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Navigating the Nursing Profession in Michigan

Updated: Oct 6, 2022



Let us help you land on your dream job here in Michigan! Read on this article to know more about the licensing process in Michigan, and more!

 

Through this article, you will be able to know the following:

  • Fees for the licensing

  • Licensing renewal process (step-by-step)

  • Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing

  • Licensing and certification

  • Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Michigan

  • Popular hospitals in Michigan

  • Nursing associations in Michigan

  • Contact details


 

Fees for the Licensing

The table below shows the required payments for the licensing, whether you are a first-time nurse, applying by endorsement, or renewing your license. For more information, visit the Michigan licensing page.



Michigan will eventually become a nursing compact state. These states let nurses hold multi state licenses.


*Fees may change without any notice.


 

Licensing Renewal Process

  1. Check when your license expires by visiting the Michigan Board of Nursing website. Michigan has a Verification page for you to verify your license.

  2. Complete all your continuing education requirements BEFORE your license expires.

  3. Apply for your renewal process by going to the Michigan Board of Nursing. You may check on the Renewal Requirement page for more specific information.


 

Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing

The following are the Continuing Education Requirements for nurses in Michigan.

  • For RN/LPN/APRN, you must obtain 25 contact hours every 2 years in which 2 hours must be in pain and symptom management.

The Michigan Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.

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Licensing and Certification


Step 1: Education

To earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you must attend an accredited institution that offers ADN for 18-24 months. You can also take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree in an accredited institution. These programs typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. If you have an ADN but you wanna pursue your bachelor’s, there are certain programs that let you earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months. There is also an RN to BSN program that will take one year for you to earn the degree. Said programs let you save on time and money as you work towards advancing your career.


Step 2: Licensing

Six weeks before your graduation, you can start the process of your application for the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is composed of 75-265 items and you will be given a limit of 5 hours to finish all of it. Failing the exam does not necessarily mean that you do not have the chance anymore. After your first try, you just have to wait for 45 days and you can apply again.

The scope of NCLEX includes questions about: (1) health promotion and maintenance; (2) safe and effective care environment; (3) physiology and integrity; and (4) psychology and integrity.


Step 3: Experience

This time, you must learn how to take the opportunities in gaining first-hand experiences in dealing with patients, with colleagues and superiors, and with the different situations that you might face. These invaluable experiences will make you more attractive to bigger employers in the future.

Step 4: Certification

Your last step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. There are different requirements for earning a certification, depending on your preferences so it is important to check with the governing provider for information. You can attend several trainings, seminars or workshops in varied institutions for this purpose.

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Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Michigan

Shortage of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, has been a perennial issue in the country. This makes nurses highly in demand during this period of time. This profession will increase by about 9% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary is $75,930.

Let us help you check out average wages of nurses to help determine if Michigan is the right place for you.

 

Popular Hospitals in Michigan

Still not decided on whether to work as a nurse in Michigan or not? This list of the best hospitals in the state will surely help you make that decision to go in the right direction. U.S. News and World Report made a list of the best and popular hospitals in Michigan. Here are some of them:

  • University of Michigan Hospitals-Michigan Medicine – (Ann Arbor, MI):

    • Regionally ranked #1 in Michigan and in Detroit

    • Ranked No. 11 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll

    • Nationally ranked in 13 adult and 10 pediatric specialties

    • Rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 18 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • Specialties include, Ophthalmology (#8 in the nation), Ear, Nose & Throat (#9 in the nation), Diabetes & Endocrinology (#10 in the nation), and Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#13 in the nation)

  • Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak - (Royal Oak, MI):

    • Ranked #2 in Michigan and in Detroit

    • Nationally ranked in 8 adult specialties

    • Rated high performing in 2 adult specialties and 16 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility

    • Specialties include Gynecology(#18 in the nation), Cardiology & Heart Surgery(#19 in the nation), and Gastroenterology & GI Surgery(#19 in the nation).

  • Beaumont Hospital-Grosse Pointe - (Grosse Pointe, MI):

    • Ranked #3 in Michigan and in Detroit

    • Nationally ranked in 5 adult specialties

    • Rated high performing in 2 adult specialties and 10 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility

    • Specialties include Neurology & Neurosurgery(#23 in the nation), and Urology(#30 in the nation)

  • Beaumont Hospital-Troy - (Troy, MI):

    • Ranked #3 in Michigan and in Detroit

    • Nationally ranked in 2 adult specialties

    • Rated high performing in 5 adult specialties and 13 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility

    • Specialties include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

  • Spectrum Health-Butterworth and Blodgett Campuses - (Grand Rapids, MI):

    • Ranked #5 in Michigan and #1 in Grand Rapids

    • Nationally ranked in 7 pediatric specialties

    • Rated high performing in 2 adult specialties and 17 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • Specialties include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

*The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet Status to Hospitals that apply and meet certain criteria. This award is also considered as the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care.

 

Nursing Associations in Michigan

Becoming a member of a nursing association opens a lot of opportunities to your career growth. It gives you the advantages of varied job offers and networking, and a bunch of information and experiences shared between you and your fellow nurses. Through these organizations, learning and professional growth never stop. Listed below are just a few of the nursing organizations that you can find and join once you are in Michigan.

Health Care Association of Michigan: “This organization’s mission is to become an advocate in senior care by giving support, knowledge and leadership on behalf of their members.”

Michigan Nurses Association: “The institution gives courage to nurses so they can act to educate, to lead, to create, and to collaboratively work for promotion of professional practice, quality patient care, and healthy community.”

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses: “This organization of nurses is dedicated to establishing a national community for nurses in the operating rooms who wish to speak about their best practices about surgery patient care.”

For more information about the nursing associations, you may visit the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.


 

Contact Details

Michigan Board of Nursing

Phone: (517) 241-0199

Fax: (517) 241-9416

Email: bphelp@michigan.gov

Mailing address:

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Bureau of Professional Licensing

PO Box 30670

Lansing, MI 48909

Physical address:

2407 N. Grand River Ave.

Lansing, MI 48906


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