"Prestige" Nursing Schools

[meanmaryjean]

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.

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

Is that jealousy I smell? lol I'll say it again - so glad I'll be a MURSE. Who the hell cares if someone is proud of where they go to school? If my parents were going to fork over some money for that I'd be there in a heartbeat too, and you bet everyone would hear about it. lol

[kadphilly]

I went to one of these "prestige" schools undergrad, and to another "prestige" Ivy League school for my masters/NP. Here's my take.

First of all, I am from a working class family. I was a good student and received scholarship money for undergrad, and took out lots of loans. I have two siblings who attended state schools for their BSN, and one of them went on to get a MSN. They are both excellent nurses. Do I think I received a superior education? Maybe. I do believe that the program was excellent, and even more importantly, the quality of the students that were accepted were all motivated and very bright, which makes for an engaging learning experience that pushed me to excel.

When I was in my undergrad program, there was an expectation that we all at least obtained our masters, if not a DNP/Phd. They groomed us that way, and reminded us several times during the course of my undergrad.

When I first graduated, I was definitely given a bit of a hard time and attitude from some older nurses, who couldn't wait to make me feel "less than" and would mention my "fancy degree." Looking back, they may have bent jealous. Yeah, it's the old saying, nurses eat their young, blah, blah. I was confident in my clinical skills though, and felt fairly well prepared.

For my masters I paid for the Ivy League program. I took out lots of loans. The program, the school, and the whole experience was amazing. I wouldn't change my decision to attend that school.

I now precept NP students, and I have had students from more than 10 universities. 2 of these schools would be on the "prestigious" list. I have had good students from most of the universities, however the best students I have had were from the two elite schools. The program of study and their preparation were stellar.

On another note, we recently hired three NP's in our health system, and I was part of the hiring committee. Where they attended NP school did matter, especially to the physicians. It might not have gotten them the job, but it definitly got them the interview.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

All urethra's are clearly labeled to make foley's easily inserted,

Wouldn't that be convenient.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

However, they do rank nursing schools for a reason.

Schools have to apply to be ranked and fill out a stack of paperwork. The ranking is based on the truthfulness of the application submitted (not saying a school would exaggerate to get a higher ranking) . No one from US News & World Report tours each school in order to rank them. There are very high quality schools that would bump some of those ranked schools from the list if they cared to take the time to submit the paperwork and fee. Since they didn't apply, they are not considered "prestigious".

[kadphilly]

There are very high quality schools that would bump some of those ranked schools from the list if they cared to take the time to submit the paperwork and fee. Since they didn't apply, they are not considered "prestigious".

So why wouldn't they apply? There is no doubt that there are quality schools not on the list, however, those schools at the top of the list seek the most academically strong and motivated students for admission. They are usually the most selective because they can be. And the ranking of the school leads to its ability to selective.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

So why wouldn't they apply? There is no doubt that there are quality schools not on the list, however, those schools at the top of the list seek the most academically strong and motivated students for admission. They are usually the most selective because they can be. And the ranking of the school leads to its ability to selective.

Because it costs money to apply.

[kadphilly]

Because it costs money to apply.

I wonder how much it costs? It seems as though that would be a catch 22 for those schools who don't apply. I do believe that most of the schools ranked in the top 5 at least probably deserve to be there.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I wonder how much it costs? It seems as though that would be a catch 22 for those schools who don't apply. I do believe that most of the schools ranked in the top 5 at least probably deserve to be there.

The reason they don't apply is because of the main consensus of this thread, students choose nursing schools that are close to where they live not based on a national ranking because hospitals do not hire based on national ranking of the school that an applicant attended. They base their decision on the local reputation of the school. Schools focus on national ranking for programs that national ranking is important to employers (Business, Law, Engineering).

[kadphilly]

The reason they don't apply is because of the main consensus of this thread, students choose nursing schools that are close to where they live not based on a national ranking because hospitals do not hire based on national ranking of the school that an applicant attended. They base their decision on the local reputation of the school. Schools focus on national ranking for programs that national ranking is important to employers (Business, Law, Engineering).

I know plenty of nurses who attended universities outside of their local area, many of them in order to get the best nursing education they see fit. And I do believe that some hospitals, if they themselves are nationally ranked high, will look at the national reputation of the school. I know that locally where I live, that is the case. It absolutley does make a difference in many situations for the masters level.

I think it very unfortunate that nursing is not considered as "scholarly" as "business, law, engineering" (which are all traditionally more male dominated.) The lack of appreciation for selectiveness and prestigiousness of certain program speaks to that. It's not all about salary, or getting the "same degree." It's about moving the profession forward, and the respect that it deserves as s scholarly profession.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I know plenty of nurses who attended universities outside of their local area, many of them in order to get the best nursing education they see fit. And I do believe that some hospitals, if they themselves are nationally ranked high, will look at the national reputation of the school. I know that locally where I live, that is the case. It absolutely does make a difference in many situations for the masters level.

I went to an unranked state university. Half of my cohort work at various local hospitals (nowhere near ranked status). 1/4 of my cohort worked at a nationally ranked hospital group in the state. The other 1/4 (me included) moved out of state. None of us had an issue getting a job whether it be an unranked or ranked hospital, local or across the country. I work for a nationally ranked children's hospital. They could care less that I graduated from an out of state, unranked program. All they cared about was my work history (non-nursing) and that I had a license in the state. I agree that there may be "prestigious" hospitals that look for "prestigious" graduates, but a vast majority of new grad nurses do not work in nationally ranked hospitals.

This whole topic is a moot point once you get several years of experience. In my case, if I were to apply to Boston Children's, CHOP, or Cincinnati Children's (the top 3), they would focus on my experience instead of the school I graduated from.

[kadphilly]

I have no doubt that you will get a job no matter where you go tonnurinh school. And get a job at nationally ranked hospitals. There does seem to be a culture in nursing that is a bit anti-academic, with some resentment towards schools that are considered "prestigious" or more selective for admissions. As if it's a waste of time to go to a top 10 nursing school. I think that is a mistake in the culture of this profession.

[blackberrymousse]

I have no doubt that you will get a job no matter where you go tonnurinh school. And get a job at nationally ranked hospitals. There does seem to be a culture in nursing that is a bit anti-academic, with some resentment towards schools that are considered "prestigious" or more selective for admissions. As if it's a waste of time to go to a top 10 nursing school. I think that is a mistake in the culture of this profession.

Yeah there's a bit of a populist attitude which I can sort of understand but I don't think it helps the profession and could contribute to 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!" And I also remember that controversy when one or more of the hosts of The View made fun of a beauty contest participant's job as a nurse. I think there's still a view of nursing as being for people who are too stupid to get into med school or if female as a means to land a doctor husband or something. It's really insulting and untrue.