How to Become a Nurse: Resources to Help You Get Started

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Nurses work alongside other medical professionals to provide patients with quality healthcare. Read on to explore a variety of nursing careers and how to join the field today.

[Featured Image]: A female nurse, wearing a blue uniform, and head covering, is standing outside a building with white walls.

Nurses provide patient care, support physicians, and help treat and prevent medical ailments. Due to an aging population, nurses are in constant demand and well-compensated for their work and hard-earned skill set. 

The Business Standard reports that India needs 4.3 million more nurses by 2024 to meet standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) [1]. But India is not alone. The global midwifery and nursing workforce comprises 27 million men and women, accounting for almost 50 percent of the global health workforce. Even so, the worldwide community is experiencing a shortage of health workers—midwives and nurses in particular [2].  

These figures demonstrate a potentially positive job outlook for the future of nursing as worldwide healthcare organisations and governments seek to hire more nurses. But, your path to joining this high-demand healthcare profession will depend largely on your goals. 

In this article, you will find a wide range of resources to help you explore both healthcare and nursing professions, learn about what you need to do to become a practicing nurse, and how to prepare for the job search. 

Familiarise yourself with the healthcare field

Healthcare is a field that grows and changes daily. If you’re considering a career as a nurse, take some time to acquaint yourself with healthcare. 

Explore nursing careers

Nursing is not simply one profession. You’ll find many different nursing careers exist—from those that need only a couple of years of training to those that require many more. Before jumping into a nursing programme, consider the type of nurse you want to become. 

Join a nursing programme to get qualified

Nurses are highly-trained medical professionals who use their expertise to support physicians and provide quality patient care. Depending on the area of nursing you are going into, the exact educational requirements you’ll need to fulfill will vary. 

You can explore several paths to becoming a nurse in India, including training and education beyond secondary school. For example, you may attend four years of university and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc N) or a Master of Science in Nursing (M.Sc N). You can also earn diplomas in midwifery, neurology, oncology, and psychiatry to specialise in a specific area of nursing.

When applying for jobs, you want to put your best foot forward. Before doing so, make sure your CV is as polished as possible. 

Ace the interview 

Job interviews allow you to expand your skills, discuss previous work experience, and highlight your professional accomplishments. Before you start interviewing, make sure to set aside time to prepare. A good impression during a job interview can help your chances of landing the job.

Keep expanding your skill set

The world of healthcare is ever-changing. Whether you have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or even a doctorate, your education as a medical professional doesn’t end when you leave your degree programme or school of nursing. Throughout your career, you will likely have to learn new skills and techniques as the field changes. 

To keep your skills current, consider taking an online course or degree programme. Coursera offers 5,000 online courses, Professional Certificates, and degrees from world-class universities and companies.

The University of Minnesota’s Integrative Nursing Specialisation, for example, teaches a patient-centred, relationship-based approach to nursing that utilises a variety of integrative healing modalities.

Article sources

1. 

Business Standard. “India in need of 4.3 mn more nurses by 2024 to meet WHO norms: Nurse org, https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-in-need-of-4-3-mn-more-nurses-by-2024-to-meet-who-norms-nurse-org-121090201448_1.html.” Accessed 28 June 2024.

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