financial aid department. One school may have higher costs but a better financial aid package Third District Nurses is please to be able to offer scholarships to entry level nursing students. You must live in Anoka, Carver, Hennepin or Scott Counties and be accepted into a nursing program prior to applying for the Third District Scholarships. Click here to learn about our scholarships and to access the application forms.
For more information check out www.discovernursing.com, a national web site sponsored by Johnson and Johnson.
