"Prestige" Nursing Schools

Nursing Students General Students

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I am noticing an increasing number of posts lately by soon-to-be graduates (or prospective students) casually mentioning that they are attending a 'prestige' school. I'm not sure where this is coming from. (Besides bragging of course)

Just know that nursing school rankings (if that's how you are determining the prestige of your school) matter not a whit to the overwhelming majority of employers. What employers care about is:

Did you pass NCLEX?

Can you do the job?

PERIOD

Dropping $80 - 120K on a 'prestige' school when you can get the exact same degree from your state university for half the price is just plain foolish.

why the general public seems to view nursing as not intellectually challenging or stimulating -- I routinely get told "but you're too smart to just go to nursing school/become a nurse! You should be a doctor!".

Exactly. And when I tell people that I am deciding between a DNP and a PhD in nursing, I get a similar response "why didn't you just go to medical school? You wasted your time being a nurse." The last two people who said that to me were also nurses.

It's a different philosophical and practice model. I WANT to be a nurse.

The anti-intellectualism and the lack of importance placed on academic rigor and acievement in the nursing profession is an unfortunate culture. And much of this downplaying of the pursuit of academia comes from my fellow nurses who quite frankly seem to think it's a waste of time since we all get the same job and degree in anyway.

2 Votes
Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

I wonder where the nurses at the NIH or Rockefeller went to school? If I thought I would never wanted

to do anything but work in a hospital, Anywhere BEN would be fine. I wanted to do floor nursing for the experience and knowledge but knew that I couldn't retire on it.

1 Votes
I think before you go on and on about how you go to one of these prestigious schools the OP is talking about (which they are talking about those in Nursing school going on about their prestigious nursing schools) and it's known to everyone in the country, so prestigious that people come from all over the world just to attend, and you argue that your school is going to be a huge asset to you after you're done with nursing. You should clarify that you're not in the US and haven't even applied to or been accepted into a nursing program yet, and the earliest you think you'll be starting is another year and a half away.

*Mic drop*. LOVE THIS.

1 Votes
Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
How do employers decide who to hire if, hypothetically, there are several candidates vying for a nursing job and they all passed the NCLEX and can do the job? GPA? Personality? Something else given that what school the candidates did their nursing program doesn't matter? Hypothetically, if I've passed the NCLEX (not the case haha, I haven't even started nursing school yet!) and I can do the job, what should I work on that will set me apart and help me secure the job compared with other qualified candidates? I've heard there's no longer a nursing shortage, in many areas and cities there is a surplus, so I'm already nervous about job hunting.

It's so important to stand out when you are competing with hundreds of equally qualified but inexperienced candidates.

I saw so many new grads at my hospital being turned away because they do not understand how to write a captivating cover letter, a resume that "grabs", an essay, or how to interview.

As a previous hiring manager and educator who on boards new grads in our residency program, I wrote a book to help them "Your Last Nursing class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job". Chockful of insider tips and strategies. I hope you will check it out.

Many strategies start in nursing school :) Best wishes

1 Votes

I think some students go to a prestige school just to have that particular college experience. Just like I picked a small Catholic school, for that experience. I think your choice for a master's or doctorate degree in nursing is going to matter 100% more because some programs are just not good. Also when I think about what grad schools I want to go to, to ME, Duke is more exciting than Upenn. I don't know which is more "prestigious" I just want a good program that will prepare me and I want a particular college environment that suits my interests and needs. Duke and Upenn are expensive schools but I worked hard enough to be able to afford them with scholarships, grants, and my savings. I could probably enroll in Walden University and get the same education but not the experience.

2 Votes

This thread is interesting. For RN students who want to pooh pooh the importance of a school's ranking, go over to the APRN and NP specialty forums to read how experienced NPs are upset over the lack of stringent standards for nursing and NP schools. Do you have to go to a prestigious school to be successful? No, but it can be an advantage. Another consideration is future career goals - if you do want to go to graduate school, then a prestigious school will be an advantage. Also if your career goals include going into management or working in public policy, etc. Prestigious schools don't have to be expensive, either. For example, state schools like UCLA and Univ of Maryland are affordable for state residents. Private schools like Hopkins often provide generous financial aid and many students attend with good-sized scholarships. And contrary to what many posters here have stated, employers do look at the schools you attended, especially for your first job. In addition, the "prestige" schools often have large and strong alumni and professional networks that will be of benefit your entire career. My advice is to apply to several schools, including prestige schools, and see where you get accepted and what financial aid you are offered. Then go to the best school you can afford.

