Should you go to nursing school near where you want to live?

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 10, 2012

That's a really good question. In the past, I would have said that it doesn't matter. But lately, the job market has been such that it can be to your significant advantage to either work part time while going to school in the hospital you want to work for after graduation -- or to do a senior preceptorship at that hospital. I know that at my hospital, those 2 groups of applicants (current/past employees and students who have done their preceptorships with us) are the most likely to get hired as new grads.

Also, going to school in the same area where you want to work demonstrates that you have ties in that region -- which helps you appear to be someone who is planning to live there for a long time. Hospitals want to hire people who have roots in the community and who will become long term employees. They generally don't want to hire people who appear to be "just passing through" community and who will not stay in the long enough to be worth the investment of training.

It's also to your advantage in the job market to go to a school that the employer has heard of and that the employer respects highly. That might be one in the same region -- but maybe not. The quality & reputation of the school matters. If the local school is terrible, it would be better to attend a school further away that is well known and has a great reputation.

So, unless you have other ways to show your committment to the community and to "be known" by the hospital where you want to work -- I would recommend going to school in the community where you want to work after graduation -- and to use that opportunity to establish a relationship with them before you graduate. If it's not practical to go to school nearby, then try to establish that relationship in other ways. (e.g. a summer externship, volunteer, etc.) If that's not possible ... then you may need to be an outstanding job applicant to get a job in the hospital/unit of your first choice as you will be a total stranger to them.