Is a nursing education easy?

No, it is academically challenging and the nurses' training rotations can be daunting. Having said that, it can be a very rewarding career.

If you like science, it can be easier, but no it's not easy. There is a lot to learn in the time you are in school. There is a lot of chemistry, biology and anatomy.

pretty easy hands on training even better.

No,its not and the job ain't either but we so need good nurses.

No it's not. You have to take a lot of chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and biology type classes which aren't too bad if you enjoy science. But once you get into nursing school it gets hard. You have a very rigorous schedule. You have to take pharmacology and learn tons of different drugs, what they do, how to calculate the correct dose, what the correct range is, and what the side effects are. You have to learn every single system in the human body and what kind of diseases affect it, the clinical manifestations of the disease, and how to treat the disease. Then you have to learn all of the hands on stuff like starting IV's and urinary catheters, how to give medications, how to feed and bathe patients, etc. Then you have to take all of the basics that you have learned and understand how they vary in the pediatric population and the geriatric population. The list could go on and on, but the answer is no, nursing education is not easy. I didn't mean to scare you though if you're thinking about it. I just don't want people to think that it's a piece of cake. It's rigorous but if it's what you want to do then go for it! It's so rewarding and I love it!

In many cases, a high school diploma or equivalent is necessary for a job as a nursing or psychiatric aide. However, a high school diploma generally is not required for jobs as home health aides. Specific qualifications vary by occupation, State laws, and work setting. Advancement opportunities are limited.

Education and training. Nursing and psychiatric aide training is offered in high schools, vocational-technical centers, some nursing care facilities, and some community colleges. Courses cover body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, communication skills, and resident rights. Personal care skills, such as how to help patients to bathe, eat, and groom themselves, also are taught. Hospitals may require previous experience as a nursing aide or home health aide. Some States also require psychiatric aides to complete a formal training program. However, most psychiatric aides learn their skills on the job from experienced workers.

Home health aides are generally not required to have a high school diploma. They usually are trained on the job by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or experienced aides. Also, clients may prefer that tasks are done a certain way, and make those suggestions to the home health aide. A competency evaluation may be required to ensure the aide can perform the required tasks.

Some employers provide classroom instruction for newly hired aides, while others rely exclusively on informal on-the-job instruction by a licensed nurse or an experienced aide. Such training may last from several days to a few months. Aides also may attend lectures, workshops, and in-service training.

Licensure and certification. The Federal Government has guidelines for home health aides whose employers receive reimbursement from Medicare. Federal law requires home health aides to pass a competency test covering a wide range of areas. A home health aide may receive training before taking the competency test. In addition, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice offers voluntary certification for home health aides. Some States also require aides to be licensed.

Similar Federal requirements exist for nurse aides who work in nursing care facilities. These aides must complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved training and pass a competency evaluation. Aides who complete the program are known as certified nurse assistants (CNAs) and are placed on the State registry of nurse aides.

Other qualifications. Aides must be in good health. A physical examination, including State-regulated tests such as those for tuberculosis, may be required. A criminal background check also is usually required for employment.

Applicants should be tactful, patient, understanding, emotionally stable, and dependable and should have a desire to help people. They also should be able to work as part of a team, have good communication skills, and be willing to perform repetitive, routine tasks. Home health aides should be honest and discreet because they work in private homes. They also will need access to a car or public transportation to reach patients鈥?homes.

Advancement. Opportunities for advancement within these occupations are limited. Aides generally need additional formal training or education to enter other health occupations. The most common health care occupations for former aides are licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, and medical assistant.

For some individuals, these occupations serve as entry-level jobs. For example, some high school and college students gain experience working in these occupations while attending school. In addition, experience as an aide can help individuals decide whether to pursue a career in health care.


you should look at the website below ...they have EVERYTHING about nursing!

Nope. It takes dedication and a lot of work. If it was so easy there wouldn't be such a shortage of nurses today.