Nurses also need excellent critical thinking skills since they often work without supervision and will need to determine when consultation is required. All about nursing as a career Education and Other Qualifications Nursing education includes classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health facilities. Clinical experience will give students a taste of the many nursing specialties available today. In all states, nurses must graduate from an accredited school of nursing and MUST pass a national licensing exam to obtain a nursing license to be eligible to work as a professional registered nurse. These licenses must be periodically renewed.
Some states require proof of continuing education for licensure renewal.
Nurses may be licensed in several different states. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is usually a four-year program offered at colleges and universities. There have been attempts to make this degree the only entry level education to professional nursing. A bachelor's degree is usually necessary for advancement in the nursing profession and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs. People considering nursing should carefully weigh the pros and cons of enrolling in a B.S.N. program.