Last year, COVID-19 made everyone aware of the acute shortage of healthcare professionals in America. People realized the importance of doctors and skilled nurses who can take care of a sick patient in need. Therefore, more and more nurses are needed to strengthen the healthcare system of the country. Nursing is a noble profession; there is no doubt about it. If you want to become a registered nurse, you must plan early. Continue reading this article to learn more about the process of becoming a nurse. 

An Early Start: According to section 1412 of The Board’s Regulations to become a Registered Nurse (RN), one must take the following subjects in high school: English (for four years), Math (for 3-4 years including algebra and geometry), Science (for 2-4 years), Social Studies (3-4 years) and any other foreign language for at least two years. These are pretty standard subjects that all kids learn in high school. If you aspire to be a registered nurse, be sure to consult the school guidance counselor who can assist students better in reaching their academic goals. 

Different Type Of Nursing Programs: In California, there are different types of nursing programs one may get into. As mentioned earlier, a young student may be guided by a carrier counselor, or he may browse the internet for the different nursing programs available in the State. For example, one living in Orange County may search for a nursing program in Orange County to find the best training institute near her. Given below are some examples of popular nursing programs in California. 

• Associate Degree in Nursing : (duration 2-3 years)
• Bachelor Degree in Nursing: (duration four years)
• Entry-level Masters Program in Nursing: (duration 1-2 years) 

Find The Right Institute: Selecting the right college is as important as selecting the program itself. You want to graduate from a reputed college as it will help you give a kick-start to your career. Visit different websites and make a list of colleges you are interested in based on the programs offered. You may go to the shortlisted colleges before making the final decision. Be sure to apply to more than one college because most of these nursing institutes have limited seats; therefore, if you don’t get into one college, there is always a possibility to get into another one without wasting a full academic year. If you end up getting into a college that wasn’t your first choice, don’t worry, as it is possible to transfer to nursing program at your dream school further down the line.

Get RN license: Now comes the most crucial step. If you want to practice as a nurse in California, you must get your license. The California Board of Registered Nursing issues the legal certificates to all the aspiring nurses. There are, of course, strict criteria one must follow to get an RN license. The candidates must go through a thorough background checkup and pass the national licensing examination before obtaining the RN license. 

• A student must send an online application to the BRN 6-8 weeks before graduation. The school will have to send his transcript to the same address. 
• The student will have to go through a fingerprint background check to ensure he does not have a criminal history. 
• He must take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX). 
• Apply for an intern permit if you want to work as you await the results.