Nursing Insights & Resources

How to Select an Appropriate Nursing School?

Becoming a professional nurse requires a lot of time, effort, and dedication. If you are going to build a career in this field, you may get an education in one of more than 2.000 US nursing schools. Yet, sometimes, it is difficult to choose the educational facility to apply for. When it comes to choosing the training program to enroll in, there are a lot of issues to consider. In fact, the choice of a nursing school will impact your personal and professional life at many levels. Below, you will find the main reasons explaining why it is important to choose an appropriate nursing school.

Selecting a Good Nursing School: Key Factors to Consider

With numerous options available, selecting an appropriate nursing school is not an easy task. You have to understand that your choice will influence your career and personal life. Thus, it is important to think about many factors before making the choice. Of course, the decision-making process can be daunting. Luckily, you can make it easier by following some practical tips and suggestions. Provided below are the helpful recommendations collected by experienced specialists. They will help you choose the medical school that will perfectly match your personal and professional goals.

Location

In case you are going to attend a traditional nursing school offering on-campus classes, you need to ensure that it is near your home. Alternatively, you may look for comfortable living options nearby. If you will need to spend much time driving to the school, it is recommendable to look for other options as it will negatively affect your schedule.

Educational Goals

Before you choose any medical school to apply for, you have to decide whether you want to start off as an LPN or you are going to become an RN. Also, you need to figure out whether you want to obtain a Bachelor`s degree or an Associate`s degree.

Whereas some schools provide students with all kinds of nursing training, others ensure specific courses. Many people prefer to get an education in separate stages. First, they begin with LPN training. Then, they are moving to get an associate degree. The key advantage of an associate degree is that it does not take as much time as a Bachelor`s degree. Consequently, it requires fewer prerequisite classes.

Career Opportunities and Clinical Hours

Whereas all graduates ought to have clinical hours, many schools provide students with additional opportunities. This hands-on experience will enable you to obtain the skills and competencies helpful in the workplace. What is more, you will become more confident and mature. Considering how much time you will spend in the medical environment, you need to find answers to the following questions:

• Will you have an opportunity to practice in several hospitals?
• Will you get some surgical, clinic, healthcare delivery, or psychiatric nursing experiences?
• Will you have to look for clinical experiences on your own or they will be provided?

Accreditation

You need to find a medical school that is accredited. This means that trusted healthcare experts review and approve the program . Most schools have accreditation status. Yet, there are some schools that are not accredited. You have to know that employers often prefer to cooperate with students, who got their education in the accredited educational facilities. Accredited schools usually have high standards of educational curriculum. As such, when choosing an educational institution to apply for, you need to figure out whether it is accredited or not.

Nursing School Costs

As well as many other higher education programs, nursing schools are far from being cheap. When choosing the program to enroll in, you need to check the tuition costs required. Public educational facilities are cheaper than private ones. Nevertheless, they provide the same degree options. Also, you have to note that there may be “hidden” costs that ought to be considered. For instance, you may need to purchase expensive books and other materials. However, the expensive cost of tuition ought not to prevent you from pursuing the career of your dreams. You may have many financial aid opportunities, such as grants and scholarships that will ease the financial burden.

We assure you that these suggestions will help you select the right school to get a higher education. If you want to learn more about the popular US nursing schools, find them below.

Best Nursing Schools in the United States

Duke University

This educational institution is one of the best US research schools. It offers only one-degree choice for undergraduate students, an accelerated BST. The university is known for its doctoral and MSN programs. If you are planning to build your career as a nurse anesthetist, we recommend you choose this university since it offers a great program preparing skilled professionals.

Official website: Duke University

University of Pennsylvania

Penn Nursing University was established in 1886. Nowadays, it provides advanced clinical opportunities at famous hospitals. Also, undergraduate students have access to the simulation center, rigorous research, as well as classes equipped with the best medical instruments. After graduating from this university, you will become a visionary leader in your field.

Official website: University of Pennsylvania

New York University

This university is an alma mater for all the dedicated students looking for top-ranked education. It provides students with numerous undergraduate options that include a BSN degree, RN-BSN transfer, as well as an accelerated BSN that takes about 15 months to complete. All options provide students with great outcomes.

Official website: New York University

Virginia Association of Rehabilitation Nurses

This institution aims to promote and advance professional practice in rehabilitation. According to its vision, the association is focused on education, collaboration, advocacy, and research. It realizes the importance of leadership in nursing and provides advanced facilities to students. It will take two years to take the nursing program at this University.

Why Is It So Important to Choose the Right Nursing School?

• It can be expensive

The tuition cost may be quickly increased. As such, it is very important to choose the program wisely. Pay attention that you will need to consider not only tuition but also books, uniforms, equipment, etc. When living on campus, you will also have housing and food expenses. After considering all of these factors, you will be able to choose the right program to enroll in.

• It can be difficult

It may be very challenging to enroll in a specific nursing program. If you do not think you can cope with all the challenges and problems on your way to a successful career, you need to choose the program that will fit your interests better. For instance, you may pay attention to whether there are advisors that will provide you with the necessary assistance whenever it is needed.

• It will impact financial aid

If you are planning to apply for government assistance to cover the costs of tuition, then you need to choose the school that would match the criteria. By attending a non-accredited school, you won`t be able to achieve your goals.

All in all, the appropriate choice of a nursing program will provide you with a wide range of career opportunities after graduation. After graduating from the school, you will be able to find a job that will be rewarding both mentally and monetarily. Thus, before choosing any school, you may check on the percentage of graduates employed after getting an education in the school.

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