Nursing Schools

Hundreds of nursing schools exist across the country, with many located within traditional medical schools. There are also thousands of colleges and medical training centers that produce the licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) that staff our hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices and schools.

Most aspiring nurses pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university after high school, which takes about four years to complete.

Nursing schools are drawing people who want a career change or who are troubled about rising unemployment. In addition, college graduates interested in earning a BSN can find nursing programs tailored to their needs and earn this degree in 12 to 18 months. Depending on the state, many unemployed residents might qualify for grants or loans to help offset the cost of retraining. If students prefer a shorter program, they can become certified as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a nursing assistant. These degree or certificate programs take approximately a year to complete and can lead to a well-paying job in the health care industry.

Nursing programs can prepare students for many entry-level positions in health care, but such positions usually require passing certification exams and completing a supervised training period. Those interested in becoming a registered nurse (RN) will need to pass the NCLEX RN exam in addition to earning a BSN in order to be fully qualified.

Nursing School Options

There are many different nursing schools. A student should choose a school that focuses on his career path, and is affordable and convenient.

The first thing to look at when evaluating nursing schools is the accreditation status. Accreditation means that an independent and objective organization has reviewed the school and its programs in order to determine that it has met certain quality standards. Nursing schools generally receive accreditation from organizations such as the National League for Nursing, or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Each state has a board of nurse examiners that grants nursing schools permission to operate legally in the state.

Other criteria to look for in comparing nursing schools are the specific nursing programs. A student should ensure the school’s nursing degree program curriculum matches his chosen area of interest.

Nursing schools also vary in terms of how much time must be spent in doing clinical rotations. Hands-on experience is an important part of the preparation process for a nursing career.

Nursing schools also keep statistics on how many graduates pass the nursing license examination. This is an important data point as it is an indicator of how well the school prepares its students for this mandatory test.

The cost of nursing school and the availability of financial aid vary widely. Always inquire as to whether the school provides financial aid, scholarship monies, or access to grant funding. Some nursing schools have relationships with hospitals, whereby the hospital will provide financial assistance to students who are willing to commit to future employment.

Nurse Career Options

A nurse career is a blend of science, technology, and people skills. As important as an academic aptitude, nurses must be compassionate and have excellent communication skills. In addition to providing patient care and treatment, nursing professionals provide patients and their families with valuable information and emotional support that is needed to help with recovery and disease prevention.

In 2008, there were over 2.6 million Registered Nurses (RNs) in the United States. A career as a registered nurse is the largest healthcare occupation, although there are numerous other career opportunities for nurses. Three out of five registered nurses work in a hospital setting.

A nurse career often pays well and offers tremendous job mobility. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned an average of $65,130 a year in 2008. The salary for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is slightly lower than that of RNs. LPNs working in nursing care facilities earned an average of $42,590 annually. LPNs working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned an average of $40,250 per year. Whether an RN or an LPN, most nurses have ample opportunity to increase earnings by taking on additional hours and shift work.

The high job mobility scores for a nurse career are as a result of the incredibly high demand for nursing professionals in all medical care settings. In addition to needing qualified nursing professionals to fill a number of open positions, many hospital and care facilities across the country also suffer from a high rate of turnover (nearly 50 percent each year) among nursing staff.

While the U.S. grapples with ways in which to provide affordable healthcare to an aging population, a nurse career in geriatrics or elder care is one that will continue to be in high demand. Home healthcare nurses will also continue to be a nursing career segment that will increase in demand for the foreseeable future.