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Over 42,000 nurses were turned away from nursing school last year. If you want to become a nurse that means you that you may have to wait a long time before you can actually get into the profession.

There are plenty of nursing job openings now, and the demand for nurses looks to be strong until 2014 and beyond.

If you are motivated to become a nurse, you have several options that allow you to get into the profession. In this article we will discuss the quickest and least expensive way to jump start your nursing career, and also show you other ways to bypassing the long nursing school waiting lists.

The Career Ladder for Nursing Jobs

No matter where in the nursing career ladder you start, the nursing profession offers job advancement at a steady manageable pace from Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN), then to obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and beyond.

This method is great for anyone wanting to get into nursing, gain experience and have their employer help pay for nursing school along the way. Many nurses enjoy working only 3, twelve hour shifts each week. This leaves plenty of time to attend school and study for the next logical step in a nursing career.

Also, if you decide to start out as a CNA, it is a great way to get your feet wet without spending three years in school to then find out that the day-to-day nursing activities are not for you.

How to Become a CNA

Entering the nursing profession as a Certified Nursing Assistant is a relatively easy route to take. If you already have a high school diploma or a GED, there are several paths to getting the training and experience you need to become a CNA. You can attend CNA classes at a community colleges and vocational or adult schools. Some hospitals still offer CNA programs but they are few and far between.. Classes generally last 6 to 12 weeks or a minimum of 75 hours of instruction. Some states require more hours and programs range from 75-150 hours.

Waiting lists for Certified Nursing Assistant programs are not nearly as long as the one’s you will find for obtaining an Associate Degree in Nursing to become an LPN or a RN. And this is even more so for obtaining a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

Schools that offer CNA programs include include vocational schools, community colleges, and some hospitals. The quickest route into nursing is through a vocational school, but that is also the most expensive route.

Advantages of Becoming a CNA:

1. In a relatively short period of time, you can enter the nursing profession

2. While you work as a CNA, you can apply to a Community College or Vocational School to become an LPN

3. You can gain experience as a nurse, gain an understanding of where you would like to take your career

4. You will know nursing from the ground up

5. With the experience you gain, your application to any school will be considered more seriously because you have already demonstrated your commitment and passion for nursing.

6. It is less expensive route to becoming a nurse

Disadvantages of Becoming a CNA

1. You must juggle work, school and other commitments such as family

2. There are limits to the care that a CNA can give. If you want to provide more care to those in need, you will need to wait until you gain your LPN or RN license.

3. It may take a little longer to accomplish your ultimate career goal

You can enter nursing school in the next month or so if you consider the pragmatic approach of earning your Certified Nursing Certificate and then working your say up the nursing career ladder. Learn about other approaches to getting into nursing school without being put on a long waiting list.