CO U R S E S & C A REERS
What qualifications do I need to become a
nurse?
There are a few paths you can take to begin your career in nursing: earn a
Diploma in Nursing, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science
Degree in Nursing (BSN). All these qualifications will see you becoming
a general nurse upon graduation, upon which you may then pursue a
specialisation, through a Master’s Degree, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor
of Nursing Practice (DNP) programme which will further your knowledge and
enhance your employability.
Option 1: Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs)
Course: Diploma in Nursing
Option 2: Registered Nurse (RN)
Course: Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)
Registered practical nurses (RPNs), also known as licensed practical nurses
(LPNs) in some countries, are considered the most junior category of nurses.
They care for patients who have less complex needs or are in stable and
predictable conditions. A Diploma in Nursing is the most common first step
towards becoming a registered nurse (RN). The three-year programme is usually
offered by hospital-based nursing schools and emphasises clinical experience,
which sees student nurses spending most of their time at hospitals. Entrance to
the programme is easy if you’ve graduated from secondary school.
What attributes do I need
to be a nurse?
Not everyone can be a nurse. Just
like doctors, interest and academic
qualifications aren’t enough to guarantee
one can embark on a nursing career.
Candidates also need:
Compassion and empathy
Perhaps the most important attribute
for a nurse is compassion. You would
be taking care of people when they are
deeply in need and highly vulnerable.
Without empathy and a positive
attitude, you would not be able to find
interest and joy in nursing.
Graduates will be prepared to engage in the full scope of the nursing
profession across all healthcare settings. The degree programme will take four
years to complete, in which the first two years will see you focusing on biology,
psychology, microbiology, human growth and development, organic chemistry,
nutrition, anatomy and physiology. The next two years will expose