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Nursing as a second career
It’s never too late. At any stage of your life, nursing is a great choice because good nurses are always in demand, it’s challenging, and you’ll use your experience and creativity to change lives every day.
Get there with a bridge program
A bridge program lets you use your previous experience to become a nurse faster. If you have a degree in another field, an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) can be the quickest way in. If you have a healthcare certification, you won’t have to repeat training you’ve already done.
The NCLEX-RN
After earning a nursing degree, you have to pass the NCLEX-RN—a standardized exam set by the Board of Nursing in each state that shows you’re certified to work as a Registered Nurse.
Is it too late for me to become a nurse?
You can become a nurse faster if you already have a degree in another field.
Specialties
Once you’re a Registered Nurse, you can choose to specialize in an area you really enjoy.
Telemetry nurse
A telemetry nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in monitoring and caring for patients who require continuous cardiac and vital sign monitoring but do not require intensive or critical care.
Neuroscience nurse
A neuroscience nurse helps patients who experience brain and nervous system disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, strokes, and brain injuries, recover from or learn to manage their condition.
Missionary nurse
A missionary nurse works through a religious non-profit, or humanitarian group, providing physical care and spiritual support to patients in underdeveloped areas of the world.
Medical-surgical nurse
A medical-surgical nurse has extensive knowledge that can assist doctors on the medical-surgical floor of a hospital.
Get your nursing journey started by finding a school
Explore over 1,800 nursing schools across the country and discover programs that work for you such as accelerated nursing schools and online nursing universities.