10 Ways High School Students Can Prepare for a Nursing Career

Interested in becoming a nurse? Learn more about how you can prepare for nursing school before even applying.

If you know you want to become a nurse after high school, then you already have a head start in pursuing a nursing career.

Although you have a few years before entering the nursing industry, you can take steps now to prepare for nursing school. If you’re still unsure about your future career path, learning about what it takes to enter nursing school can help you discern if this is the right path for you. This page explores those steps and explains how to become a nurse after high school.

In high school, you can lay the groundwork for a solid foundation to become a nurse after high school. In addition to asking advice from a professional nurse, consider these 10 tips for preparing for nursing school.

Many nursing schools set high admission standards, so setting yourself up with the right high school classes can give you a competitive edge when you apply. Prioritize science and math courses, such as biology, statistics, and chemistry. If your high school offers more specialized course options like anatomy and physiology, then enroll in those as well.

Many high schools offer advanced placement courses, which expose students to higher-level coursework. Colleges often offer credit to incoming high school students with high AP scores. Even just seeing AP courses on an applicant’s transcript can help boost admission chances too.

Once you’ve chosen your top schools, explore their curricula and the kinds of courses they offer. You may be able to take high school classes for dual credit — in other words, high school classes that can also be counted toward postsecondary programs, like nursing school.

If you can’t access this option, consider taking the closest courses your high school has to offer. (Life sciences, health, biology, chemistry, and similar courses can all be useful.) Your guidance counselor can help you make the most of your options.

You can also expand your search beyond high school, taking courses at a local community college or hospital. A willingness to think outside the box can make your nursing school application stand out.

You do not need to wait until nursing school to learn how to save lives. You can gain your first aid and basic life support certifications in high school.

Students can enroll in weekend or evening classes through the Red Cross or American Heart Association. Certifications are valid for two years.

Some nursing schools may require first aid certification as a prerequisite. Even if certification is not required, first aid skills look impressive on a college application.

High school students can gain exposure to healthcare settings through volunteering.

Find a healthcare facility like a hospital, assisted living facility, or clinic, and check if they host volunteer programs. If they do not have a formal program, offer to volunteer for a few hours per week. Ask if you can, shadow nurses to get a sense of their daily work life.

Nursing volunteer hours can stand out on college applications. Plus, if you focus on volunteering in the healthcare industry, you can show those representatives just how serious you are about your nursing career plans.

Ideally, prospective nurses will have access to a volunteer opportunity or nurse mentor that they can talk to about the profession. You may have a nurse in your family or social network that you could approach for more information about the profession.

If you have trouble finding a nurse in your network or community, consider talking with the nurse at your school. School nurses help students every day with health-related matters and can share their perspectives and experiences.

Another possibility are organizations for aspiring healthcare professionals. For example, consider joining HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a nursing organization for students as young as middle school.

This kind of involvement not only gives students an early foot in the door of health careers but also facilitates team building and job skill development.

There may be other organizations in your area that can help connect you with nurses and nursing resources. Reach out to your school’s nurse, health teacher, or guidance counselor to get started.

Aspiring nurses can follow a few different academic pathways to get their start in the industry. Familiarize yourself with these different options so you know which nursing degree is best for your specific career goals.

Traditionally, colleges require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, nursing schools may prefer candidates to take nursing entrance exams. Specific requirements vary by program type.

Depending on the nursing program, students may take the Nursing Entrance Test, Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test, or Test of Essential Academic Skills Exam, among others.

When researching nursing schools, consider several factors: Available programs, graduation rates, and accreditation status to name a few. One key statistic for nursing schools is the rate at which their students pass the NCLEX, the all-important exam that leads to licensure as a nurse.

High pass rates on the NCLEX indicate a school thoroughly prepares students for their exams and careers. A low pass rate might suggest a lacking quality of education.

If you feel unsure about how to evaluate a school’s pass rate, compare it to the national NCLEX pass rate. In 2024, 93.4% of first-time RN students passed the NCLEX, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Therefore, you can generally consider a pass rate over 80% above average.

Some nursing schools see more applications than they have available spots, which means they need to be selective with candidates. In 2023, more than 65,000 qualified applications were not accepted at nursing schools due to various resource constraints, according to the American Association of Colleges and Nursing.

As a result, many talented applicants might find themselves on wait lists or denied admission altogether. In your nursing school research, make note of your prospective schools’ acceptance rates and waitlist times. This way, you can think strategically and apply to schools that give you the best chance of success.

Learning about current nursing trends and issues can keep you in the loop about your educational and career decisions. This can help you determine what direction or specialty you would like to pursue. It can also give you a leg up on nursing school interviews.

You can find several resources to help you stay up to date. The American Journal of Nursing publishes the latest nursing research, for example.

You can also check out nursing profiles on social media sites like Tik-Tok or Instagram. These bite-sized bits of nursing knowledge are a great way to find topics unique to your personal taste. Make sure you do your research to ensure the sources and content you’re consuming are factual, current, and trustworthy.