Not to burst any bubbles, but the University of Washington is on the decline. They've just raised tuition for their family nurse practitioner program to exceed that of medical school. We're talking they JUST told students to come up with $7000 in the next 2 weeks. Sure, all public schools took a hit in this economic downturn but UW didn't lay off even ONE faculty member. Instead, they're sticking it to the students with a 43% tuition hike. (And they've warned students that the FNP program is just the tip of the iceberg.) So while students are required to take numerous classes about health care disparities and access--when it comes to actually providing an affordable education... the UW prefers rich kids only.
Reconsider UW: You aren't guaranteed even a day of clinical work at the UW Medical Center (or Harborview). Nobody but nobody hiring nurses knows or cares about the UW's No. 1 rating. And you have to pay to access the library on the weekends! So not kidding about the library.
Nursing students at UW are treated like a nuisance. Most of the faculty have not even set foot on a hospital floor since the 1980s. They're mostly researchers who hide out in their offices writing grants. Remember, UW is a research institution. That's where they get their No. 1 rating. NOT FROM EDUCATING STUDENTS. If you want to be an FNP: Go to Seattle U. Go to PLU. Heck, go to the University of Portland. If you want to be an RN: Go anywhere but the UW.
