Best BSN RN College/University Program

U.S.A. Minnesota

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I'm looking into different colleges right now and was wondering if anyone could tell anything about their experiences in their college/university nursing school. Also, if they are other RN's out there who work with new grads, what colleges have the good ones graduated from?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, thanks

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Specializes in FNP.

I am a new grad and was happy with St. Scholastica in Duluth. I was a transfer student, having done my 1st 2 years at Lake Superior College, then had 1 year of generals to finish and 2 years of the program - it still turned out that I finished with my BA in about the same time as it would have taken me to finish at LSC w/my AA due to the wait list / LPN / RN route they had. If you have specific questions, let me know!

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Hi,

Its a big decision isn't it? All in all, from my point of view, answering your question first, I would say St Kate's has the best reputation in the Twin Cities area.

Now that may be important, but after working in nsg for 9 yrs I am firmly convinced that it is the nurse that makes the nurse, not the school where she/he graduated. I know several St Kate's grads that regret putting that kind of money into their education, now that they have years and years of student loans to pay off.

I think you really need to assess your own needs and values. If you have the financial resources to go to a school like St Kate's, do it. It is an EXCELLENT school. But don't think for a minute that going to a Community College wouldn't also be appropriate for you. The truth is, you really become a nurse after nursing school, when you are practicing. I know that Inver Hills and MCTC and Normandale, virtually all of the area Community Colleges have very good programs.

I hope this helps, and I hope you get more replies. ;)

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Psychology.

Dee hit it on the money when she said the nurse makes the nurse, not the school.

I graduated from Winona State University this May. I thought it was an excellent experience there. Their program is very well-known around the midwest since it is relatively cheap for a state college and the program has high standards for its students. It is also one of the only programs (that I know of) that offers a "4-year guarantee" which if you follow their credit rules and GPA, you will get in the program guaranteed and graduate in 4 years with your BSN.

Our clinicals were at many places... including the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and a couple hospitals in La Crosse, Wi. What I feel is unique about WSU is that it also has a community hospital in town so students had a great experience being on the floor of a hospital that's minutes away from the school.

Keep in mind when choosing school to not only look at the nursing program specifically. Make sure the location is where you want, the clinicals at the right places, the classes offered are varied, and do visit to see if it "feels right."

Good luck with your search! If you need any more information on WSU, let me know!

-Jason

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Specializes in ICU.

I graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I thought it was a great program, and I would recommend it to other people. Now, I think the program has changed a bit since I was there though. I want to say the nursing classes are now three years, rather than the two years I had with 2 years pre-nursing

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