What do you look for in a nursing school?

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To help someone just entering the nursing field what would you say are some things you think are important to check for in considering a nursing school?

What helped you most in making your school choice?

For example: Tuition, financial aid, reputation as a top school, on and off campus living expenses, quality of instructors, campus activities etc.

As you can tell I'm new here but I could sure use some hellllllp!!

JimD

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

What helped you most in making your school choice?

For example: Tuition, financial aid, reputation as a top school, on and off campus living expenses, quality of instructors, campus activities etc.

As you can tell I'm new here but I could sure use some hellllllp!!

JimD

Welcome! The ONLY thing I took into account is how long of a wait would it be before I could start the nursing program. As you will find, it is not easy to get into ANY school for nursing.

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Thanks Hoozdo!

I didn't realize how difficult it was to get accepted.

Obviously the more I read here the more I learn but if I'm not careful I can find myself spending the whole day here. That's why I thought I would try the poll forum.

Is there anyone else out there who can help?

Thanks,

JimD

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

What do I look for in a nursing school?

I honestly don't look for anything in particular. I'll attend the first school that accepts me due to all of the lengthy waiting lists.

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the community college ADN program that i go to has one of the best records for putting out competent clinical RN's. but with that comes a 3 semester wait list (that should give you time to finish every single one of your pre-reqs). however, the thing i like most about it is that is costs less than half that of the university's program. for a sinlge-parent getting financial aide this is the most appealing aspect of my school.

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

Ah.....someone who will accept me...oh yeah and that is accredited, but accepting me is also important.

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I think I would have chosen somewhere else if it were not a game of wait lists what I would have looked for:

1. price - I would have definitley gone the community college route

2. nclex pass rates - I would have wanted to know that the school had a history of teaching the things necessary for me to pass ncles

3. schedules - I would have looked at different flexible options for pre-nursing classes

well... that would have been what I looked for, but due to waiting lists etc I go to a very expensive private school with not very good nclex rates - but it will have to do for me.

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Specializes in L & D.

In addition to the things mentioned above, I like that my school is so small. We started our first nursing class with 24 students. We get lots of individual attention during clinicals, and our instructors are always available to help us with class material. They also have a lab staffed with an amazing RN to help us with skills - injections, IVs, medication math, etc. Attending a hospital-based program is nice because we get double the number of clinical hours the local CC gets!

Beth

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

When I chose my school, I looked at only a few things:

1. The ease of transferring into the program and getting accepted (I did two years of prereqs at community colleges, then transferred to the university for the last two years of strictly nursing courses). It took less than a month to find out I was accepted - much better than the 1 1/2- to 2-year wait list at the CC!

2. The NCLEX pass rate of the school. The University's pass rate has always been above 90% so I felt confident that they would teach me what I needed to know to pass NCLEX. I believe that the REAL learning starts after passing NCLEX and beginning my nursing career.

The rest of the factors - tuition, reputation, etc. - didn't matter to me. But man do I have a lot of student loans! :eek:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Hospice.

Cost was an important factor for me.

I considered NCLEX pass rates as well.

I looked at two nursing schools in my town. One had a pass rate of 98, the other's was so low that their program is now on probation.

I chose the one with the high pass rate. It also happened to be the cheapest option.

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Specializes in NICU.

For me, I want to know the NCLEX pass rate of the school and the reputation. I do not want to go to a school that is 'easy' or where you can look at some of the graduates and say, well if she/he can do it, so can I. I want to be challenged and to learn a ton because ultimately, when I am finished, people's lives will be in my hands and I do not want a second-rate education when it comes to that! I want instructors that are tough, but caring, that don't put up with any BS and yet will help to guide you with a soft hand. I want a school that takes the program very seriously and that gives a good education. I have no problem paying more money (although I am going to a CC because it happens to have one of the best reputations in the state) for a good education because ultimately it will mean that I can pass the boards when I graduate.

Best of luck in your decision - it is an important one as it will shape your future! I hope you can find an awesome school and I will say that a first-rate school with a slightly longer waiting list is worth the wait over an 'easy' school that will not provide for you as much knowledge.

Enjoy the journey! :)

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What I looked for when I selected a Nursing school were the following (no particular order of listing):

proximity

cost

school accreditation

NCLEX passing rate

number of clinical hours required

hospitals where rotations were conducted

school fame/reputation

instructor qualifications

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