How to Become a Nurse in Florida in 2023 – A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Registered Nurse in Florida

Do you wish to know how to become a nurse in Florida? If yes, then you are in the right place. This article gives you access to all you need to know about becoming a nurse in Florida.

Let’s say you’ve had this nursing itch for a while now and are ready to do something about it. And if Florida is your destination for practice, then you’re in a great position to start your journey.

Florida’s beaches and sunny weather have made it a retirement hot spot. The high number of older residents has contributed to the increased demand for quality medical care, increasing the demand for more Health Practitioners, especially Nurses.

This understanding, paired with your interest in the field, means that now could be the perfect time to start taking steps to become a nurse in Florida. So no more worries about how to go about it; we’ve covered you at Academicrelated.com. Keep reading to learn more about the path ahead.

In this article, we have systematically compiled all you need to know to become a nurse in Florida, including strategic steps to become a nurse in Florida, nursing licensure in Florida, the Florida NCLEX application, and lots more.

This article will give you everything you need to know to become a nurse in Florida. So let’s get started!!!

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HOW TO BECOME A NURSE IN FLORIDA

Strategic Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Florida

Aside from passion, empathy, and high regard for human life, you need more than those combined to become a nurse. Here’s the tip of the iceberg, becoming a nurse in Florida will be a whole lot easier if you follow these steps;

Determine which Nursing Credential to Pursue

The nursing profession has so many types that it can be hard to know your exact end goal or niche. But here’s the fact: whether you’re intrigued by surgery, interested in working with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), or passionate about seeing older adults live their best lives, there’s a place for you in nursing. What’s important is deciding which credential to pursue. Your desired credential will help you determine what kind of programs you should be researching. Let’s walk through your options:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Many LPNs work in outpatient clinics or home healthcare settings. They can take patients’ vital signs and medical histories, assist with hygiene, collect test samples, and administer medication. Education or training needed: Post-secondary certificate or diploma program, Florida 2018 median annual salary:3 $44,210.

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Registered Nurse (RN)

In addition to the duties of an LPN, RNs can also assess patient needs, recommend care plans, and educate patients. RNs are more likely than LPNs to work in a specialty clinic or hospital department. Education or training needed: an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Florida 2018 median annual salary: $64,400

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)

APRNs are any nurse who has earned a graduate-level nursing degree or beyond. This covers roles like nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), nurse anesthetist (CRNA), and nurse midwife (CNM). Education or training needed: a master’s or doctorate. Salary information: It varies depending on a specific role. Research and apply to nursing programs: Once you know exactly your path, it’s time to narrow down your search.

There are hundreds of nursing schools, but finding the one that fits you best can be challenging. You must know that the program length will vary depending on your chosen credential. An LPN diploma program can be completed in as few as 12 months, while a BSN can take anywhere from two to four years, depending on the program and the student’s previous academic experience.

Complete your Nursing Coursework

Welcome to the nursing school. In most programs, you’ll start by laying a strong foundation with general education and prerequisite courses like English, history, chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physiology.

In some schools, you’ll have to first Pass these courses—typically while maintaining a certain GPA—before officially entering the nursing program. Once you get into the meat and potatoes of your nursing program, you’ll find yourself taking courses like pharmacology and nutrition and focused topics like public health nursing and mental and behavioral health nursing.

Many of these courses also include labs that will help you practice skills you’ll use in your clinical and eventually at your job.

Gain hands-on Experience in Clinical

Nursing becomes nursing when you have experience. For you to get to see the practical application of your studying and practice, you have to do clinical. In clinical, nursing students shadow working nurses and slowly start to assist by performing the duties of a nurse under the direct supervision of an experienced professional. This can happen in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. This is critical for nurses to transition what they’ve learned in the classroom and simulation labs and apply it to real patient scenarios.

You might want to see this: How to Become a Nurse in UK – Steps on How to Relocate to the UK as an International Nurse

Obtain State Licensure

After completing your nursing coursework and clinical, chances are you’ll be anxious to get started as a working nurse. To do so, you’ll need to obtain a state license. In Florida, you can apply for licensure either by endorsement or examination. The endorsement path is for nurses who already hold a valid nursing license from another state—new nurses must take the NCLEX exam to be considered for a license.

The Florida nursing license application also requires proof of graduation from an accredited or approved nursing program, fingerprints, a background screening, and an application fee. Once all requirements are met, you’ll be officially ready to work as a nurse in Florida!

Get your first Nursing job.

Once these processes have been sequentially followed and passed successfully, The next step is to land your first job. Spend time creating a clean and compelling resume and brushing up on your interview skills. One nice thing about the nursing licensure process? Employers should feel fairly confident in your baseline ability to perform as a nurse—so much of the screening process comes down to your attitude and how well you’ll fit in with the organization. Do your best to present yourself as someone you’d like to work with and enter that interview with confidence.

Tips on How to Become a Registered Nurse in Florida

Becoming an RN in Florida may sound difficult, but it is not that difficult because there’s nothing good advice can’t fix. To become a Registered Nurse in Florida, you must follow the rules set by the state of Florida.

This set of rules says that you must choose your entry-level program. This is a significant step because these different degrees and programs say much about your RN degree.

Pre-Requisites

A BSN (a bachelor of science degree) or ADN (an associate degree in nursing) could take up to four or two years, respectively.

When we talk about the cost of becoming a registered nurse in Florida, it’s expedient; you know that it varies from state to state.

The cost of completing two years of school to become an RN, regardless of the program, can usually range from $9,000 to $26,000, while the four-year-long course can cost anywhere from $26,000 to $100,000.

