Complete your general education requirements at an accredited college or university. You can complete these requirements at any accredited school, but it may be in your best interest to complete these at the school you intend to pursue your bachelor's degree in nursing. Don't assume that acceptance to a college or university with a nursing program automatically gains you admittance to a nursing program though. Most nursing schools require a separate application, a minimum grade point average and the completion of prerequisite courses.
Take your prerequisite courses and apply to the nursing program. Prerequisite courses usually include certain liberal arts courses like psychology, communication and English. They also include foundational science courses in organic chemistry, microbiology, chemistry and anatomy and physiology.
Apply to the nursing school and complete your nursing degree courses and clinical practice courses. During your undergraduate nursing program, you will take courses in basic nursing practice, nursing care for certain groups like children and the elderly and basic pharmacology, among others. You will also be required to get hands-on training at local clinics, hospitals and physicians' offices to prepare you for the realities of the nursing world.
Obtain your nursing license. To do this, you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and meet any other requirements mandated by your state. You have to be licensed before you apply to a master's program, since you will likely be engaged in advanced nursing practice while going to school.
Gain experience working as a nurse in an area related to the field of advanced practice you intend to enter. Two or three years of experience can provide you with the necessary foundation for further study at the graduate level. Pay attention to special areas of practice for you during these years; these can serve as the basis for research at the master's degree level.
Apply to a school offering a master's degree in an area of clinical specialization that meets your vocational needs. There are many specializations available, such as nursing education, public health nursing, women's health, adult acute care and pediatric care.
Complete your nursing coursework. Most programs require about 30 to 40 credit hours and each has its own curriculum requirements. You will likely complete a series of advanced nursing practice courses in clinical pharmacology and advanced assessment and measurement. The program may also require a series of core courses common to all of the nursing degree specialties. The remainder of your coursework will likely consist of courses in your area of specialization.