Six Things to Look for in a Nursing School

There are many aspects to consider when choosing a nursing school. Every major city and many smaller cities have at least one accredited nursing school, many with excellent reputations. The nursing school that you choose will determine far more than just the kind of education you receive. For instance, the name of a well-known and well-regarded nursing school on your resume can guarantee you a higher starting salary when you are ready to enter the working world. When you choose a nursing school affiliated with a major teaching hospital, your practice rotations could introduce you to exciting specialties that you'd never have considered otherwise. If you know that you want to be a nurse, but have not decided where to study, here are six things to think about when choosing a nursing school.

Location
The location of the nursing school that you choose can be a major asset, or make life at school difficult and uncomfortable. If you attend a busy, metropolitan nursing school, you might find yourself presented with opportunities for outside training, mentoring and easy access to professional organizations that can help you get a great start to your career. On the other hand, a smaller school in a smaller city can offer you a more personal educational experience, and put you in a position to take on a more responsible position when you finish school.

Area of Study
While you will need the basics to get your nursing degree, a school that offers courses and certifications that play to your interests can give you a chance to start specializing. Check course descriptions and prospectuses to see if the schools you are considering offer specialties in your fields of interest. Also check to find out which hospitals the nursing schools to which you are applying use for clinical rotations. Schools that work with major hospitals and teaching hospitals are more likely to offer hands on experience and rotations in many different specialties.

Accreditation
It is a good idea to find out if the schools to which you are applying are accredited. There are two national organizations that accredit schools for general nursing: The National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing. There are separate accrediting organizations for the various specialties, such as the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs and the American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation. Be sure that the schools that interest you are accredited in the fields in which you are interested.

It is possible to get a good education from a school that is not accredited, but if you are planning on using the credits from nursing school towards a BSN or a Masters Degree, you will be more likely to be able to apply them if the school where you earned your nursing certification is accredited.

Hands-On Experience
How much hands-on experience will you get during your education? The more experience you get during your training time, the better prepared you will be for taking on the responsibilities of nursing. Find out how much time you will spend in clinical rotation, and whether or not you will have the opportunity to observe and assist in any of the specialized disciplines. Those opportunities can prepare you to take on a job in the specialties that interest you. This is another area where teaching hospitals affiliated with universities and research centers may offer some major advantages for you.

Success Rate in the NCLEX
You should also ask about the nursing school's pass rate for the NCLEX exams. A high pass rate is a mark of a school that teaches well. If the failure rate is high at a particular school, you should take a serious second look at applying there. Ask the school for their records of exam scores for students for the last few years to get an idea of how well they teach. A school with a good record will be happy to supply them for you.

Cost
Tuition is the final factor that you should consider when deciding where to apply for nursing school. Nursing school tuition can vary greatly from state to state and from school to school. Of course, you shouldn't let cost deter you if you find the ideal nursing school for your needs. There are many excellent financial aid packages available. Ask at the school about financial aid and work study programs, and check with local hospitals and other organizations to learn about any scholarships that might help.
When you add up all the factors, you'll find it easy to choose the nursing school that will best serve your needs.

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