There are many options for new grads to consider when applying to nursing school.
As of the end 2009, estimates speculated that the population of the United States has reached close to 308 million residents – 2.9 million of whom are nurses. Nursing is one of the most popular career fields in the country, applauded for its versatility in the job market, personal satisfaction, and financial rewards. New grad nurses find that their degrees open the doors to many branches of healthcare, while allowing them to earn a significant salary for making a difference in people’s lives. In today’s struggling economy, lucrative professions offering immediate, yet temporary, job security seem more attractive than skilled professions requiring additional schooling. However, as many of the country’s existing nurses are approaching retirement and the population continues to grow, demand for nurses has never been greater; the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that upwards of 587,000 new nursing positions will be available by 2016. Whether graduating high school or considering a professional change, here are some tips for applying to and choosing the nursing school that is best for you.
Don’t believe in limitations
When researching nursing school, it is easy to feel restricted by experience and qualifications. Some nursing schools only offer graduate programs to those who already hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) while others accept applicants with high school diplomas (or the equivalent) for undergraduate degrees in nursing. Try not to feel limited to a specific career path within nursing based on the programs offered at a certain institution – there are always other options to consider.
Read rankings critically
Academic rankings can be vital resources for choosing the school that matches your program, prestige, and financial needs. Popular sources for comparative information such as U.S. News and World Report rank graduate schools, and even include a special section for the top 250 nursing schools in the country. Keep in mind that graduate school rankings are determined based on expert opinion and ‘statistical indicators’ that measure the quality of the school’s faculty, research, and students. The U.S. News and World Report website is deliberate in stating that their rankings should be used only as supplementary tools in the decision-making process. Be sure to also consider whether some of the top rated schools offer a program that interests you, with a comprehensive curriculum, opportunities for clinical experience, and instruction by accomplished faculty.
Distance learning does not sacrifice quality
Depending on the program of interest and previous academic experiences, distant learning may be the best option. Nursing school, especially programs at the graduate level, may be the second or third round of higher education and, as such, focus less on the classroom dynamic or campus sense of community and more on the course material itself. Online nursing programs are offered through some full-time accredited universities or web-based institutions, never sacrificing quality or resources. Such programs save students money on supplemental academic expenses such as housing, textbooks, and meal plans, while allowing him or her to schedule classes around a job or other commitments.
Know your deadlines
The most important part of the application process is knowing when each part of the application is due, and making sure it has been received well beforehand. Nursing schools in particular often have a variety of deadlines depending on the rigor of the specific school, the type of program, and the identity of the applicant. Prestigious schools tend to have early deadlines despite which programs they offer, while graduate programs in general have deadlines in late January and early February; undergraduate nursing program deadlines coincide with regular undergraduate deadlines, and international student applications are accepted as late as July for some programs. Regardless of the general trends, inquire about your target program’s deadlines at least a year and a half before the expected start of school.
There’s always more to learn
With new medical developments, government regulations, and healthcare fields emerging daily, a nurse’s education is never finished. Experienced nurses may be required to complete a certain amount of continuing education through their employer or an outside source. A bevy of continuing education classes in all healthcare fields can be found on the web-based directory (http://www.nurseceu.com/), and may even be appealing to nurses who wish to expand their knowledge outside of their chosen fields. For those wanting extra degrees in an area of interest, a masters or doctorate can put nurses on completely different professional levels by creating more, and diverse, job opportunities or expanding authority and responsibilities of previous positions. Independent of personal goals, there is always more for nurses to learn.
