The Prerequisites Needed For Nursing Schools

byAlma Abell

Cincinnati nursing schools require prospective candidates to have specific qualifications before they will be accepted into a program. Typical nursing school prerequisites expect a candidate to have a certain amount of education, the ability to eventually become a nurse, the desire to help, compassion and the ability to communicate well.

There are a number of different nursing degrees that can be pursed; these options are associate, bachelors or master’s degrees. Individuals who are considering nursing as a career should pay specific attention to the prerequisites demanded by a given nursing school but also temper these with future career opportunities that result from successful completion of the chosen degree.

To enter nursing school the minimum educational attainment is high school or its equivalent. Getting into nursing school is highly competitive so to be considered demonstrated success in those courses which have relevance to nursing is extremely important. It is important to have achieved high marks in sciences and mathematics; this will go a long way in convincing an admissions officer that the candidate has what it takes to see these grueling courses through to graduation. The basic admission prerequisites are common but if the desire is to enroll in a master’s degree program then previous educational attainments must be proven.

Getting certification depends on the candidate successfully completing a nursing examination after graduation. Many Cincinnati nursing schools try to ensure the student will meet the basic demands to getting his or her professional certificate before they accept them as a student. Candidates have to pass a background check for any criminal convictions and pass a drug test, if they cannot pass these prerequisites they will not be accepted into the program.

Other prerequisites are based on the ability of the candidate to succeed in the nursing profession. The candidate must show that they have the mental capacity to handle the demands of the job and they must show that they are compassionate and that they care for people. Handling stress and maintaining composure during emergencies will prove to be a necessity once working in the field.

Nurses are called upon to communicate with patients, the families and other members of the medical profession and as such communication skills are extremely important. Compassion must be shown to patients and their families and a high degree of professionalism must be shown in both written and oral communications when dealing with medical personnel.