Most people have only a narrow understanding of what it takes to become a nurse. Choose a program. Enroll. Come out the other side four years later, many dollars poorer, but with a bright future in healthcare ahead of you.
Probably this is the most common path. It’s also not necessarily the best one. In this article, we take a more comprehensive look at obtaining nursing credentials, including an examination of what you can do while still in school to expand your opportunities.
Can You Earn Your Credentials While You are Still in School?
Not exactly. To become a certified nurse you need your nursing license. This requires both the completion of a four-year degree and a passing score on the NCLEX.
The NCLEX can only be taken after you have graduated. In fact, most states require that newly graduated nurses wait at least 45 days before taking the NCLEX. This waiting time can be frustrating, but it does give you the chance to review four years of learning and secure a passing score. While most people do pass the NCLEX, those who do not succeed on their first try may never obtain a passing score.
All of this is to say that there is a series of steps that need to be taken in order for you to obtain a nursing credential. That said you can begin working on requirements that will allow you to work beyond the scope of a common nursing license while you are still in school.
Specialized certifications will allow you to increase your earning potential and expand your professional options.
Depending on where you go to school, you may be able to begin working on these certifications while still working on your undergraduate degree.
Why Would I Do That?
There are a few reasons, actually:
- Expand your career outlook. We hear all the time that nurses are quitting in droves. This is true but it is also an incomplete account of what is taking place. The majority of nurses who leave are working on hospital floors where the hours are long and the work is often thankless. Additional certifications allow you to branch out more into work you will love.
- Better money. Education is an investment. That means that the sooner you land a high-paying job, the more money you will ultimately earn. If you can make $10k more a year with a special certification, you could increase your lifetime earning potential by six figures simply by getting it while still in school.
The best news? Some of them are easy to get. In the next heading, we will look at one special certification all nurses should at least consider.
What is a Compact Nursing License?
A compact nursing license is your ticket to out-of-state jobs. Where most nurses are limited to their home state those with a compact license can work almost anywhere in the United States.
Ok, you’re thinking, but I will never move. What’s the point? For one thing, never is a long time.
For another? Many nurses appreciate the opportunity to pursue specialized opportunities only available to those willing to travel.
Travel nurses are the most obvious extension of this—professionals who do short stints at high-need hospitals and get well paid for their willingness to move.
You should also keep in mind that, while nursing jobs are many, finding one in your specific niche can be hard. One community may need many floor nurses, but only one or two forensic nurses.
If you want to specialize you may need to move. If you need to move you need a…
Yep, you guessed it. Compact nursing license. The good thing is that it should require almost no additional effort on your part. You may be able to get one simply by getting a high enough score on the NCLEX. It’s an easy(ish) way to expand your options.
Are There Reasons Not to Specialize Right Away?
Two obvious reasons would be:
- You just don’t know what you like. Many people specialize because they identify a passion on the job. Naturally, you can’t do that without first logging some time in the trenches. Without a little experience, you might specialize in something you don’t even like.
- Employer-supported tuition. The other thing? Working nurses often get financial support from their employers for continuing education opportunities. Generally, you will need to have put a year or so in before you can get tuition support, but the money you will save makes it worth it.
Pro tip? Many specialized careers require experience working in that field before you can be certified. But how can you get that experience without being certified? It is a paradox but not an impenetrable one. Many employers will hire regular RNs on a provisional basis.
In other words, they will take you as-is with the understanding that you will complete the continuing education requirements.
This is great because it lets you get started right away. Often, your new employer will pay all of your fees which is also a pretty good deal.
Nursing as a Second Career
Since we are talking about ways average everyday humans can become healthcare heroes, it is important to highlight the ever-popular route of pivoting from one career into a new one. If you already have a college degree, you can sign up for a certification-only program, generally completable in 18 months or less.
Unlike some of the other certifications we have described to this point, this is a standard license. The only difference is the accelerated pace.
Should You Get Extra Certifications?
If you want to work outside the traditional setting additional certifications are more or less mandatory. When you get them is a matter of personal preference. Working on education requirements while you are still in college is definitely an awesome way to get a head start.
That said, it could be a good idea to get acquainted with the field. Learn the ropes. Identify a passion. Go from there—and see if your employer will pay for it in the bargain. As long as you are passionate about healthcare there is no wrong way to go.
