Does where you go for graduate nursing school matter?

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hi all,

I am planning on beginning a "graduate entry" nursing program this Fall. For those of you that aren't familiar, these are unique programs designed for those that already hold a bachelor's degree in an area unrelated to nursing. Students become an RN quickly, in 1-2 years, and then progress directly on to an MSN specialty of their choice, either full-time or part-time while working as an RN.

I have been lucky enough to be accepted into a few of these programs, and I'm excited to start, but I can't decide where to go! I am deciding between Case Western and University of Cincinnati. With both of these programs, I will end as a nurse practitioner (most likely family or pediatric - primary care, haven't decided just yet). I think they both seem great, but through research it seems that Case Western has a significantly better reputation - 8th MSN school in the country this year vs. Cinci at 54th.

The issue lies in the fact that Case is more than double the cost of Cinci (around 80,000 more when it's all said and done). With or without knowing specifics of either of these schools, my question is this - do you think it matters which school I go to? Is it worth it to take out a lot more loans now? Will the name of the school pay off in the long wrong, or am I better off to save my money? I feel that for a graduate entry program the circumstances are a little different; many people are skeptical of a program that is this accelerated and compressed, so would it be beneficial to go to a better school so future employees can be certain I've gotten an appropriate education? I just don't know. Any insight would be much appreciated!

P.S., I haven't had much luck reaching out to alumni of either school, so if anyone knows of anyone, please let me know!

Thanks! :)

Thanks so much for all your responses!! I was getting mixed reviews before, but this group seems pretty one-sided. I'm definitely leaning toward Cinci now. My other issue is that I'm deciding between FNP and PNP and Case offers both while Cinci only offers PNP, and I'm afraid I'll end up wanting to do PNP and be stuck. But, from what I hear, you do a fair amount of pediatric stuff with FNP and if you want to really only specialize with Peds getting your certificate is relatively easy?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
But, from what I hear, you do a fair amount of pediatric stuff with FNP and if you want to really only specialize with Peds getting your certificate is relatively easy?
You can complete the PNP track at Cincinnati, then cheaply obtain a FNP post masters' certificate elsewhere if you desire to specialize.
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Specializes in Hospice.

Never heard of case western....ratings are subjective things.... Area reputation is more important imho

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You can complete the PNP track at Cincinnati, then cheaply obtain a FNP post masters' certificate elsewhere if you desire to specialize.

I assume you meant the reverse, but same thing :) that's what I was wondering. Do you know how long a certificate takes to complete and what is "cheap"?

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Go to the school that will leave you with the least amount of debt. Just make sure they will assist you with finding preceptors for your NP clinicals.

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You may wish to research this prior to going directly to MSN. Most who do that find themselves unemployed due to the vast majority of MSN level nursing positions requiring 3-5 years or more of acute care nursing experience. Therefore they are overqualified for acute care nursing and underqualified for the positions requiring the MSN degree/postgraduate certificate.

I am not trying to rain on your parade, but you would be unwise to proceed forward without investigating and giving it consideration. That is a huge amount to spend on student loans and come due without a decent chance for employment.

I have to disagree with saying "most" people who do graduate-entry program have trouble finding jobs. I'm sure it varies by specialty (you mention acute care specialties but OP is specifically saying primary care) and by the repute of the program, but I graduated recently from a school that's consistently ranked in the top 10 MSNs in general as well as for most of the specialties offered, and by and large most of the graduates I know had jobs within 3 months of graduating, if not before. My specialty (nurse-midwifery) has had a 95% job placement within 6 months for several years, and other specialties are similar. Of my cohort, only one had not found a job within 6 months of graduating and she was being very specific geographically (and had a BSN!). I think it's really a myth that advanced practice nurses without BSNs or floor experience are never going to find jobs or be good practitioners and I hope that myth goes away sooner rather than later.

To the original poster: As someone who graduated from a top nursing school with a LARGE amount of debt, I'm still not sure it was worth it. I had interviewers tell me that my name-brand graduate (and undergraduate) degree made them want to interview me, but I'll never know if I would have gotten comments about my volunteer experience or clinical experience or international experience instead, if that "name" hadn't been there.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

spending $122,000 for the degree would be obscene, in my opinion! other than that I'll stifle myself here...

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Might it be more cost-effective to get an undergraduate degree and become an RN and then after a year or so go to grad school? Either BSN program, or do a two-year and then bridge to the BSN?

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Do the schools you're looking at attending offer any financial aid such as scholarships, grants, etc...? Sometimes that may make a big difference as well. Many of the private schools offer financial packages that often times rival those of smaller cheaper schools.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.

I am probably in the minority here, but I do think it matters on some level where you go to graduate school. Having said that, most of the schools are fine institutions, including Case Western and CU. I think you can get a good education at many schools, not just the ones ranked in the top 10. The issue of going into monumental debt is alarming. I do recommend getting a BSN first and working a while to pin down more what your interests are. You may find that you change your mind. Maybe Case Western and CU are different, but I thought all graduate programs accepted you into a specialty before you started. That was the case at U of Washington and where I went (UCSF), and some specialities were more competitive than others to be accepted into. Some schools have presentations on campus for prospective students to ask questions.

Keep inquiring and good luck in your journey.

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I can't thank everyone enough for your responses and support. It really makes me glad I joined this community. I will do my best to respond to everyone's comments directly, because I really appreciate your input! But, just to clarify all at once for everyone, I am doing a graduate entry nursing programarrow-10x10.png. This program earns you a BSN (for those of you saying it would be wise to get my BSN first). I will get a BSN first, and it will be accelerated. After this, I will work as an RN, and then go on to the Master's portion, where I will specialize as an NP. The uniqueness of this program is that I am already accepted to the graduate school, and will not have to reapply when I am ready for my MSN. But I AM indeed earning my BSN as well first. At Case you actually earn a MN (Masters of Nursing) instead, but it is in the place of the BSN. You are just a master's prepared RN instead of a bachelor's prepared RN. Lastly, neither Case nor UC require you to pick your specialty beforehand. They also agree that it is important to gain experience as an RN prior to choosing a specialty.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I guess what I means was better to get a BSN elsewhere that doesn't cost nearly $100k.

Then JUST do the MSN part are case western or wherever you choose.

I think overall, where you get your NP education at matters more than where you get your RN education at.

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