How to evaluate NP programs

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

An informal advisor of mine suggested that I investigate the reputations of various NP programs before considering any of them. Which is a good suggestion, except that I'm not sure where to look for that information.

I know US News and World Report does ratings of schools, but I've heard that is a questionable source of information.

Is there anywhere else I should look, or anyone else I should ask?

Thanks.

[mammac5]

If you want to stay in your current geographical location, you might start by asking about the reputation of schools close to you. In doing so a few years ago, I found that there was only one NP program in close proximity to my home and it had a great reputation but would require a long commute.

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

I agree with mammac5 - ask around your hospital or ask docs who you know well (who work with NPs) which schools they have heard of that produce exceptional grads. Also, ask around to see which docs take NP students on as preceptees and from which schools. You might discover a trend here - many times, you will discover the schools some places will absolutely not accept students from.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

The US News ratings are good for figuring out what schools are easily recognizable by peers and employers wherever you go in the US. The top schools in that listing are national universities that have a wide scope as far as national reputation. But like the above posts already stated, there are regional universities and colleges you may not be aware of that have a respectable reputation in your specific geographical area. It could be a program where majority of the NP's practicing in your specific metro area graduated from and the employers in the area are aware of. That can definitely be a better option as far as NP program choice if your plan is to work in the area. And even if you decide to leave the metro area later on, your experience as an NP will be factored in as far as your fit as a candidate for future job prospects. Another way to evaluate NP programs is to ask each one about their clinical placements, their board pass rates, where their graduates went to work, and which expert NP's are in the faculty roster.