How to Become a Nurse

How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Indiana

The choice of nursing as a career is appropriate for those who want to have a variety of employment opportunities, help others and be intellectually stimulated. Nursing has opportunities for Indiana individuals with a great diversity of abilities and talents. Indiana students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination (NCLEX) in order to obtain a nurse license. Nurses may be licensed in more than one State, either by examination or by the endorsement of a license issued by another State.

Twenty-three States participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement, which allows nurses to practice in member States without recertifying but some of them still have to implement it. Indiana is not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact Agreement. All States require periodic renewal of RN licenses. Registered Nurse (RN) licenses expire on October 31 of odd-numbered years regardless of the date when the license was issued. You should consider this when you apply for licensure. The renewal fee for RN licenses is $50.00 and if you fail to renew you license by the expiration date, you will be charged a $50.00 late fee.

All Indiana nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice in hospitals and other health care facilities. Supervised clinical practice is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing number of programs also include clinical practice in nursing care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics.

There are three major educational paths to registered nursing in Indiana: a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a nursing diploma. BSN programs are offered by Indiana colleges and universities and take four years to complete. Bachelor's degree nursing programs offer more clinical experience in non-hospital settings than associate degree nursing programs. Associate degree nursing programs are offered by Indiana community and junior colleges and take two to three years to complete. Diploma programs are offered by Indiana hospitals and last about three years. Most licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions as staff nurses.

There are four ways to become an advanced practice nurse and all of them require at least a master's degree in nursing. Most master's degree programs last about two years and require a bachelor's degree in nursing but some of them may accept a bachelor degree in other specialty.

Some programs such as nurse anesthetist programs also require one or two years of clinical experience as a registered nurse for admission. After completing a master's degree nursing program, most advanced practice nurses become nationally certified in their area of specialty mostly because certification in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty in certain States. Please note that unlike RN and LPN, Indiana advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority must obtain at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education, including at least eight (8) hours of pharmacology to renew their licenses.

Indiana individuals considering becoming a nurse should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in a BSN program. Nurses with a bachelor degree have broader advancement opportunities than nurses with an associate degree and some career paths are open only to nurses with a bachelor's or master's degree. A bachelor's degree in nursing is often necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching, and all advanced practice nursing specialties.

Indiana nurses who complete a bachelor's degree receive more training in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as nursing care increases in complexity. Many Indiana registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or diploma later enter bachelor programs to become a registered nurse and have a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, Indiana registered nurses can find a staff nurse position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing a RN-to-BSN program.

Accelerated BSN programs are available for Indiana individuals who have a bachelor's or higher degree in another field and who are interested in pursuing a nursing degree. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and are the fastest way to a bachelor in nursing for individuals who already hold a degree. Accelerated master's degree programs in nursing are also available in Indiana . These programs combine one year of an accelerated BSN program with two years of graduate study. Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a graduate or an advanced degree in nursing or health services administration.

Some Indiana registered nurses start their careers as licensed practical nurses (LPN) or nursing aides (CNA), and then go back to school to become a registered nurse. Most registered nurses begin as staff nurses, and with experience and good performance are promoted to more responsible positions.

Some Indiana registered nurses move into the business side of health care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team prepares them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care. Employers, including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations, among others need registered nurses for health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college and university faculty or conduct research.

Nurses should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and detail oriented. They must be able to direct or supervise others, correctly assess patients' conditions, and determine when consultation is required. If you consider becoming a nurse you should have emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses. Foreign-educated nurses who wish to become a registered nurse in the United States must obtain a work visa. Foreign-educated nurses are required to undergo a review of their education and licensing credentials and pass a nursing certification and English proficiency exam, both conducted by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

Information about employment opportunities may be obtained from Indiana hospitals, nursing care facilities, home health care agencies, psychiatric facilities, the Indiana Board of Nursing, and local offices of the State employment service.

Helpful Nursing Advice and Resources

how to and why become a registered nurse in Indiana

Registered Nurses (RN)

Practical Nurse (LPN)

Certified Nurse Aides