Frequently Asked Questions
Ahead of nursing school or over the course of the nursing school
Do you have any questions regarding nursing school, the State Nursing Board Licensure Examination and life after graduation? The answers are here.
Frequently asked questions ahead of nursing school
The nursing profession is taught in all Israeli universities, in their affiliated institutions and in many colleges. All of the institutions approved by the Nursing Division are required to teach the core program and prepare their graduates ahead of the State Nursing Board Licensure Examination, successful completion of which confers upon the graduate the status of a registered nurse (RN). An up-to-date list of all institutions where nursing is taught is found in the Nursing Division's website. It is possible to call the individual schools for further information.
The nursing profession is in high demand all over the world, as well as in Israel.
Global trends that also exist in Israel such as population aging, the entry of advanced technologies into the world of healthcare, and other trends, make the nursing profession in higher demand and more relevant than ever before. While Israel has witnessed a trend of increase in the number of nurses over the last few years, still the number of nurses per 1,000 capita in Israel is significantly lower than the average in the OECD countries.
BA - Bachelor of Arts
BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Both degrees are bachelor's degrees conferred upon completion of academic nursing studies, depending upon the curriculum submitted by the nursing department to the Council of Higher Education (CHE). The difference between the degrees stems from the definition of the study contents and the mix of courses determined in each educational institution, beyond the required core curriculum.
It may be possible that in a BSN degree you will find more courses from the scientific fields than you will find in a BA degree.
The training of registered nurses in Israel is strictly academic. Consequently, the Council of Higher Education (CHE) mandate does not allow for non-academic training program in any of the nurse training institutions and there are no non-academic nurse training programs with no degree.
If you do not have an academic degree, you can study in any of the nursing program ahead of a bachelor's degree:
Frequently asked questions over the course of the study program
Nursing students are allowed to work in the nursing field pursuant to the protocols, within the framework of the fields of practice by nursing students who are employed in a hospital setting and in the community, and subject to the training that you will receive from your employers.
The differences between a practical nurse and a registered nurse is in the scope of their studies and in their effective powers: a practical nurse has only been trained in a limited scope of one year and works under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Additionally, their powers are limited to basic nursing care for patients and to therapeutic outlines that allow for an extensive scope of basic nursing activities, to geriatric facilities and to facilities that provide care for patients with a long-term (chronic) illness, including children. Their employment will be according to the key of auxiliary manpower than assists the registered nurse, as defined according to the various outlines, as detailed in the circular Expansion of the nursing practitioners array – update.
In contrast, registered nurses have extensive decision-making powers in nursing care. Their extensive powers allow them to manage nursing care, to serve as shift managers and so on. Their training lasts between 3-4 years, according to the study program.
Candidates who are diagnosed with learning disabilities may apply for extra testing time for the written examination portion.
You may contact the Ministry of Health Hotline with any technical issue at *5400.
Instructions page for the practice website
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Full information about the examination day – arrival options, the examination's schedule, required equipment and more
State Nursing Board Licensure Examination for the degree of a Registered Nurse
State Nursing Board Licensure Examination for the degree of a Practical Nurse