Careers in Nursing

There are several routes that lead to accreditation as an R.N. and eligibility for the state boards required to practice nursing in all states. Whatever the route you choose, your first step will be to apply to nursing school.

What is involved in applying to a nursing school? Perhaps the first point to consider is whether the school is accredited. Usually, if a school is accredited it means that it has been approved for nursing training by the state in which it is located or by the National League for Nursing. Each state awards schools of nursing approval to operate through standards developed by the state board of nurse examiners.

Even more exhaustive, perhaps, are the standards for accreditation of the National League for Nursing. Such accreditation, which is strictly voluntary, is used in reviewing programs that have been developed to prepare practical and registered nurses in associate's degree, hospital, and bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Standards that have been developed by experts review areas such as curriculum and how the faculty implements it, and faculty preparation. Although such accreditation by the NLN is not compulsory, most nursing programs have sought such approval and received accreditation. At present, many programs awarding master's or doctorate degrees require grad-

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