Top Nursing Programs: How To Decide?

If you're in search of a career that can be extremely fulfilling on a personal level but that will also provide some job stability, then you might want to consider going to nursing school. Nurses are always in high demand and this won't change any time soon -- especially as the elderly population is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.

However, there are many different nursing programs to choose from, which means deciding what program to enroll in can be a bit challenging.

What to Look for in a Nursing Program

Not all nursing programs are of the same quality, which is why it's important to do a lot of research and to ask a lot of questions. The following are a few of the things that you'll want to look for when comparing different nursing programs:

• The program's accreditation - Make sure the nursing school is accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Agency to ensure that the program meets the minimum industry standards for educational quality.
• The school's pass rates - Once you graduate, you will have to take the NCLEX test in order to earn a nursing license. You should look at how many of the program's students passed and failed the exam following graduation. This information is made available by the board of nursing and will give you a good idea of how effectively the school prepared its students for the exam.
• The cost of the nursing program - the best nursing schools have a nursing program that is transparent about all their costs, including not just their tuition costs but also the cost of uniforms, textbooks, supplies, lab fees, licensure fees, and even pre-registration and registration fees.
• An experienced staff - An experienced staff will not only provide you with a strong nursing education but can also better help prepare you for life as a nurse by speaking about their own experiences and revealing some of the everyday challenges that they had to deal with over the years.
• Hands-on clinicals - Nursing clinical hours must be completed as part of any nursing program. Find out what facilities the nursing school has partnered with to offer clinical hours to the students. Look into the reputation of these facilities as well as their distance from the nursing school.

Choosing the Right Nursing Program for You

Finding a nursing program isn't that difficult. However, choosing from all of those options can be. What program you complete could end up affecting your career, after all. The following are a few things that you should consider in order to identify a nursing program that will meet your needs:

• How big of a program do you want to attend? - Some of the nursing programs at major universities will require that you take classes with many students, which can limit your one-on-one interaction with professors. Smaller programs tend to provide more one-on-one attention.
• How much time do you have? - Four-year programs can provide you with a full college experience; however, not everyone has the time or money to spend four years studying. If this is the case for you, you might want to look for an accelerated program or a school that offers more flexible scheduling options, such as night classes.
• Where is the program? - It can be challenging to attend out-of-state schools for those with limited funds or other life responsibilities. However, some schools do offer online courses that allow for remote learning.

These are just a few things to keep in mind as you research a nursing program that fits your needs best. For information about the nursing program at our Toledo nursing school, contact us at Athena Career Academy today.