Hello and welcome to our guide on how to crush your nursing application for your dream program.
In this article, we will cover the process of applying for the nursing program of your choice.
Following our guide guarantees an easy and fast application process that will open doors for your nursing education and career!
We will cover the topics below:
- Nursing application requirements
- How to prepare your resume
- How to compose your essay
Without further delay, let’s jump right in!
Nursing Application Requirements
Here are the typical admission requirements for nursing programs in the United States.
Requirements will also depend on:
- The education level you want to attain (associate degree, BSN)
- The type of institution you are applying for (community college, university)
- The goal career after graduation (CNA, LPN, Registered Nurse)
Your college or university of choice may have more requirements than listed here – make sure to follow the application deadline and check if your application will make it for the spring semester or fall semester.
There will be additional requirements for financial aid and scholarships for baccalaureate programs.
RTEAS Exam Result
The Test of Essential Academic Skills, also known as the ATI TEAS test, is an exam designed for the eligibility assessment of a potential student entering the field of health sciences.
GPA
The school may ask for your official transcripts to determine your grades for specific subjects.
The GPA prerequisite of your intended course could depend on the program’s popularity – if a lot of incoming nursing students want the program, you may have to ensure you did well in high school.
After all, nursing school is a challenging process, and the school wants to make sure you’re up for this degree.
This ensures that you’ll pass the NCLEX and get the licensure you aim for at the end of your nursing education journey!
Resume
The resume for a nursing application should include:
- Your educational experience
- Work and volunteer experience
- Other qualifications that will support your eligibility to be accepted into the course
Personal Essay
The personal essay is a short essay that should summarize your intentions and qualifications for entering the nursing course.
Letter/s of Recommendation
You may be required to approach non-relatives who will vouch for your character and background check with a letter of recommendation.
It would be best to choose supervisors who have managed you closely in projects.
They would be best equipped to discuss your finest qualities with solid examples.
It would help if you also thought about the accessibility of your recommendation writers in case your school will reach out to them.
Application Fee
Many nursing admission processes require an application fee when you send in your intent.
How to Prepare Your Resume
1. List your education and academic experiences
List any relevant courses (like math and science coursework, physiology II, and more), plus details on transfer credit if you are working on an accelerated degree.
You can also list any basic training you have received, like first aid training or basic life support certification.
2. List your relevant work experiences
Outside of your educational experience, do you have any work or volunteer activities that exemplify who you are outside of school?
This work doesn’t have to be in nursing (though it may help), but it should be a relevant detail that exemplifies your passion for helping others and skills in being part of a team.
3. Add your relevant skills
While you still lack nursing experience, you can add skills to your resume transferable to your nursing education.
For example, computer skills are highly sought after as the nursing industry begins to rely more on technology.
Communication skills are also critical to nurses who speak with fellow health professionals and patients and their families.
How to Prepare Your Personal Essay
Some people find the personal statement the most challenging part of the application process.
As long as you answer honestly and take the time to answer any specific prompts, you should have nothing to worry about.
1. Explain why you want to take the course you are applying to
If you truly understand the program, you are applying to, mention what is in the coursework that appeals to you as a new student.
Mention your general education goals and what you want to achieve when you gain your enrollment.
You can ask current students of the course what they like about what they are learning to help you flesh out why this particular nursing course is perfect for you.
2. Explain your motivation for entering the field of nursing
Why do you want to become an LPN or a registered nurse?
What licensure do you want to attain?
Why are you interested in nursing in the first place?
These are the questions you need to answer as you explain why you are pursuing a nursing career and the healthcare field.
Perhaps there is specific advocacy you want to address with your nursing career – it would offer a concrete path and story for the reader to follow.
Ensure that the reader of your essay understands your motivations and sees that you are serious about pursuing this career path.
Dedication to the work is one of the most admired qualities in the field.
3. Create a narrative that is easy to follow
Don’t make your essay hard to read – help out your admissions staff by telling a story of why you want to be part of their school.
Always get straight to the point and keep your language simple – the readers will appreciate a shorter message with many impacts.
Let the reader know more about you, but do not drown the essay in unnecessary details.
4. Edit and proofread your essay
Let your communication skills and attention to detail shine through with a technically sound essay.
It’s one thing to put your heart and soul into your writing, but it will be hard for the admissions staff to see a nursing student with bad spelling and grammar throughout the entire essay.
Present yourself properly in the written word to show them you are meticulous and well-spoken.
Conclusion
Your nursing program application should be straightforward if you study the requirements and follow the deadlines.
Knowing why you are applying to the specific course and outlining your strengths to match up with the rigors of the coursework is an excellent mindset to shape your resume and personal essay.
It is essential to highlight your personality and motivations to stand out from the crowd, especially when applying for a high-demand course.
Should you fail your course’s admission criteria, you should not fret either and keep pushing forward with your dream.
FAQs
What GPA is required for nursing?
The typical nursing course would require a GPA of 2.8 or above. More prestigious schools would require a GPA of 3.0 or above.
Where can I apply for nursing?
For Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), a diploma is typically achieved at a vocational school. For Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), an associate’s degree is typically received at community colleges. For Registered Nurses (RN), a bachelor’s degree is typically received at universities.
Is nursing easy to get into?
More prestigious universities have programs that are in high demand, causing them to choose only a handful of students. More open programs like diplomas or ADNs for licensed practical nurses offer more opportunities, especially to those with no nursing or science background.
