At CSP Global, there are certain nursing qualifications you’ll need to apply to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. You must meet the prerequisites and have a 3.0 GPA, for example. In addition, important nursing qualities include communication skills, leadership, professionalism and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Are you serious about changing careers to become a nurse? If so, now may be a great time to start thinking about what it will take to get there. What nursing qualifications and nursing qualities will you need to begin? How will these qualifications and skills position you for success in the future? While these questions may seem straightforward, the answers vastly depend on the nursing degree option and program that works best for you.
If you want to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and already hold a non-nursing degree or have 54 college credits, there are accelerated pathways you can take to become a nurse sooner. One pathway is an Accelerated BSN. From the eligibility requirements you’ll need to be considered for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) to the soft skills you’ll need to possess once you enroll, here is a look at the nursing qualifications you will need to choose an Accelerated BSN, like the program at CSP Global.
Are You Eligible? Nursing Qualifications You’ll Need at CSP Global
Once you’ve decided to pursue a career as a nurse, you’ll need to assess which nursing qualifications you already have and which you’ll need to obtain. Here’s a look at the admissions requirements for the ABSN program at CSP Global:
- A minimum of 54 completed non-nursing college credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Official transcripts verifying course completion from an accredited college or university
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 of combined science prerequisites (human anatomy, physiology I and II, microbiology and chemistry for health sciences)
- Successful passing of a criminal background check and drug screen
- A minimum score of 65% on the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) within one year prior to your ABSN program application
- Completed prerequisites with grade C or higher within the time limit and while meeting the prerequisite course repetition policy
- Demonstrated English language proficiency
If you have any questions about these admissions requirements, your admissions advisor will be happy to help you.
The first way they get to know more about your academic history is through your academic transcripts. After analyzing your transcripts, your admissions advisor will then review the following admission requirements and prerequisites with you.
Once these requirements and prerequisites are met, you can complete the program in as few as 16 months. If you have questions about these qualifications, be sure to ask your admissions advisor – they have your best interest in mind and want to help you submit the most competitive nursing application possible.
Additional Nursing Qualities and Nursing Qualifications
Now that you know about the hard skills you’ll need to be considered for the Accelerated BSN, it’s time to explore the soft skills you’ll need to have once you’ve officially enrolled.
1. Passion
For most prospective nursing students, the goal to pursue a career in nursing stems from a calling. While you may have shared this calling with your advisor in the admissions process, it’s crucial that you carry it with you throughout your nursing school journey, and beyond. Try writing down your intention for wanting to become a nurse. This will help you stay focused throughout your nursing school journey.
2. Discipline
Online coursework will grant you the freedom to create your own schedule and learn core nursing concepts around the clock. With this in mind, it’s important that you remain disciplined and meet all deadlines given by your nursing faculty.
3. Teamwork
Your accelerated nursing education at CSP Global will be rigorous and fast-paced. This will encourage you to lean on the students in your cohort for support. For example, during a lab, you may have to work with your classmates to solve complex patient care scenarios. This will require you to keep your patient (the high-fidelity manikin) alive. As you work together, it’s important that you communicate effectively, adapt to the situation and understand how to apply what you are learning to the patient’s unique situation.
Knowing how to work well with others will give you the confidence needed to collaborate with fellow health professionals including other nurses and doctors during your clinical learning.
4. Connection
Having the ability to connect with patients takes time and can only be done through experience. The importance of this human connection piece is why you spend over half of the time enrolled as an ABSN student participating in clinical learning, with real patients.
From the very start, you will work alongside nurses and other interdisciplinary professionals. These individuals know the language of empathy very well, so be sure to take notes on how they convey compassion to empathize to patients.
5. Leadership & World View
As you complete the ABSN at CSP Global, you will be immersed in the biblical teachings and philosophies of Martin Luther. These teachings will inspire you to ask tough questions, see the world’s needs through a different lens, and equip you with the leadership qualities needed to get the most from your nursing education.
6. Communication Skills
All nurses need strong verbal, written and nonverbal (body language) communication skills, in addition to active listening skills. It’s necessary for nurses to interact frequently with their fellow nurses, doctors and other providers, as well as patients and their family members. Nurses need to be able to communicate clearly and professionally with people from a wide range of backgrounds and varying education levels.
Along with the ability to express themselves clearly, nurses need to know when to query patients for more information. For instance, instead of simply asking a patient, “Where does it hurt?” the nurse may need to ask questions such as, “Is the pain intermittent or constant? Does it feel like a burning or stinging pain, or is it dull and throbbing?”
7. Commitment to Lifelong Learning
One of the many reasons why healthcare is such an exciting field is that new advancements are being made constantly. That’s why a commitment to lifelong learning is one of the most important nursing qualities. Nurses need to complete continuing education hours in most states to maintain their license, and they need to stay on top of the latest developments in their area of specialization. For instance, a nurse who specializes in adult-gerontology care should know about the latest developments in dementia care.
8. Professionalism and Ethical Decision Making
Among the many important skills and qualities of a nurse is the need for unwavering professionalism and ethical decision-making. Above all, nurses need to have a genuine concern for the well-being of their patients, and they need to prioritize their patients’ best interests when making decisions. The following skills and qualities of a nurse contribute to professionalism and professional ethics: respect for the dignity of all persons, a primary commitment to the patient above all else, advocacy, a responsibility to promote health and safety, life-long learning, collaboration, integrity, and social justice.
9. Adaptability
Nursing is anything but predictable! Healthcare environments changes rapidly and so do the needs of patients, particularly in settings like the ICU or emergency room. Aspiring nurses need to be highly adaptable, able to juggle competing priorities and willing to adjust their work schedules at a moment’s notice. Community-based settings also require nurses to be highly adaptive and creative in how care is delivered.
10. Emotional Resilience
Emotional resilience is another important nursing qualification, for two main reasons. For one, it takes emotional resilience to work with human beings who are ill or under tremendous stress. Emotional resilience is also important for nurses to adapt positively to stressful events like changes in patient status or death. Emotional resilience and the focus on “why” you are nurse help with mental health and prevents burnout.
Are You Ready to Get Started?
As a professional registered nurse with a BSN, you can make a profound difference in the lives of people who truly need it. First, you will need to achieve a quality education from a reputable institution, like CSP Global. The good news is, we offer three start dates a year, in January, May and September, so you can get started sooner.
Now that you know about our nursing qualifications and important nursing qualities, it’s time to make a move. Contact an admissions advisor to find out how to get started today.