se this list to “interview” your school. The best way to find the following nursing school help websites information is to first look at the school’s website. Some can be hard to navigate. Use a search engine if you can’t find a particular item. If you still can’t find it, call them and ask for the admissions person. They should be helpful and volunteer the information freely. If they are unhelpful or hesitant, that can be a clue to the overall culture of the school.
1. NCLEX Pass Rate. Every nursing student has to take a national exam called the NCLEX to finally get licensed as a nurse. Check the school’s rate of students who pass the NCLEX. Every school should have it either published or revealed freely if you call them. If they are hesitant to tell you, that’s a red flag!
2. Accreditation. Accreditation is a national “stamp of approval” for a school. A graduate from an accredited school is able to transfer or continue their education in other schools. It can also be an indicator of the quality of education you will receive. The two bodies that accredit schools are the NLNAC (National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission) and the CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education). The CCNE is exclusively for bachelor’s and master’s degree levels, while the NLNAC may accredit at any level. Look at the school’s website or ask them directly to make sure they are accredited by one of these organizations.
3. Class Size and Retention Rate. Is it a big school or a small school? What is the typical class size? And most importantly, how many students make it all the way through in one try? This is probably one of those things you’ll have to call and ask about. A high drop rate can mean a few things. Nursing programs are generally difficult, and that’s not a bad thing, since you’ll be better prepared for the NCLEX. However, beware if they have too high of a drop rate. They might not be helpful enough to their students.
4. Clinical Sites. The program should have a list of clinical sites they send their students to. Ideally, it should include a variety of hospitals in the area. Nursing homes are not great clinical sites for RN or BSN programs. They should not be sending you exclusively to long-term care facilities.
5. Prerequisites. Know which prerequisites the school will require before you enter the program. Depending on what you took in high school and how long ago, prerequisites can take quite a bit of time. You can usually find this information on their admissions packet.
6. The Application Process. Always check the school’s application process for these important details. Is there a waiting list, or do they accept candidates based on test scores and grades? A waiting list can be good or bad. However, in most cases, a waiting list is not a good sign. It’s an outdated system and is being phased out by many schools.
7. Program Competition. How competitive is it to get into the program? Community Colleges are often the most competitive. However, you can get a general idea by asking a program representative over the phone. If they accept applicants based on test scores, ask them the average test score for the applicants they accept. Then you’ll know what you need to get on the pre-entrance exam.
8. Type of School. Know what type of nursing school you’re looking at! Universities, Private Colleges, and Community Colleges all work very differently. The names can be misleading. For example, some private schools have the word “university” in their names, while others have “college of nursing.” They can be confusing.
The recession of 2008 caused a lot of people to rethink their professional path. And with the aging population of the Baby Boomer generation, a lot of people started to think seriously about getting degrees in the healthcare profession. At the top of the list of healthcare professions, most people were interested in pursuing was a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Nursing is an honorable and great profession. But getting through Nursing School is no easy task. But once you are done, the job is probably the most rewarding experience you will ever have in your lifetime. Saving lives and helping others in their most vulnerable time attract many people to become Nurses. Some would say “A Life Calling”.
This website will be designed to help guide you through to obstacle course called Nursing School. Not all Nursing schools are the same, but I believe they all operate on the same premise: To make sure they release, into society, the best and brightest students.
We will help you survive your Quarterly Medical Dosage Calculation Test all the way through Pharmacology and Health Assessment classes. Show you how to prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) that every Nursing student must pass before they can become licensed in their state.
Thousands of Nurses graduate from Nursing School every year, so it must be a task that can be accomplished. It’s going to take some work and effort, but you can do it and do it well.
I graduated from Nursing School with a Bachelor of Science in June 2009. I wish I had someone who would guide me through the tough times and to tell me what things might be coming around the corner. I guess you could say this is my way of giving back. I want to help anyone who wants to become a Nurse. I studied and passed the NCLEX on the first try and now I’m a Registered Nurse (RN) at Mayo Hospital.
I didn’t come from a background of highly educated people. I was the first in my family to get my Bachelors degree. So I tell you this just to say, it can be done. With a little hard work and perseverance, you can get a rewarding career in Nursing and have the security of a career, not just a job, well into your retirement years. Nursing seems to be recession proof. There will always be a need to care for others. People will always be sick and populations will always age.
I hope to provide you with a path to finding a successful career by helping you to finish Nursing School and join me and the other wonderful Nurses in our profession. I’m not knocking doctors, but I would say most patients see their nurse 95% of the time during their stay at a hospital. So Nurses have a profound effect on the lives of the people under their care. Enjoy the experience that will be Nursing School, for it will teach you how to save lives one day.
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