How to Become a Nurse in New Hampshire, NH

Aspiring nurses in New Hampshire must first decide upon a nursing education program. Most choose to become a Registered Nurse (RN), either through a two year Associate Degree, Nursing (ADN) program or a four year Bachelor of Science, Nursing (BSN) program. There is also the option of a one year diploma in Licensed Professional Nursing (LPN), but it leads to a lower level of qualification and thus lower wages than RN programs—thus, most choose one of the two RN programs.

Once a program is identified, prospective nurses must complete prerequisites for their New Hampshire nursing education program of choice. This typically entails a semester of undergraduate-level college courses in English, biology, psychology and so forth. Once prerequisite training is complete, one must apply to a college of nursing—entry is competitive and good grades are an asset for acceptance.

Once enrolled in New Hampshire nursing training, nurses spend the first year mostly learning ground-level patient care skills, before progressing to broader management, assessment, and care planning. If students choose a four year BSN, they then move on to advanced nursing theory and research studies, as well as elective topics in health care such as health law, elderly care, oor any number of other topics, which vary from program to program.

The last step to becoming a nurse in New Hampshire is to take the NCLEX exam. There are both RN and LPN versions, and upwards of 85 percent of students pass it on the first time and become licensed as a nurse in New Hampshire.

Further Information

To learn more about becoming a nurse in New Hampshire, visit our in-depth state page with job prospects, duties, detailed nursing education information, and much more.