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How to Become a Nurse in Maine, ME

While there is the option of becoming a Licensed Professional Nurse (LPN) through a one year diploma program, most nurses in Maine choose to become a Registered Nurse (RN)—they earn 50 percent more than LPNs and have greater job prospects beyond direct care institutions such as hospitals and clinics.

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To become a Registered Nurse in Maine, one must first complete prerequisite courses. Although they vary from college to college, it usually takes 4-6 months of full time study and includes a handful of introductory college courses like math, biology and psychology. Once prerequisites are done, students then must apply to a nursing education program, or programs, of their choice. Just as the need for nurses is growing, so too are the nursing school candidates—entry is competitive and there are more applicants than spots, so it is advisable to get good grades during prerequisite study.

Once accepted, Maine nursing education begins with basic nursing practices and moves to management, theory and research by the second year. If one chooses to pursue a BSN, they have time to pursue advanced research skills, theoretical knowledge, and choose from a number of specialized topics of study. Electives can be very different from program to program, and cover topics from pandemic diseases to children’s health.

Becoming a nurse in Maine finishes with the NCLEX licensure examination, which is the same for all graduating nurses in the United States. Upwards of 85 percent of graduating students pass the test and become a practicing nurse in Maine.

More Maine Nursing Information

For a deeper understanding of Maine nursing, visit our in-depth state page, which covers available education programs, upgrading your degree, job prospects, typical nursing duties, average nursing wages in Maine, and more.