How do I find a good nursing school in MN

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Nov 21, 2003

Originally posted by Jangel
I have decided to start out getting a 2 year degree at either Anoka Ramsey Community College or North Hennepin Community college but I am unsure how to decide which one is the best or which is right for me.

Visit them while school is in session. Attend during a hands-on lab session. Look, listen and feel for the feedback from the students. Speak to the seniors, and ask them if they feel prepared to function. Often the seniors who voice some ambivilence about their readiness are the better prepared, more realistic ones. The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know.

Call some area hospitals (or Nursing Homes or clinics - where ever you see yourself working after graduation) that you are interested in working in after graduation and speak to the Staff Development Nurse or the Director of Nurses. They will probably tell you quite frankly which schools they like and for what reason.

I went for my BSN right away, so I'm likely to say...if that's your goal anyway, why not go to the University? There isn't a better rated school of nursing in Minnesota.

mstewart · Dec 15, 2003

I found this on the state Board of Nursing...thought it might help you.

http://www.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?contentid=536898246&contenttype=EDITORIAL&agency=NursingBoard

Also, nurses have told me to look at the Pass/Fail rate for students taking NCLEX. They had previously posted that on the BON website, but I haven't been able to find it now. You can call and I am sure they would be happy to tell you how to get that information. The idea is if the school has a bad pass/fail rate there is an indication that something is not right at that school.

Good luck in school!!

neonatalRN · Jun 7, 2004

I am currently a student at North Hennepin in the evening/weekend program. To be honest, if I could start over I would go to Anoka-Ramsey instead, just because they get a wider variety of clinical experiences. We have to do mostly Med-Surg at just one hospital, we only get one weekend of Peds and one weekend of OB experience. Not adequate if you ask me. Anoka-Ramsey students get more of that, plus they also get to do a preceptorship.

Hodge · Jun 7, 2004

Anna, I am starting my prereqs at North Hennepin this summer. How competitive was the nursing program to get into?

neonatalRN · Jun 8, 2004

Sorry, my name is actually Heidi, my daughter is Anna.

It was pretty competitive, I think they got about 800 applications for about 120 spots. It is harder to get into the evening program than the day. They go by GPA in the prerequisites, and how many prereqs you have finished. They told me that the average GPA for people getting into the day program was 3.2, for people getting into the evening program it was 3.5.

Hope that info helps you!

Hodge · Jun 8, 2004

Thanks that's a relief! With my GPA I should be competitive.

mlolsonny · Aug 10, 2004

Also, nurses have told me to look at the Pass/Fail rate for students taking NCLEX. They had previously posted that on the BON website, but I haven't been able to find it now.
Good luck in school!!

http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/Nursing/Number_of_Candidates_and_Percent_Passing_of_First-time_NCLEX_-_RN__042103083629_PercentPassingNCLERN2003.pdf

this is the URL for NCLEX-RN passing rates

and here's the one for LPN passing rates

http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/Nursing/Number_of_Candidates_and_Percent_Passing_of_First-time_NCLEX_-_PN__042103083241_PercentPassingNCLEXPN2003byq.pdf