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Wisconsin RN Certification and Schools - WI
By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 19th, 2010
Education Required to Become a Registered Nurse in Wisconsin
While you do not have to attend Wisconsin RN schools to become an RN in the state, the school must be accredited and, if it is not in the state, must have qualifications comparable to those required by Wisconsin.
There are three educational paths to becoming a nurse, according to BLS. These include earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or a bachelor’s degree in another field coupled with an accelerated nursing program for holders of B.S. degrees (takes an additional year to 18 months). You can earn an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) from a community or junior college. Or you might seek a diploma from a hospital-based nursing program. The latter method is becoming rarer, although these programs take only 3 years to complete. Associate’s degrees typically take two or three years and a bachelor’s degree can take at least four years.
Many nurses go on to spend another two years pursuing a masters or doctorate degree in nursing to take on more responsibility and earn more money. However, whatever path you choose, you will have the opportunity to then specialize in one or more of a huge variety of occupations. Pathology, oncology, clinical, dermatological, pain relief, emergency room operations, ob/gyn and pediatrics are just a few.
Your education will include a lot of science (chemistry, statistics, anatomy, biology, etc.) as well as clinical time spent interacting with patients. You will learn how to operate commonly found medical equipment, how to administer medication and other technical skills. However, along with classes in psychology, nutrition and other behavioral sciences, you will learn how to deal with sick people and their loved ones, as well as how to interact with doctors and other healthcare staff.
Wisconsin Continued Education Requirements for Registered Nurses in Wisconsin
Should you return for more schooling and becoming an advanced Nurse Practitioner, you will have to maintain your license by taking at least 8 hours a year of clinical pharmacology/therapeutics continuing education coursework. For ordinary registered nurses, however, Wisconsin does not require any continuing education hours to be taken to maintain your license.
Through campus or online programs, aspiring Registered Nurses in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay, Wisconsin may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Aurora Saint Luke's Medical Center, Saint Joseph's Hospital, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and Saint Mary's Hospital.