I also find this post funny since so many students are willing to shell out big bucks for subpar for-profit schools which are far more expensive than reputable public and private schools.

3 Votes

I also find this post funny since so many students are willing to shell out big bucks for subpar for-profit schools which are far more expensive than reputable public and private schools.

But how do we know they are shelling out big bucks and not receiving scholarships? Sometimes it seems like a person may be bragging about a prestigious school or a BSN over an ADN degree, and then sometimes it seems like a person is jealous about someone going to that school or having that BSN.

2 Votes
But how do we know they are shelling out big bucks and not receiving scholarships? Sometimes it seems like a person may be bragging about a prestigious school or a BSN over an ADN degree, and then sometimes it seems like a person is jealous about someone going to that school or having that BSN.

I don't understand your post. A for profit school exists only to make a profit. Period. They do not offer generous scholarships. For profit schools get students to take out huge student loans in order to finance their education.

3 Votes

I know this is several years back, but I got accepted into Duke ABSN program. They gave me 80k in scholarships (tuition about 100k total), which essentially I'm only having to pay 20ish-k. Duke is an in-person program and 4 semesters (16 months). Now my in-state program that accepted me TTUHSC, the tuition is also 26k but 3 semesters (12 months) and mostly online. 

Which one should I opt for if my goal is to become a CRNA in the future? CRNA/DNAP programs are competitive and I want to stand out as much as I can. Obviously GPA and experiences matter heavily and I will work on that too, but I want to have a leg up by being a Duke Alumni.  

In addition, I don't know what the future holds because I plan on moving with my husband wherever his job takes him, so would graduating from a top nursing school help me gain admittance into grad schools in other states?

Any advice or recommendations would be very much appreciated. 

1 Votes
redpandaluv said:

Duke is an in-person program and 4 semesters (16 months).

So is my cheap nursing school.  Anyway, what I know about the CRNA, you'd have to have a good (stellar) grade and a few years in critical care preferably in the ICU. 

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
redpandaluv said:

I know this is several years back, but I got accepted into Duke ABSN program. They gave me 80k in scholarships (tuition about 100k total), which essentially I'm only having to pay 20ish-k. Duke is an in-person program and 4 semesters (16 months). Now my in-state program that accepted me TTUHSC, the tuition is also 26k but 3 semesters (12 months) and mostly online. 

Which one should I opt for if my goal is to become a CRNA in the future? CRNA/DNAP programs are competitive and I want to stand out as much as I can. Obviously GPA and experiences matter heavily and I will work on that too, but I want to have a leg up by being a Duke Alumni.

In addition, I don't know what the future holds because I plan on moving with my husband wherever his job takes him, so would graduating from a top nursing school help me gain admittance into grad schools in other states?

Any advice or recommendations would be very much appreciated. 

Why on earth would you not go to Duke?  You stated you got better financial aid from them than from the state school!  In person is always better than online.

If you had a child that just got accepted to Yale and to Acme State, and Yale was actually cheaper due to better financial aid, would you even hesitate to send them to Yale?!

Or you could buy a beautiful house on the beach (or lake or whatever takes your fancy) for $100K or some mediocre house in a mediocre neighborhood for $150K, which one would you buy?!

Or you could fly 1st class for $100 or Economy for $125, which seat would you take?!

3 Votes
FullGlass said:

Why on earth would you not go to Duke?  You stated you got better financial aid from them than from the state school!  In person is always better than online.

If you had a child that just got accepted to Yale and to Acme State, and Yale was actually cheaper due to better financial aid, would you even hesitate to send them to Yale?!

Or you could buy a beautiful house on the beach (or lake or whatever takes your fancy) for $100K or some mediocre house in a mediocre neighborhood for $150K, which one would you buy?!

Or you could fly 1st class for $100 or Economy for $125, which seat would you take?!

My family is trying to convince me to stay home because I'd have to fork out money for rent and living expenses which is estimated at another 20k (rent for 16 months and groceries/food). It's been quite stressful bc I'm trying to think the long term and see the big pic. But it doesn't help because so many ppl say that it really doesn't matter which undergrad nor the name, as long as you do well. But based on what you know, would Duke give me a leg up for CRNA?

1 Votes
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