Does prestige of program matter?

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Specializes in Student.

I just graduated college but I am looking to get a second degree in nursing. I would like to apply to an ABSN program, work for a few years and then go back to NP school. I guess I'm wondering if there is a huge difference in the education and opportunities offered at the big-name schools such as Emory or Duke or if it's all just branding and cost. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated!

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My understanding is no.

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Specializes in NICU.
1 hour ago, ad2020 said:

it's all just branding and cost

If you choose to stay local, the quality of the graduates that it produces matters to the local hospitals. You may have a high quality community college and a mediocre university, the hospitals will choose the community college graduates. If you leave your local area, then the school you graduated from is irrelevant. I graduated from a state university and got a job in another state at a nationally ranked children's hospital. They didn't care what school I went to, they were interviewing the person. Once you get 3 years experience, experience is what matters to future employers.

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Avoiding a school with a bad reputation is important, but attending a "top" school is not.

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Specializes in Student.
1 minute ago, Sour Lemon said:

Avoiding a school with a bad reputation is important, but attending a "top" school is not.

Can I ask what school's might have bad reputations? I feel like it's been easy to find schools that have strong programs, but harder to find ones to avoid.

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2 minutes ago, ad2020 said:

Can I ask what school's might have bad reputations? I feel like it's been easy to find schools that have strong programs, but harder to find ones to avoid.

I know of one particular local private for profit here in WI with a horrid reputation, but they also have zero standards and let anyone in so it’s not surprising some people can’t cut the mustard and later complain after investing $$$.

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16 minutes ago, ad2020 said:

Can I ask what school's might have bad reputations? I feel like it's been easy to find schools that have strong programs, but harder to find ones to avoid.

The ones that advertise things on television like, "Start your career in the medical field today!"

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In CA the proprietary school that costs about $138,000 for a BSN, has a poor reputation with employers.

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Specializes in BSN student.
12 hours ago, ad2020 said:

Can I ask what school's might have bad reputations? I feel like it's been easy to find schools that have strong programs, but harder to find ones to avoid.

NCLEX pass rates are very telling of a school's success. In my state (FL) schools are placed on a probationary status after just one year of NCLEX pass rates being 10 pts below the national avg. Beware of programs with marketing ploys such as "no waiting list!" and there is even one in my area that advertises no pre-requisite sciences.

Simply put, employers do not care if you went to Emory or Duke (at least for BSN, not sure about NP school) as long as you have that RN license. Just make sure you are setting yourself up for success (and saving money) by nott going to a diploma mill that will take $100k+ from you in student loans and leave you grossly unequipped to pass the only test that actually matters to start you career as an RN.

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Specializes in Emergency / Disaster.

No one but you cares. I didn't go to a "big" name school, but I went to a pricey one. I'm the only one that cares where I went or how much I paid. Everyone else cares that I pass the NCLEX.

I personally would not go to a for profit school unless it was my only option. I feel like they are literally in it for the money and would leave me high and dry in a heartbeat. I second looking at NCLEX pass rates.

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Just an observation: the instructors at my BSN program drooled all over the second degree student who had a graduate degree from Harvard. Personally I never saw anything special, but she sure knew how to work a classroom.

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Specializes in NICU.
On 5/19/2020 at 11:58 PM, ad2020 said:

Can I ask what school's might have bad reputations? I feel like it's been easy to find schools that have strong programs, but harder to find ones to avoid.

Look for schools that are either Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation.

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