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How to Become a Registered Nurse

If you have been thinking about a career in nursing, you are not alone! The field of nursing is expected to grow 9% between 2020 and 2030, which is faster than average for all occupations*. In fact, the American Nurses Association states that by 2022, there will be far more registered nurse jobs available than any other profession.**

As you explore more into the field of nursing, you may have many questions about what it takes to become a registered nurse. What is the time commitment? How do I choose the right nursing school? What are the different job opportunities?  

Whether you are going to college straight after high school, or you are looking to make a career change, pursuing a career in nursing is a big decision and requires dedication and passion.

Check out the below list of things to consider when choosing a nursing program that meets your needs and goals:


Step 1: Select which type of nursing degree is right for you


To become a registered nurse, you must have a college degree in nursing. You can choose between an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Both degrees will lead you on the right path to becoming a registered nurse, so choosing which program is right for you depends on your career goals and how much time you are willing to commit.

An Associate Degree in Nursing is typically shorter and would be ideal for someone who is looking to get into the workforce quickly. At Swedish Institute, our Associate in Applied Science degree (AAS) can be completed in as little as 20 months. Upon successful completion of your degree, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure – Registered Nurse Examination (NCLEX-RN). Graduates who pass the NCLEX-RN will earn the title of licensed RN and can begin their career as a Registered Nurse.

 

Step 2: Find the right nursing school for you


There are a lot of options when it comes to selecting the right college and more specifically, the right nursing program. There are several things to consider when selecting and applying for nursing school:

Accreditation – it’s important that you research and find programs that are accredited. The importance of accreditation is to ensure that the nursing education programs are being held to common standards of quality. The AAS degree program at Swedish Institute, for example, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Enrollment Requirements – Most nursing schools will require an essay, background check, in addition to passing an entrance exam. At Swedish Institute, all nursing applicants must take and pass a qualifying admission exam to be considered for the program. For more complete information on the requirements for Swedish Institute’s Nursing program, you can reach out to our admissions department at 866-673-6148

Length of Program – how much time are you able to commit to your nursing education? How quickly do you want to get into the workforce and start working towards your career, helping others, and providing for your family? Also, how quickly do the programs offer nursing classes? At Swedish Institute, the Nursing program is a 68-credit course that is available in a 5-semester (20 month) sequence. Swedish Institute’s Nursing classes are offered during the day allowing you to complete your training in as little as 20 months.

Class Size – be sure to consider what type of learning environment you will thrive in. Do you see yourself in large lecture halls, or do you prefer small classes with more personal attention from your instructors and more hands-on learning? At Swedish Institute, we offer small class sizes taught by experienced faculty with decades of experience in Nursing and Healthcare. In our nursing classes you will learn practical skills and knowledge to prepare you for a variety of job functions including recording patient’s medical histories and symptoms, operating medical equipment, administering tests, planning patient care and dispensing medications along with other skills.
Clinical Experience – nursing education is not just about the material you learn inside the classroom, but also about getting real-world, hands-on experience. Nursing clinicals take place in a real healthcare setting where students get firsthand experience of what it is like to work as a registered nurse. This is also a great way to network with healthcare employers for when you graduate and are looking for employment.

 

Step 3: Becoming a Licensed Registered Nurse and Employment


After you graduate from nursing school and have your degree, you must sit and pass the NCLEX-RN exam and meet all your state’s licensure requirements. The NCLEX-RN is a national exam required to become a registered nurse to determine if it’s safe for you to begin practice as an entry-level nurse.

After you pass the exam and meet your state’s requirements, you will officially be a licensed registered nurse! With more than 500,000 seasoned RNs anticipated to retire by 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for 1.1 million new RNs for expansion and replacement of retirees, and to avoid a nursing shortage.** Many nurses have said that one thing that surprised them about becoming a nurse is the different kinds of job opportunities. A nursing degree can lead to employment in hospitals, doctor’s offices, to being a traveling nurse, or even working in education. With additional schooling, nurses can also become specialized in various areas of healthcare. Click here to see the variety of healthcare settings that Swedish Institute Nursing alumni have gone on to work after graduating,


Unlike some Nursing schools, the curriculum of our Nursing program at Swedish Institute is specifically designed to prepare you for your career as a Registered Nurse from day one. Your nursing classes will integrate knowledge and principles of writing, oral communication, mathematics, and behavioral and biological sciences. From working on your patient-care techniques to reading lab results, our instructors and faculty help train you for real-world experiences. So if you are looking at Nursing Schools in the New York City area, look no further than the Nursing Program at Swedish Institute!

