The decision to become a nurse is admirable. It is a challenging career yet has many rewards, including being able to impact lives positively daily directly. If you’re considering applying to nursing school to become qualified to work in the noble profession, what does this involve? Below are details to help guide you through the important step of furthering your education.
Online Applications
A growing number of higher education institutions provide an online application process. This approach is convenient for students who might not live close to the school they hope to attend and can’t get to the campus to register in person.
The webform also eliminates the worry that the paper form might get lost in the mail. The length of the form and time it takes to complete varies; for HBU, it takes only about five minutes as you do not have to collect all documents and materials before applying there. HBU can request transcripts with your approval, at no cost to you.
BSN and MSN Licensure
Licensure varies from between states, as do license renewals. The state license is required for every state, district, and territory in the US in the interests of public health.
While the NCSBN or the National Council of State Boards of Nursing issues the same requirements across the US for licensure by exam, including passing the NCLEX exam, each state has its own Nursing Practice Act with its own set of rules.
Located in Houston, Texas, HBU offers both a BSN (Bachelor of Science Nursing) and MSN (Master of Science in Nursing). The HBU nursing requirements for each program follow state guidelines.
They provide provisional acceptance to the RN to BSN program to new ADN grads provided they complete NCLEX within the first term (eight weeks long). These BSN applicants do not have to be Texas residents. If applying instead to the MSN program at the same school, you must live in Texas and hold an unencumbered Texas RN license.
Program Requirements
BSN and MSN programs have specific requirements. Admittance to a BSN requires completion of an accredited ADN program, while MSN admittance requires that applicants hold a BSN from an accredited institution.
GPA Requirements
Grade Point Average (GPA) measures academic achievement and is often considered to be a reliable indicator of success in the US. Thus, nursing schools consider it when determining who to welcome to their programs.
For example, HBU requires that for full admission to the BSN, the student has a 3.0 GPA. Provisional acceptance is available for a 2.5-2.9 GPA with the requirement that he or she passes the first six credit hours.
Furthermore, new ADN grads can apply for the BSN provided they pass the NCLEX exam within the first term.
The MSN also has GPA requirements. A 3.0 GPA is a must for full acceptance, although HBU will consider lower GPAs on an individual basis. In the latter case, specific requirements must be met to make an exception like this one.
Entering Nursing School
Upon acceptance to an educational nursing facility, be patient with yourself as you take time to adjust to the workload, particularly if you are balancing parenting with schooling. Take care of yourself and take study breaks to avoid burnout; your wellness depends on it. And never forget how wonderful it feels to be on a journey to your dream career.
