Becoming a Registered Nurse in Florida

Nursing is a profession that offers diverse responsibilities, along with wonderful career growth opportunities.  Opportunities are available in a wide range of settings: hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and community-based health clinics. Nursing is not a job; it is a profession that requires highly specialized skills and knowledge. The work can be challenging and demanding but there is almost no other career that offers the same degree of personal and professional reward.

Career Overview

Although registered nurses may work in a variety of settings, there are a number of responsibilities that will be common to all:

• Treat patients for a variety of illnesses and injuries.
• Provide emotional support to patients and their families.
• Gather patient medical histories and record symptoms.
• Perform diagnostic tests (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, reflex)and analyze results
• Administer prescribed medications as ordered by physicians or physician assistants.
• Educate patients and their families in such areas as managing their illness or injury, proper nutrition, schedule of medications, and suggested exercise routines.
• Nurses with experience may provide supervision to licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants and home health aides.
• Create care plans or contribute to the existing plan with updated patient status and needs. These plans may include such items as:
  • proper administration of medications in term so timing and dosage to avoid negative interactions with either diet or other drugs;
  • Starting or discontinuing intravenous (IV) lines for fluids, blood, medication, or liquid nutrients;
  • Administering needed treatment and therapies;
  • Observing patients and recording any noticeable changes in charts;
  • Consultations with physicians, physician assistants and other members of the treatment team.

Career Outlook

As per the Web site of the Florida Nurse’s Association (FNA):

The demand for nursing services has never been greater. More than 1.6 million registered nurses are working in the United States now, more than at any other time in this country’s history. Recent developments in health care such as new, cost-effective financing mechanisms, the movement away from traditional hospital-centered care, and the new emphasis on a healthy life style have dramatically increased the demand for registered nurses. The increasing demand for nurses brings exciting challenges to the nursing profession. Nursing today means new choices, new directions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of registered nurses is expected to grow at a rate of about 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, which represents a much faster rate of growth than the average of most other occupations.

According to the BLS, the areas where the greatest growth will be seen are:

1. Private Physician offices (48%)
2. Home Health Care (33%)
3. Nursing Care Facilities  (25%)
4. Employment Services (24%)

Three-step process to become a nurse in Florida:

1. Obtain training in an accredited program;
2. Pass the licensing exam;
3. Apply for Florida State licensure.

Below we discuss each of these steps in greater detail.

Education and training

As per the FNA, it is important that the school you enroll in be approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. State approval means that the program has met the minimum requirements as required by State law in terms of quality of education, faculty background, clinical practicum, percent of students who graduate, and job placement.

There are three common educational pathways to becoming a registered nurse:

1. A bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) which typically takes about 4 years to complete;
2. A two-year program offered at community colleges leading to an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN);
3. Diploma programs offered by hospitals that take about 3 years to complete

In general, graduation from any of these programs will qualify you to obtain an entry-level position as a staff nurse. While there are hundreds of associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, there are relatively few diploma programs. Also important to note is that an associate’s may be a great option if you seek a somewhat faster-track into the profession. While a bachelor’s degree may be required to be eligible for promotional opportunities and higher salaries, gaining entry into the field with an associate’s degree means that there is the possibility that you can have your advanced education paid for by the facility in which you work.

View a list of nursing programs in Florida >>

When you complete your nursing education you will be eligible to sit for the national licensing exam.

Licensing Information

As per Willa Fuller of the FNA, “All states generally have the same (education and licensing) requirements. All nurses take the same licensing exam but each must go through their Board of Nursing unless they are in a Multi-State Compact. Florida is not in the compact.”

Upon graduation from an accredited nursing program students must pass a national licensing exam, known as the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license.

NCLEX-RN Exams

The NLEX is a national, standard multiple-choice type examination for entry-level registered nurse candidates. The test was developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The exam is more application oriented than theoretical with a focus on of those job functions commonly performed by entry-level nurses. The exam tests essential nursing competencies, medical knowledge, and determines candidates’ eligibility to receive an RN license and begin working in the field

Eight-Step process to sit for the NCLEX-RN Exam

1. Before you can take the exam you will need to obtain an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter which will permit you to schedule the test and be admitted to the test site. You can obtain this letter by registering and submitting an application with the Florida Board of Nursing. To being the registration/application process visit https://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/DOHInitialApp/login.aspx. For a quick checklist of what you will need to submit with your application to the Board of Nursing, visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/info_QRCexam.pdf. A detailed list is available once you register with the Florida Board.
2. Once you receive the ATT letter, it will be valid for 90 days from time of issuance.
3. You will also need to present an acceptable form of photo ID when arriving at the testing center:
   1. State-issued driver’s license
   2. Military ID
   3. Passport
4. Once you have received your ATT letter from the State board, you can register for the NCLEX-RN through one of the Person Vue centers.
   1. Locate a testing center in your area.
   2. Register for the exam.
   3. Schedule this exam well in advance of your target date as sits fill up quickly. The fee to take the exam is $200.

As part of your preparation you will want to review the Candidate Bulletin to become with the test structure and content. Visit https://www.ncsbn.org/1213.htm to view either the full bulletin or an abridged version.

Continuing Education Requirements for Nursing License Renewal

Per the Florida Department of Health, Registered Nurses up for renewal of their licenses (on a 2-year cycle), must complete 24 hours of continuing education courses in particular subject areas.  Example subjects include prevention of medical errors, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence.  There are several web resources that offer continuing education for nurses in an online format.

Salary of Registered Nurses

The following present the earnings of entry-level nurses in select Florida cities

Salary.com June 2011

Alternative Healthcare Careers

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): LPNs are primarily responsible for patient care and are generally under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs).  Becoming an LPN typically takes one year of study, after which you will receive a certificate of completion. Once graduating from an accredited training program the prospective LPN will need to pass the NCLEX-PN (Practical Nurse) test before becoming eligible for certification.  For more information on becoming an LPN visit the Web site of the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NFLPN)

Starting as an LPN might be a great idea if you wish to pursue a nursing career since it is very possible that your employer will pay a large part (if not all) of tuition costs toward your RN licensure. There are also some educational programs that offer an LPN-RN study track thereby cutting down the total time it will take to obtain both certifications.

Other career options that are nursing-related careers include certified nursing assistant (CNA), medical assistant, emergency medical technician, and physician assistant. Keep in mind that physician assistants must possess a bachelor’s degree and successfully graduate from a medical program very like that offered in medical schools. Minimum time frame to become a physician assistant is six years. For more information on becoming a physician assistant visit the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

View a list of nursing programs in Florida >>