Some students graduate from college and go on to do amazing things, like walk across the United States, work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or get a job at Google.
If you are looking for ways to support your college-age child during their studies, this is an important post for you.
If you're thinking of studying nursing too, then please read on because this article has some useful information about why you should consider going into the field, and why you should support your college-aged child to achieve their nursing dreams too.
Why Choose Nursing as a Career?
Nursing is an outstanding career choice, that encompasses many different paths including working in hospitals, the community, mental health settings, and schools.
Some of the skills a nurse can develop are resourcefulness and critical thinking. Nurses also apply a wide range of skills to assess patient needs, manage problems, and treat conditions to help people recover from illness or injury.
You will get excellent training as a nurse, which is why it’s one of the most popular degrees for students pursuing higher education and can be very rewarding in helping others heal from illness or injury.
Qualification Options for Students
As a nurse student, there are a lot of options for how to study to get the qualifications you need to begin work as a nurse, including distance learning and flexible study options.
You can gain qualifications in several areas, including:
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A Bachelor of Nursing - is an entry-level nursing qualification, required for work in hospitals or schools. You can adopt a blended learning approach through an online course.
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The Nurse Practitioner - is aimed at graduates who want to become part of the healthcare team and provide care for patients in private practice or public health settings.
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An Associate’s Degree - a relatively new qualification and involves a two-year study as part of a community college system.
There are also lots of options on how to study too, including part-time, and online distance learning courses. For students who want to get their qualifications as soon as possible, you may want to look into the online accelerated bsn programs available for both you and your college-age child.
So, the decision to study nursing is a big one.
Just remember that there are many different career paths for nurses, and you can tailor your career path to your life and work preferences.
Don’t overthink it and remember that what you ultimately want from a career is rewarding and meaningful.
Help Your Child Pass Their Exam with Confidence
So, how can you help your child (or yourself) to pass their nursing exams? As a parent, this is a big milestone in your life.
Think of it as a new chapter and focus on helping them to pass their big test with confidence.
Here are a few things that you can do to help your child study for their exam, learn the required material, and then conquer their nursing career.
Meet a Current Nurse at Work
While you may be familiar with what it takes to become a nurse, the reality may be that your child has never seen the inside of a hospital before.
So, take the time to find out about what happens when you work as a nurse, especially in emergencies and complicated cases.
Read About Other Nurses
To prepare for their exam, your child can read about other nurses who have made a difference in people’s lives.
This will inspire your child to work hard and help others in need. It can also give them a better sense of how a career in nursing fits into the big picture of helping people get better.
Make Time to Study
Hopefully, your child has managed to choose a college that is close enough for you to help them study, or they are taking a distance learning online course.
If not, then make time to meet them at their university or take the time to visit their classes to help answer any questions that they might have about the course material.
Although it will be difficult for you to get involved in all of their studies, the more support you provide, the better prepared they will be when taking their exam.
Let Them Discuss Their Apprehensions
You can help your child by encouraging them to talk about their fears, worries, and apprehensions about taking their exams.
It is one of the most common fears that a student can have, so if they are doing this with you, then it shows that you are providing a lot of support for them.
Don’t be surprised if your child does not want to talk about this, however. They may prefer to work through it themselves or wait until the results come out before feeling too worried about the outcome.
Prepare for the Worst-Case Scenario
No parent wants to think about the worst-case scenario, but it is important that you try and at least consider it.
If your child does not pass the exam, then think about what could happen next.
Perhaps your child needs more time to study for the exam. Maybe they need to rethink how they are studying and change how they are approaching their learning materials.
As a parent, don’t panic too much and do what you can to help them through this period of change. It will be a big hurdle in their life, but by working together as a team, you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way.
Encourage Your Child to Talk About Their Progress
You can also help your child by encouraging them to talk about the progress they are making with their exam.
After all, they will want to know how they are doing. Ask how they are feeling and let them know that you’re proud of what they have accomplished so far.
You can also help them by encouraging them to study when they are feeling unmotivated or not motivated at all.
It is a process that takes time and requires dedication, but if your child puts the effort in, they will learn a lot more about how their mind works and their own learning style.
