What is needed to get into nursing?

[samantha]

Ive registered on to this site,because im looking for advice,maybe some help and quite frankly because Im frustrated with the net as i cannot find the information im looking for.im eighteen years of age,am from New Zealand,with a dream to become a nurse.The fact is though that i did not complete high school/college have no credits,or qualifications.
What i do have though is a passion for people of all ethnicity,religion,size and shape,along with life experience as a struggling teen,and some!
In saying that my dream is to pursue a career in nursing,I have done everything that I myself ccould possibly do to get information on how and where do i start to acheive this.Yet i cannot find what im looking for still.i am hoping that there is a teacher whom will be able to help me to find where my starting point is and how i get there.i realise that 60percentof yall are going to say that i need to go back to school,i need you to know that,that is what i cannot do.but i am more than willing to attend course's to gain the credits i need (yet i do not know where or how to find these resources or even if they exist).If there is anyone online that has the time to advise me,i would be ever so grateful.im hoping that what ive written makes sense and can be understood.please please please let me know of anyything,anything at all that i can do to acheive this.

[samantha]

do you know anything,or anyone who knows anything about how to pursue a career in nursing for a teenager without qualifications,if you do maybe you could help to advise myself of where my starting point is? please read my intro (samantha-username)....much appreciated if you have the time to read it...Samantha

[samantha]

do you know anything,or anyone who knows anything about how to pursue a career in nursing for a teenager without qualifications,if you do maybe you could help to advise myself of where my starting point is? please read my intro (samantha-username)....much appreciated if you have the time to read it...Samantha
you can email me *sorry - email address was removed. responses can be post in this thread*

[science_monkey]

Hi Samantha. I see that you are from New Zealand, and unfortunately I do not know anything about nursing requirements there. I do know about how it works in the USA, however. First of all, you MUST have a high school diploma or GED (Graduate Equivalency Diploma, equal to a high school degree). As you said it is not possible for you to go back to high school, I would advise that you simply get some books and study hard for the GED (or New Zealand's equivalent) and take the test for it.

Once you have your high school or GED diploma, you'll need to start taking courses to become a registered nurse. This is absolutely necessary to become a nurse; without a nursing license you will not be hired. The courses that you will take will consist of general sciences (biology, chemistry, physics -- these may not be full courses, but an overview or combination of them), mathematics/algebra (you need this for drug dosage administration), pharmacology, basic and advanced patient care, human anatomy and physiology, specialized nursing areas (e.g. OB-GYN, pediatrics, orthopedics, etc), and on-the-job career training (clinical practice). You will then take certification exams (boards) to attain a nursing license. This can be done through traditional or community colleges, and typically takes 2-4 years to complete, depending on if you get your associates degree or bachelors degree. The other option, which is much less common, is a sort of work-to-licensing program called a hospital diploma plan. In the hospital diploma plan you study nursing for several years at a hospital. This may be supplemented with courses from a college as well. Not all hospitals offer programs like this, though.

You could also become an LPN (licensed practical nurse), working under the direction of a general nurse. This degree generally takes a year to complete, and the number of jobs available for LPNs is declining due to an increased demand in more highly qualified nurses.

I hope this helps so far. You're getting on the right track by asking for help with this. It's not easy to find the resources to get you out of a tough spot in life and progress towards seemingly unreachable career goals. I'm going to find some more information on the resources available to you in New Zealand and I'll post what I find later on. In the meantime, look up the GED equivalent for New Zealand and start looking into what you need to take the exam. If being a nurse is something you truly want to do, don't give up on it. It's a lot of hard work to get there, but if you really want it you will be able to achieve it.:)

[teach1027]

Go back to school, contact local universities, or see if you can get an appointment with a career counselor.

[Chef Dave]

I googled the following site:

Studying Nursing in New Zealand

* Background

* Nursing Education in New Zealand

* Nursing Opportunities

* Scholarships and funding for post-graduate education

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/wpg_Index/-Nursing+Studying+Nursing+in+New+Zealand

[mopar]

I too would suggest a GED equivalent in New Zealand. An alternative route to getting to help people sooner than a nursing degree is to go through an EMT or Paramedic program. Once you obtain your EMT, you can work in the hospital as a lab technician or ER technician. To obtain an EMT, talk with your local hospital about the requirements. Usually hospitals run the EMT program and it is taught by nurses and doctors in the hospital. Then after that you can work on obtaining your nursing degree or paramedic degree.

Hopes this helps.

[Chef Dave]

How close were you to finishing high school? I don't understand why you won't complete your education. How passionate can you be about nursing if you won't even develop the prerequisite academic qualifications to attend nursing school?

I suppose you could join the Royal Army and finish your education there. The Royal Army offers three career options: combat, apprentice, and support. I didn't look at all the programs but noted you could be a driver in support services.

Qualifications for becoming a driver in support services includes:
# Minimum age 17
# Year 11 completion
# School Qualifications: A proven ability in English and Maths at NCEA Level 1
(8 credits per subject) or equivalent.
# Driver's Licence: You will need a restricted Class 1 driver's licence and should have no traffic convictions. Any other licence is an advantage i.e. motorbike.
# Additional Information: 100% visual colour perception required.

For more information, visit:
http://www.army.mil.nz/default.htm

[Chef Dave]

i realise that 60percentof yall are going to say that i need to go back to school,i need you to know that,that is what i cannot do.but i am more than willing to attend course's to gain the credits i need.

Actually, everyone who has responded has suggested that you go back to school.