How hard is it to be a registered nurse?

It is quite hard to become a registered nurse. In terms of education and training, the minimum requirement to become a registered nurse (RN) is an associate's degree and a passing grade on the NCLEX-RN exam. The coursework and exam requirements, however, require a lot of studying and class time.

On average, it takes between two to four years for most people to become a registered nurse (RN), but most RNs have a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or higher. A BSN compared to a two-year degree is more likely to open the door to career advancements and higher salaries.

Nursing school itself is no walk in the park. It requires taking advanced biology and anatomy courses, as well as courses in nursing administration and computers. It requires a lot of studying, with a lot of information that must be retained in a short amount of time.

The NCLEX is considered to be difficult but has a decent pass rate (87%) for first-time takers. Nursing applicants typically spend about one to two months preparing for the exam.