Better the College/Univ. Better the Job

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Since there is a nursing shortage out there does anyone know of hospitals or offices being partial to hire based on where a new grad has earned her/his title from? Or, could the employer be so greatful to hire since there is a need to be fulfilled. Just curious.

Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.
Since there is a nursing shortage out there does anyone know of hospitals or offices being partial to hire based on where a new grad has earned her/his title from? Or, could the employer be so greatful to hire since there is a need to be fulfilled. Just curious.

I'm in the triangle area of NC- lots of research universities and hospitals around here. I attend a small community college an hour north of here. Several of us applied to various floors and units at a very well-known and respected research hospital. A couple of us got great jobs in high-demand areas (PICU, Peds BMT, CTICU); however, a few others who interviewed just a few weeks later were told they couldn't interview, as all new grad positions had been filled, while new grads from other schools were getting interviews. One woman in my class, who already has a doctorate in another field, interviewed in the MICU in this same hospital. She was turned down for that job, but hired for MICU stepdown- the manager said she didn't like our school's program, so she wouldn't hire new grads into her ICU from it.

I can only speak for my geographic area, but I'll be interested to see what others think. I work with a lot of travellers from all over the US, and most say their first jobs were practically thrown into their laps, regardless of where they went to school. It would be really interesting to hear what managers have to say on this subject!

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

That's interesting. I'm trying to figure out right now where I want to go to school... it is between a state school and Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt will KILL me when it comes to family time and money... but it will be a degree from Vanderbilt! I always wonder if it will help me get a job... but then again, I don't know! I'd like to see what other people think about this... does a school really matter when it comes to getting a job?

I'm talking MSN/PH.D here. Not RN. I doubt that RN will matter that much... even though in more competitive positions ADN v. BSN may come into play.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

It really does depend on the specifics. For example: how desparate is the hospital for nurses? (And any hospital so desparate as to not care about the quality of your education is a hospital I would not want to work for.)

As I have written in related threads, you also need to consider WHY one school has a better reputation than another. Is there really a difference in the quality of the education provided? I work in a community in which 2 of the nursing schools have an extremely low NCLEX pass rate. The new grads we hire from those schools really struggle with the complexity of our jobs and rarely make it through orientation. We do keep our eyes open for outstanding graduates of those programs, but we are less likely to hire someone from those schools than we are to hire someone from schools that produce a graduate more ready for professional practice.

In other words ... it IS important to go to a good school that is well-respected for providing a good quality education. However, it is rarely necessary to go to the most presitigeous, most expensive schools just for the "big name" on the diploma.

llg

How do I find out if my school has a good program. Im going to the University of North Dakota and I wanna know how the nursing program compares to others in the area. Thanks

It really does depend on the specifics. For example: how desparate is the hospital for nurses? (And any hospital so desparate as to not care about the quality of your education is a hospital I would not want to work for.)

As I have written in related threads, you also need to consider WHY one school has a better reputation than another. Is there really a difference in the quality of the education provided? I work in a community in which 2 of the nursing schools have an extremely low NCLEX pass rate. The new grads we hire from those schools really struggle with the complexity of our jobs and rarely make it through orientation. We do keep our eyes open for outstanding graduates of those programs, but we are less likely to hire someone from those schools than we are to hire someone from schools that produce a graduate more ready for professional practice.

In other words ... it IS important to go to a good school that is well-respected for providing a good quality education. However, it is rarely necessary to go to the most presitigeous, most expensive schools just for the "big name" on the diploma.

llg

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

hello,

you should contact the state board of the state the nursing school is located in. also, you can contact the league of nursing. ask specifically about NCLEX pass rates of each school for both first time and second time testers.

Informative, Thanks..I didn't know that they actually gave out that information. I thought that they would prefer if you received pass rates by calling the college/university.

hello,

you should contact the state board of the state the nursing school is located in. also, you can contact the league of nursing. ask specifically about NCLEX pass rates of each school for both first time and second time testers.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
Informative, Thanks..I didn't know that they actually gave out that information. I thought that they would prefer if you received pass rates by calling the college/university.

my state BON actually publishes that info twice a year in the newsletter (you know, the one with the censured licenses?) that we receive. you might look on the website as well.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

google: (name of state) + nursing programs nclex pass rate

north dakota: http://www.ndbon.org/education/default_sub70.html

check for " board approved schhols of nursing on sbon websites: are they fully accredited or on provisional status?

provisional status often due to new program, poor test scores, not enough clinical sites, program quality issues etc.

north dakota: board approved schools of nursing

see pa list:board approved programs

Thanks, I'm going to look into that.

I think this really depends on what you want to do with your degree.

When getting a graduate degree in any field with the intention of doing research or teaching, where you go to school really does matter. The instant you start publishing research and/or going to conferences is when you notice the difference. It is political. Who you worked with in graduate school may or may not take you a long way, better schools have cream of the crop professors, some schools even have noble prize winning professors.

I think better schools also open doors for people that would not otherwise be there. The best jobs are never advertised, you have to know someone to get them. Better schools tend to have more programs and professors who are well-linked in their areas and thus provide you with better connections.

I'm leaving my current job which requires a bachelor's degree next month to start nursing school and my boss has received tons a resumes from people with M.B.A.s, M.P.H.s etc. These people are way over-qualified for my job (I have a master's 2 BTW), but right now the competition is so fierce that it makes a difference how good your grades were and where you went to school.

I'm not so sure with nursing since there is a shortage. Certain areas of nursing are more competitive to get jobs in and having a degree from a better recognized school would seem to help, but I'm not sure.

This is an interesting thread, I'd be interested to hear what others think.

I forgot to mention, it is also easier to get scholarships and work repayment programs when you go to a better school. However, if you go somewhere that is not too costly, it probably won't matter anyway.

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