It is noteworthy to mention that private institutions can charge you fees according to their rules and regulations. You must remember hidden charges such as books, supplies, tuition, transportation, and other compulsory necessities are not included.

Government colleges have low fees, while private ones are not cheap.

Talking about low fees, you will find a list of affordable Nursing Universities in Florida below.

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List of the Affordable Nursing Programs/Universities in Florida

When choosing a Florida nursing school, prospective students should consider factors such as graduation rates, employment rates after graduation, class sizes, tuition costs, and available learning formats.

For example, online learning offers increased flexibility to self-motivated and disciplined students. Additionally, accelerated programs, which expedite degree completion, may appeal to highly independent and motivated learners.

Here’s a list of affordable Nursing schools in Florida

  • Jacksonville University
  • Florida Atlantic University
  • Nova Southeastern University
  • University of West Florida
  • University of Miami
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of North Florida
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University
  • University of South Florida
  • Southeastern University

These schools are known to offer the best yet affordable tuition. You could check that out for more details.

How do I Apply for Nclex in Florida?

This is one difficult task for most nurses; applying for NCLEX is not that difficult if only you follow these steps strategically;

  • Step 1: Apply for licensure with your Board of Nursing. You’ll be doing this with the Department of Health.
  • Step 2: Register and Pay with Pearson Vue
  • Step 3: Receive your Authorization to Test and Schedule your NCLEX exam
  • Step 4: Take the test and maintain your license!

These processes cost you about $425, so you must pass them successfully.

What You Need to Know About Nclex Exam in Florida.

For clarification, there are two types of NCLEX Examinations.

Depending on your education level, you can take the NCLEX-PN (practical nurse) or the NCLEX-RN (registered nurse) examination. Those who obtain a diploma in licensed practical or vocational nursing can take the NCLEX-PN exam. Those who have completed an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) can take the NCLEX-RN exam.

The NCLEX Examination Focuses on Four Areas of Practice

Both exams focus on four specific areas of practice. The first is a safe effective care environment. This is about being able to maintain hygiene and control infections. The second element is health promotion and maintenance. Preventative healthcare is one of the most important fields of work today.

Then, there is psychosocial integrity. This looks at your ability to cope with the stresses of being a nurse and also focuses on being able to deliver mental health care. The final and largest element of the NCLEX exam is physiological integrity, which accounts for 43% to 67% of all questions. This is about your ability to deliver proper nursing care.

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NCLEX Examination Question Types

In the past, all NCLEX questions were multiple-choice. Although many are still of the multiple-choice type, many questions are now in a different format. But 90% of the questions continue to be multiple choice. Questions come in three levels. Level 1 is general knowledge and is generally delivered as multiple choice.

Level 2 is on analysis and application, which may or may not be multiple choice. Level 3 questions are the hardest and require you to apply facts, processes, and rules to answer them. Often, these questions are open questions. Around 90% of the exam consists of level 2 and 3 questions.

How the NCLEX Examination Is Delivered

Students will attend one of their regional Pearson Centers to sit the examination. They are delivered electronically. The number of questions that need to be answered varies per student, as they are generated based on the answers to your previous question. As such, you might have to answer anything between 75 and 265 questions.

However, only 60 of the 75 questions count, with the other 15 being trial questions. You have six hours to complete the test, including several break times. The passing mark depends on how you compare to predetermined standards.

Schools in Florida Offering 2 Years Nursing Program in Florida

For most shod, it takes 4 years to get a degree in nursing, but in Florida, there are schools in which only two years are enough to drill you into theory and practice to become a qualified nurse who can practice in any country of the world. These schools include;

  • University of South Florida College of Nursing
  • Jersey College Nursing School Tampa Campus
  • Chancellor Institute – LPN Program Online /Hybrid Programs
  • UCF College of Nursing
  • Jersey College Nursing School Ft. Lauderdale Campus
  • Millers College of Nursing, Inc.
  • Azure College School of Nursing Fort Lauderdale Campus
  • Jersey College Nursing School Jacksonville Campus
  • FAU – Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
  • Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology
  • ECPI University
  • University · Lake Mary, FL, United States
  • Nursing school · Ocala, FL, United States
  • School Miami Regional University
  • Academy For Nursing And Health Occupations
  • Florida Academy Of Nursing
  • Med-Life Institute School of Nursing
  • South Florida State College

You can see there are a hand full of them; in just two years from these schools, you will become a nurse, and following the strategies listed in this article, you will get your license and start practice.

We hope to hear from you once you become a nurse in Florida!!!

Check: HOW TO BECOME A NURSE IN USA– Requirements and Steps to Becoming a Registered Nurse in the USA

How Much Does it Take to Become a Nurse in Florida?

A two-year associate degree to become a nurse in Florida costs $9,000 to $26,000, while a bachelor’s degree in nursing science costs $26,000 to $100,000.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Nurse in Florida?

The number of years it may take you to become a nurse in Florida, depends on your route. If you are already a licensed practical nurse, you must complete a one-year certificate program before taking the NCLEX-PN. Another route is to earn a two-year associate degree; a bachelor in nursing science degree takes four years to complete.

Conclusion: How to Become a Nurse In Florida

Florida is currently one of the countries with the highest rate of nurse employment, which means Florida is in demand for nurses. Becoming a nurse in Florida is a good career option.

Also See: HOW TO BECOME A NURSE IN CANADA– Job Opportunities as well as an Easy Guide to Becoming a Registered Nurse in Canada

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