Can You Be A Nurse With A GED Diploma?

Last Updated on March 23, 2024.

The nursing profession provides a number of career opportunities in a variety of different settings. Many nurses begin their careers as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

This is a good introduction to the world of nursing as the CNA works under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

Becoming a nursing assistant usually requires some classroom work that results in a certificate of completion.

In order to become a CNA, a high school diploma or GED® is required. All accredited CNA training programs require either a high school diploma or GED.

If you find a program that doesn’t require one of these, it probably isn’t accredited, which means it isn’t approved by the state.

If you’re not holding a high school or GED diploma, we suggest you get your GED as soon as possible. Just register with Onsego GED Online Prep to benefit from an accredited, engaging course that’ll get you all set for the GED test in no time!

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How to Get your GED Diploma

The GED exam comprises four independent modules (subject tests) that can be completed one at a time. These modules are in the subject fields of Math, Science, Social Studies, and Literacy (Language Arts).

If you study hard and efficiently, you can be ready to pass the tests within a few weeks. This depends, of course, on your educational level, but when you focus on all the GED topics that need your attention, this must be feasible. Taking multiple practice tests will help you identify these areas and topics.

Good grades are necessary because getting accepted into a nursing assistant program has become competitive. Schools are looking for the strongest candidates who have a solid understanding of math, chemistry, and the human body.

Licensed Practical Nurse

If you would like to advance your nursing career, you can apply for an LPN program.
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) usually attends a one to two-year community college or private school program. LPNs work mainly in general health care, monitoring patients, and providing support to the care plan.

Here is a handful of links that will help you to get prepared for the GED test.

Registered Nurse

The next step will be an RN program.
A Registered Nurse (RN) can obtain their education in a few ways. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) approach is a four-year degree that is earned at a college, university, or community college.

There is also an associate’s Degree in Nursing for RNs. This program takes two to three years and is most often completed at a community college.

Your GED diploma will definitely get you into community college, and you may, later on, transfer to a 4-year college to continue your education.

The final and less common way to become an RN is through a joint hospital/college program that combines practical experience in the hospital while taking college courses. Normally, this results in a diploma being conferred as opposed to a college degree.

The most popular path is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as hospitals and clinics tend to compensate nurses based on their level of education.

Once a person becomes a Registered Nurse, in order to legally practice, they must take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

There is also a Master of Science in Nursing degree available to RNs who wish to specialize or work in the academic or administrative areas of nursing.

Nursing Specializations

Most nurses begin working in the area of general medicine and health care. However, there are many other areas in which the nurse may specialize. Some specializations require a Master’s degree, while others require special classes and certifications. These concentrations include:

  • Obstetrics
  • Gynecology
  • Neonatology
  • Pediatrics
  • Geriatrics
  • Transplantation
  • Critical Care
  • Emergency and Trauma
  • Orthopedics
  • Nephrology

This is just a partial list, as nurses may be found in many other areas, such as women’s health, public health, and family practice. Wherever there is a need for ongoing care, nursing is a part of the overall support team.

When you apply for a job as a nurse, you can be sure the employer will thoroughly check your educational and personal background. Especially for positions in the fields of healthcare and education, that’s standard practice.

Signing Up for Nursing School

Submitting an application for nursing school is actually a significant move in your upcoming career route. The leading nursing academic institutions are highly demanding, and quite a few of them have got acceptance regulations that may require weeks for you to complete.

Beginning early, as well as focusing on details, is an excellent approach to improving your probability of good results.

Keep in mind, though, that every nursing institution has its very own acceptance prerequisites as well as the application procedure. Therefore, there may be no more essential action than cautiously studying every single school’s acceptance list, along with putting them in accordance with submission dates.

Step 1: Make a list of possible nursing schools. This is where organizing will turn out to be your greatest companion. List the requirements for each of them, along with the dates when the acceptance package should be accomplished and submitted. You may additionally wish to list the nursing schools in accordance with your actual most suitable final result or dream colleges.

Step 2: Ensure you meet all requirements. All of the nursing schools will demand, at the very least, a high school diploma (or GED),  a minimal GPA, along with several science and math lessons or perhaps even a bit of college-level training programs.

University degree courses, for example, a Bachelor’s college degree in nursing, could possibly demand an SAT score. Don’t sign up for courses that you can expect to routinely be disqualified for. This would be a waste of your time and your money.

Step 3: Take and pass any required tests. Though studying for some last-minute SAT most likely isn’t a good suggestion, the nursing academic institutions you submit an application for could have acceptance exams (this really is standard with community colleges). You will have to take on and complete them so that you can be accepted to the college, and you generally will find a test fee connected with it.

Step 4: Make duplicates of your actual high school transcripts and your actual SAT results, along with just about any other documents necessary for nursing school acceptance. Getting these readily available can certainly make matters go a great deal less complicated.

Step 5: Obtain a letter of recommendation. This is a letter from people who can recommend your work. It is preferable to get a recommendation letter from a science teacher or health care professional you have worked with, but anyone who really knows you and who can attest to your work will do.

Despite the fact that this isn’t detailed as a prerequisite on every nursing school request, a tailored document could make a big difference in a remarkably competitive program.

 Step 6: Make your personalized essay. The majority of nursing schools demand some kind of entrance essay where you summarize your specific background, your objectives, and your actual credentials for the course. Have other people examine it well before you send it in to search for mistakes.

In case you have experienced a part-time job or some volunteer work in any sort of medical setting, you should absolutely mention this. This is perfect for any admissions application.

This will indicate to an admissions committee that you are somewhat experienced and that you are certain about your career path. You may even become a doctor as a GED graduate, but be aware that this takes many years of studying and lots of perseverance.

Some Other Considerations

Certain nursing schools demand further steps, such as background inspections and acceptance fees. These costs may run anywhere from $20 up to $200, and you may well be requested to cover your very own background screening, so be certain you realize what you should expect from some of the schools you’re signing up for.

Other concerns, such as making a request for financial support or meeting key course load lessons, may as well have an effect on the final result of your application.

To submit an application to a nursing college, get in touch with the admission agencies of the actual colleges or universities you are considering, and ask for the proper application forms.

Programs in nursing schools are usually competitive, and very early submission of an application form is highly recommended, as the number of available training positions is limited.