2nd Degree- School Matter?

[kayrose25]

I am looking into accelerated nursing/second degree programs. I was wondering if the reputation of the school matters in terms of getting job after graduation?

[EmDash]

Not usually. You might run into someone that it will matter to, but from what I've been told, for the most part, facilities don't care as long as the program was accredited.

I personally think NCLEX pass rates and attrition rates are far more important as deciding factors.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It depends on how bad or good the school's reputation is and what type of job you want to get.. For the vast majority of programs "in the middle" of the pack, it doesn't make a difference. But at the very worst end of the spectrum, it can make a difference.

For example, if you want the most desirable jobs for which the competition is the highest, I would not recommend going to a school with a very bad reputation. Those highly valued job opportunities often go to the top students from the best programs. But if you are not going to be pursuing those types of jobs, then it matters less.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

The best school would be one with high NCLEX pass rates and a senior practicum (Capstone) in a hospital and unit you want to work in. I went through an ABSN program with a senior practicum. I chose the Level IV NICU at a children's hospital for my 135 hr practicum. I believe that it helped me get a new grad job in a Level IV NICU at another children's hospital. The school didn't matter because the hospital is 4 hrs away and had no experience with graduates from my school, so I was the first graduate that the unit hired from my school. Another graduate from my school was hired into my unit 2 yrs later.