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Discussion

Does it Matter Which BSN Program?

I have a feeling that the answer is generally a no. But does it really matter which nursing school you attended (BSN)?

I applied to two nursing programs, and they're both pretty similar in quality and price, at least on paper. One has a better reputation in the area. My main concern is attending a school that will prepare me to do my job the best--I want to be a good nurse! But does reputation matter at all? Could it hurt me when I look for work after graduation?

Just curious to hear what people think about that.

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    • Admin

    A school's reputation may matter when looking for a first job with zero healthcare experience. Some schools have a reputation that will help students; others may have a reputation that hinders students. I may be remembering incorrectly, but I believe there was a poster involved in hiring who once stated that applications from students graduating from a certain school with a poor reputation went straight into the trash.

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    Things I would look at, what is the schools pass rate for the state finals exam (Nclex) it says alot about how the course of study has prepped students.

    My school has had a 100% pass rate for the state final exam for many years

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    A school's reputation may matter when looking for a first job with zero healthcare experience. Some schools have a reputation that will help students; others may have a reputation that hinders students. I may be remembering incorrectly, but I believe there was a poster involved in hiring who once stated that applications from students graduating from a certain school with a poor reputation went straight into the trash.

    I remember that post as well.

    I live in an area with major medical centers and DOZENs of nursing schools; there are a certain tier of schools that are on the top in reputation, then another tier where the reputations are as good as the top tier, then there are other schools below that, which include diploma programs, CCs and outside the area schools, then a drop down to commercial schools or programs or schools with a less than stellar rep.

    I would call around to recruiters (if possible) to see what schools they hire from, and if those schools are on there, then you at least know with either school you are making the right choice.

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    • Experts

    The post that previous responses refer to may have been mine. I work for a hospital that almost never hires from certain schools in our area that are known to be of poor quality. A new grad from one of those schools would have to have something very special in their resume to get an interview with us.

    The school you go to matters because it the quality of the education you receive helps to determine whether or not you will be a good nurse or not. The school's reputation matters because that is one of the few bits of information a hiring manager knows about you -- and it will influence their opinion as to whether you will be a good employee or not.

    It matters most at the extreme ends of the spectrum -- an extremely good school vs. an extremely bad school. However, most schools fall somewhere in the middle and so the difference between them is not so great. Then it matters less.

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    • Experts

    If one attended an Ivy League school, that might garner notice and inconsequential small talk in the hiring process, but won't necessarily end up being the reason for hire or non-hire. Jobs where status of the school is a bonafide qualifier are few, and would normally be known to the applicant at the time they applied for the position. Otherwise, the day to day employer is still interested in the status of one's license and the paid nursing experience that one possesses.

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    NCLEX pass rate should always be an important consideration for any pre-licensure program. This information is readily available - most BON sites either post it or have a link where it can be found. Accreditation is crucial for RN programs. Next, I would say are the clinical training sites used by the school (the school should be able to provide this info) ... it's important because many 'highly desirable' hospitals give preference to new grads who trained in their facility. After that, for most of us, it comes down to cost.

    Good luck on making your choice - and being accepted into the program you want.

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