Major: Nursing (RN)
It’s a typical morning at a city hospital. A woman arrives complaining of severe stomach pain. A nurse asks her a series of direct questions about her symptoms and learns what may be causing the pain. The nurse alerts a doctor, and they work together to order tests and begin treatment. Upstairs, a second nurse administers chemotherapy drugs to a patient who suffers from cancer. On another floor, a third nurse helps to deliver a baby.
If you study nursing, you may train in a hospital like this where nurses care for, educate, and enhance the lives of patients every day. You’ll learn about everything from examining patients and treating their immediate needs to keeping up the health of people with long-term conditions.
Nursing majors train to care for sick and disabled patients and to promote better health.
“I once heard an instructor say that a doctor treats a disease that a person happens to have, but a nurse treats a patient who just happens to have a disease.”
Jenn, class of 2000, nursing, Golden West College
Are You Ready To...?
- Spend long hours studying and memorizing scientific information
- Learn about ethical issues related to terminal illness and death
- Gain clinical experience for college credit in hospitals, schools, community health organizations, and mental health institutions
- Prepare for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)
It Helps to Be...
A caregiver with an inquisitive mind. Do you enjoy detective stories? Do you like the challenge of figuring out a mystery? These interests will serve you well when you’re helping to diagnose and treat a patient’s health problems.
College Checklist
- Is the program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission?
- How many graduates pass the NCLEX-RN?
- What types of clinical training sites will you be able choose from? Are they on or near campus?
- If you’re interested in working in communities where English is not the primary language, are the appropriate foreign language courses offered? Are American Sign Language courses offered?
Did You Know?
- In the United States, registered nurses (RNs) outnumber physicians by more than four to one.
Course Spotlight
After learning the basics of nursing, you’ll get the chance to explore nursing specialties in classes and in real-world settings, such as hospitals.
For example, you’ll learn about caring for children in pediatrics. There’s a lot to learn, from childhood diseases and their treatments to child development and psychology. Even giving medication is different in pediatrics, because there’s no single correct dose for all children. Doses vary depending upon the child’s weight.
Explore this major in more depth on MyRoad™