Nursing - does school matter?

[Anonymous]

DD has narrowed down her college list from the five schools she was accepted at to her two favorites, one in-state public and one OOS private. The cost difference between the toe is about $15K once merit aid is factored in. We can afford the difference and she wouldn't have to take out loans, but I'm wondering for nursing, if the school one attends isn't as big of a deal as it is for fields like engineering or business.

[Anonymous]

I was a nurse-manager for years and I don't think the school matters in that situation. New grads with ADNs might have a harder time getting a job, but as long as she gets a BSN from a reputable school, she's fine. I actually preferred hiring from University of Maryland over Georgetown because they were better prepared for the clinical setting. Good luck to your DD! Nursing is incredibly challenging and rewarding.

[Anonymous]

Another nurse here. Go with the cheapest degree for sure unless she chooses the college because she wants to experience a certain university community. I.e if she really wants a certain undergrad experience and not the cheapest way to a BSN/RN them by means pay for it. But don't pay more just because it looks better for job prospects. It won't matter at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another nurse here. Go with the cheapest degree for sure unless she chooses the college because she wants to experience a certain university community. I.e if she really wants a certain undergrad experience and not the cheapest way to a BSN/RN them by means pay for it. But don't pay more just because it looks better for job prospects. It won't matter at all.

If OP's daughter ever wants to change fields (many nurses decide to attend law or business school for example) or if she values having a good general education, then the cheapest program might not be the best.

[Anonymous]

Another nurse here...now I am an NP and work in a great setting. Just want to point out that the job market has changed so much since I graduated in 2006. Lots of RNs who were staying at home or who would have retired are either back at work or still working, so the market is more competitive than it was. The main difference is between BSN and ADN so I agree with PP that as long as she gets a BSN she will be okay.

I think if you can swing the difference she should, 1, choose the school that seems like the best fit for her, and 2, think about what she might wind up doing down the road. If she is considering grad school eventually, then I think the undergrad does matter. For the job market, it's not that it makes a huge difference, although I think it matters more than it did 8-10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another nurse here...now I am an NP and work in a great setting. Just want to point out that the job market has changed so much since I graduated in 2006. Lots of RNs who were staying at home or who would have retired are either back at work or still working, so the market is more competitive than it was. The main difference is between BSN and ADN so I agree with PP that as long as she gets a BSN she will be okay.

I think if you can swing the difference she should, 1, choose the school that seems like the best fit for her, and 2, think about what she might wind up doing down the road. If she is considering grad school eventually, then I think the undergrad does matter. For the job market, it's not that it makes a huge difference, although I think it matters more than it did 8-10 years ago.

Grad school in nursing? No, nursing undergrad doesn't matter unless you are going to an online program. But let's say U of Maryland vs. Hopkins. It won't make ANY difference in nursing grad school admissions if you had decent grades in undergrad.
Nursing grad school is ultimately NOT difficult to get into. Even the top programs. I work in admissions (and am an RN) at a "top 10" in the US program and have friends/colleagues who do my job at other schools.

[Anonymous]

As long as the program she goes to is solid and has a strong clinical program, I don't think you have too much to worry about.

I would go with the state option. Chances are she'll want to save money for a grad program later on, anyway.

Is there a nursing exam pass rate you could look at to compare how well each school trains its students?

[Anonymous]

I would want to know two things:

1. What is the school's NCLEX pass rate? If the board pass rate is below 90%, they're doing a crap job preparing their students for licensure.

2. How is the clinical experience? Some universities have crappy clinical programs and their nurses are over-whelmed when they get on the floor. Good clinical training is key.

[Anonymous]

Private vs. public isn't important -- just pick a strong 4 year program. If you have spent much time around hospitals or nursing homes in recent years, one can see a surprisingly large differential in the quality of nursing skills. Many of the best and brightest nurses opt for advanced degrees, management, nurse practitioner/physician assistant jobs. I know one nurse who went on to law school and another who got an MBA. A lot of this depends on the student's personality, interests, likely future path etc. Just don't go deep into debt over an RN degree.

[Anonymous]

How do local hospitals view nursing graduates from Catholic University?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do local hospitals view nursing graduates from Catholic University?

Catholic, Univ of MD and Hopkins all have excellent reputations.

[Anonymous]

No, unless she one of the schools is Penn - that nursing school degree sticks out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as the program she goes to is solid and has a strong clinical program, I don't think you have too much to worry about.

I would go with the state option. Chances are she'll want to save money for a grad program later on, anyway.

Is there a nursing exam pass rate you could look at to compare how well each school trains its students?

Yes. It would be listed on your state's BON website--the pass rate of every accredited nursing program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, unless she one of the schools is Penn - that nursing school degree sticks out!

But only if you don't have to go into debt for it! My sister was accepted at both Penn and a strong state school program. Since Penn offered no financial aid, she opted for the affordable state school and has had a great career, completed grad school in nursing and now teaches nursing at a state school.