Best BSN/MSN Program in the Country?

[FatLeprechaun]

There doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there, but what's considered to be the "best" BSN/MSN program in the country? Based on my research it seems that UCSF, U. of Washington, Penn, and Johns Hopkins are the top programs, and could claim to be the best.

Of course there's no universal definition of "best." But some important questions are: (1) which program is the most prestigious or has the best reputation? (2) which program is the most selective, (3) which program gives its students the best employment opportunities, and (4) which program will students choose to attend if they're admitted everywhere?

I'm just frustrated because US News rankings give a pretty clear sense of the top law, business, and medical schools. But I don't place much weight on the US News rankings for nursing schools---for all I know, they could be completely meaningless.

If anyone has opinions or information about the "best" BSN/MSN program, that would be much appreciated.

[elkpark]

The US News rankings are pretty much meaningless.

I don't know that there is a single "best" program. I know there are lots of schools that will tell you their program is the best in the country ... :) But I think it's sort of like buying shoes -- the "best" choice for one person might not be the "best" choice for another -- many variables to consider. To begin with, there can be significant variation within a single school, depending on which specialty area you're talking about. A school might be really strong for one specialty, but only mediocre in another.

As long as you go to a reasonably well-respected school, there isn't one particular school that will give you a big employment advantage over other schools with similar reputations. Also, which school you attended really only makes a significant difference early on in your career -- the longer you're out of school and working, the less it matters what school you attended compared to what you've accomplished since then. Paying a lot of money for a "big name" school will not make a huge difference in employment opportunities; certainly not enough of a difference to justify, for that reason alone, paying for a "big name school" education when you could get as good, or nearly as good, an education at a much more reasonable cost at a good state U (that's not to say there aren't other good reasons to attend an expensive program).

It's really a v. personal and fairly complicated choice. You'll put a huge amount of time, effort, and $$$ into any graduate degree you pursue; it's worth putting in the time and effort up front to make sure you're making the best choice for you. Best wishes!

[UVA Grad Nursing]

The US News rankings that come out every 3 years are for graduate programs only. This combines Master's specialties as well as research programs. There are no rankings of BSN programs that I am aware of.

While US News does not release the precise criteria/weightings that they use for nursing programs, they likely use peer review (from Deans), size of health library, admittance rates, mean GRE scores, level of external (NIH) funding, alumni support, and the # of docorally-prepared faculty.

I've worked at three top 25 Universities over the past three decades (Michigan, Virginia, and Georgetown). While all of these are excellent Universities, I believe it is up to the adult student to get the most out of the opportunities presented to them. I have seen students 'skate through' all of these schools, and worked with incredible graduates of non-Top 25 schools.

[Sarah Bellum]

I believe it is up to the adult student to get the most out of the opportunities presented to them. I have seen students 'skate through' all of these schools, and worked with incredible graduates of non-Top 25 schools.

+1 Your education is largely what you put into it. In my DE-MSN program there are students who are "skaters" and then there's the rest of us who actively look for opportunities to learn both in the classroom and at clinicals. I, for one, do not expect my education to be handed to me on a platter nor do I expect every graduate from my program to come out with the same skills and knowledge. We all have different interests as well. You will never find me working in OB but there is a large contingency of students in my program who went into nursing to become OB/women's health nurses.

JMO of course.

[FatLeprechaun]

These responses aren't really what I was looking for. Does anyone have specific information about the programs I listed?

I'm just trying to find out as much information as possible and weigh my choices. I'm not tied to a particular location or school, so I'd certainly want to go to the "best" nursing school possible---however "best" is defined!

[elkpark]

I think what all of us are trying to tell you is that there is no single, right, objective answer to your questions. All the schools you mentioned are fine schools, and you would get an excellent education at any one of them, or at many other schools in the country. Which program is "the best" is a v. personal decision, and the answer to that question is probably different for each individual.

[llg, PhD, RN]

The information you seek does not exist.

As the other posters have tried to explain, the idea of their being "one best school" is not a meaningful idea.

Nurses are smart enough to know this and therefore have not bought into that type of ranking system. No such ranking system exists.

You're going to have to do some more homework and find out/figure out which program suits you. You can't rely on any list because there is no credible list.

llg, PhD, RN