Things to Look for When Choosing a Nursing School

So you've decided you want to be a nurse. That's fantastic! Now what? Well, nursing licenses don't grow on trees (wouldn't that be nice), so you begin the process of choosing a nursing school. And then you discover it's more complicated than you thought.

Type of degree
First off, there's this whole thing about a BSN or an ADN. Both degrees qualify you to sit for the NCLEX and become a Registered Nurse. However, more and more hospitals are only hiring nurses with Bachelor's degrees. Even among those hospitals that hire nurses with associate degrees, most will require a nurse to commit to going back to school and finishing her bachelor's within 5 or so years of working there. While the hospital may pay you to go back to school, working as a new nurse while in school is challenging, and you have to know from the beginning that you are committed to going back to school and finishing a 4-year degree. So weigh your options carefully, don't just choose what seems fastest now, unless it is right for you!

Clinical hours
A good nursing school will offer various clinical experiences, preferably in multiple specialties. Look into the clinical teacher to student ratio. When you are a nursing student on the floor you need as many resources as you can get. The nurses are excellent resources, but having a teacher nearby for you is invaluable.

Instructor Credentials
Look at the education level of the faculty. Most faculty will be required to have a Master's Degree. So what sets a nursing school apart is the number teachers with advanced degrees in nursing or education. Also note if faculty members have received recognition for research or clinical excellence.

NCLEX success rate
Finally, check out their NCLEX success rate. A nursing school should prepare you to be a competent nurse. But, before you can be that awesome nurse, you have to pass this little test called the NCLEX. So look at the school's passing rate for the past few years. As a general rule, it should be above the national average, which hovers around 91%

Looking at a nursing school? Wanting some suggestions for good ones? Feel free to reach out to me at studentnurseteacher@gmail.com

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