Registered Nurse Training in Indiana
Educational and licensing requirements for registered nurses are set by the Board of Nursing for the State of Indiana. The board approves professional nursing education programs, verifies their continued compliance with the rules, and grants nursing licenses to individuals who completed a nursing program and passed the NCLEX examination. Registered nurses in Indiana are required to complete continuing education courses after being licensed to keep their nursing licenses active.
To become a registered nurse you must pass the NCLEX examination after first completing an approved nursing education program. There are three major types of nursing programs for registered nurses: bachelor's degree programs which takes about four years to complete, associate degree programs and hospital nursing diploma programs which take two or three years to complete. Graduates of these types of nursing programs are eligible to attempt the NCLEX-RN which is the RN licensing examination.
Admission requirements and prerequisites vary among nursing schools therefore is best to consult an advisor before applying. Bachelor of Science nursing degrees take roughly four years to complete which generally include two years of general education and another two years of nursing courses. You may have to enter the nursing program after you first complete two years of prerequisites and it is a good idea to check with the school on procedures regarding waiting lists and nursing school admission criteria.
BSN graduates are preferred for leadership nursing positions and in some cases they are paid better than graduates of other types of nursing programs. A BSN degree is also most often required for acceptance into Master's Degree nursing programs or other advanced nursing degree programs. Accelerated Bachelor's Degree programs also known as second-degree BSN programs are only for individuals with a Bachelor's Degree in a discipline other than nursing and take 12 to 18 months to complete.
Associate degree nursing programs (ADN) are offered by community and junior colleges and have the advantage of being the fastest way to becoming a registered nurse. Associate degree nursing programs are very popular because they take only two years to complete, provide hands-on clinical experience and have affordable tuition costs. This type of nursing program might require prerequisite courses which take additional time to complete. ADN program graduates receive salaries similar to those of BSN graduates and can work in almost as many different areas of nursing.
Hospital diploma nursing programs last up to three years. Some of these nursing programs are affiliated with colleges or universities allowing students to complete their English and science requirements including up to 60 credit hours in nursing, microbiology, anatomy, chemistry, physiology, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences.
Diploma programs were very popular in the past but they are declining lately not in small part due to some professional nursing organizations supporting the idea that BSN programs should be the only method of education for registered nurses. Upon completion of any of the nursing program types listed above you become a graduate nurse (GN) and are allowed to take the registered nurse licensure examination - NCLEX-RN.
All nursing education programs include supervised clinical practice which is provided in various hospital departments such as pediatrics, maternity, and surgery or in nursing care facilities, and ambulatory clinics. Clinical nursing experience allows you to apply and test the knowledge you gained in the classroom. In general, a school instructor or preceptor is assigned to one or more students to provide guidance and support. During clinical nursing practice you will perform various tasks such as administering medications, cleaning and feeding patients, starting IV lines, taking vital signs and keeping records.
If you like a certain nursing specialty you should request to have your clinical experience in the appropriate hospital department. This can help you tremendously if upon graduation you are able to work in a similar department. Indiana Registered Nurses are not required to obtain continuing education for licensure renewal.
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