Deciding to take up a career in nursing is a great decision for anyone to make, but one of the most difficult things to decide is which schools are the best for nursing courses. There are a few schools which are particularly well known across the country for running excellent degree courses in nursing, and getting the highest results.
John Hopkins School of Nursing
John Hopkins School of Nursing is a college that comes extremely highly rated by many industry professionals, researchers, and poles, and these opinions are backed up by the figures. The school, which is based in Baltimore, takes on over 800 students each year, with a range of 13 different course options. These courses range from the standard degree level (RN) Registered Nurse course, to the (MPH) Master of Public Health and (DNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice. The high percentage of degree graduates finishing each year is a testament to the quality and proficiency of this well known nursing school.
University of Pennsylvania
Another one of the top nursing schools in the country is the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. This school has a huge student intake in comparison to the John Hopkins School of Nursing, with over 25,000 students each year. This is a private research school, which offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and over higher level Masters Degree courses. There are many different learning options available for students wishing to take on higher level degrees, with accelerated learning options.
University of Washington
The school that was voted best nursing school for over 10 years running by the US News and World Report was the University of Washington in Seattle. This is a very large nursing and medical school, offering a large range of different course options in a range of specialties at higher degree levels.
How do I choose a nursing school?
There are many things to consider when looking into which nursing school you will choose. First off, the school with the highest result rankings may not be the best one for you. This is an important point to remember, as there are a number of other factors to consider when deciding where to study. You need to find a school that is going to suit your needs, personality and learning techniques best, and this may not be one of the schools which appear highest on the list of rankings. Your specialty subject may not be one of the schools strong points, which should be take into consideration. Always select the course, and then find the schools that run that specific course, not the other way around.
Personal considerations
One thing which many people seem to forget when they are looking into, and applying for nursing schools is that in order to be successful and learn well, you have to feel settled and happy in your school. This means that there are a number of personal considerations to take into account when looking at the options. Some of these factors include; location and size of the college, ethos of the college, access to teacher assistance and other learning aids, and accommodation options. If you do not want to move too far from your home town, or you would not feel comfortable joining a huge college, then it needs to be considered before applications are made. You need to visit as many colleges as possible to get a good feel for them, and to try and imagine if you could thrive there or not.