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5 Reasons Why We Love Our Students

5 Reasons Why We Love Our Students

Valentine’s Day is a day that we all take time to tell those we care about how much they mean to us.  So what better time to share with our students just a few of the many reasons why we love you, each and every single day!

 

  1. You Show Up and You Work Hard

 

The journey to success will always have detours and obstacles.  We know how hard it is to balance your personal responsibilities with your academic studies.  Yet you show up to class every day, which is half the battle.  Every day that you show up is one day closer to reaching your goal of walking across that graduation stage.  Just read through our alumni testimonials and hear it from our graduates themselves when they say that there is nothing sweeter than seeing the fruits of your labor pay off. 

 

  1. You Know How to Have Fun

 

Whether it’s karaoke night or movie night, you know how to de-stress and have fun with your classmates.  We love walking the halls and hearing your laugh about something funny that happened in lab or overhearing you in the Student Center chatting about your weekend.  We know that school can sometimes be challenging, and we love that you recognize the importance of balancing hard work with having fun. 

 

  1. You Help Each Other

 

As the saying goes, “it takes a village.” And that could not be truer of our students here at Swedish Institute.  You are all quick to help your peers when they don’t understand something, or need notes from a missed class. The way that you work together and support one another demonstrates that you are going to be the type of healthcare professional that will make us proud once you graduate from Swedish and enter the healthcare field. 

 

  1. You Give Back

 

It seems like every week there is a new fundraiser or student-led initiative to give back. Whether it’s raising money for the American Heart Association, bringing awareness to breast cancer, participating in the Juvenile Diabetes walk, or collecting items for pediatric cancer patients during the holidays – our students are committed to not only getting an education but making an impact on our community while doing it. And we could not be more proud!

 

  1. You Inspire Us

 

There are so many reasons that each of you have decided to follow through with your education and career training. Many of you are doing so because of your passion to help others, many of you are furthering your education to provide a better life for your family and children and many of you realized that the path you were on was not meant for you and you are seeking more. Whatever your reason, your dedication and commitment to show up and contribute inspires us every day.

 

 

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What exactly are trigger points?

What exactly are trigger points?

Do you ever have sore spot that makes you nearly jump in pain when it’s touched? 😭 How about suddenly feeling pain in one area when an entirely different area of your body is the one being pressed? 🤔 This may not be a muscle in spasm. It could be a trigger point.⠀
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⬇️ Explains Scott Dietsch, Clinic Director at Swedish Institute:⠀
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“A trigger point is a highly irritable localized spot of exquisite tenderness in a palpable taut band of muscle tissue. Essentially, it’s the painful part of a knot in a muscle 💪 When pressure is applied to this taut band of fibers, you’ll feel a radiating ‘referred’ pain in a distant area. In other words, when a Tp is compressed or stimulated, it’s typical to feel pain in a different, remote part of your body. Ex: a Tp in the shoulder may cause headache or neck pain—sometimes even when it’s not being pressed.” ⠀
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🔎 What’s happening below the surface❓⠀
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Basic explanation: the continuously contracted knot in the muscle fiber stops blood flow at the trigger point, thus starving tissue of necessary oxygen & nutrients. Metabolic waste & toxins then build in the area, potentially causing pain, tension & spasm 🤯⠀
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🔎 So what do you do❓⠀
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Go see a licensed massage therapist! 💆‍♀️ A trained LMT will be able to properly identify the source of the problem & the exact point to palpate 🎯 After about 7-10 seconds of applying specific pressure on the point (which will hopefully be a “good” hurt!), you’ll likely feel a dull, deep pain followed by relief as it subsides. More than that, your therapist will be able to identify aspects of your posture or work habits that may be causing Tps in the first place🚶‍♀️so you can get to the root of the problem ✅⠀
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🔎 Where do you go❓⠀
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If you don’t already have your own personal favorite Massage Therapist, lucky for you we have a Graduate Clinic at Swedish Institute📍where you can be confident that you’re getting a properly trained LMT (or soon-to-be licensed on a limited permit) with 1200+ hours of training. And sessions start at $75 for a full 60-min massage, far below what you’d pay at an NYC spa 😯 So book your session! Contact us at [email protected] or (212) 924-5900 x268