According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow twenty-six percent by 2020, which is faster than average for most occupations. In fact, by 2020 the BLS predicts that the profession will grow by 26% and this growth is due to increased public awareness for preventive care management and the rapidly graying population in the country.
There are a number of education pathways that college entrants can enroll in if they wish to enter the nursing profession. Those who wish to become a licensed practical or vocational nurse would have to complete an accredited program, which takes about 1 year, from a community college or technical school. Those who wish to have a registered nurse status can enroll in a college or university which offer 2-4 year program that lead to a diploma, associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree. Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor’s programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Also, they can already hold entry-level positions once they have graduated and passed the licensure exam, and just take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits offered by employers to complete an RN-to-BSN program.
Regardless of what educational path you decide to take, it is important to choose your nursing school carefully because some are not legitimate and may not provide you with the education that is worth your time, money, and effort. There are several things you need to look at when choosing a nursing school and one of the most important would be if the school is accredited. In the US, there are only two organizations that accredit nursing programs and these are the NLNAC and CCNE, although the latter only accredits bachelor’s and other advanced degrees.
You also have to look into their NCLEX pass rates as this is a good indicator as to how effective the school’s program is. Pick a nursing schools that has a sustained passing rate of 85 to 100 percent. Nursing pass rates can be checked by getting in touch with your state board of nursing.
Also check if the nursing school you wish to enroll in provides adequate hours of supervised training in various clinical settings to supplement classroom discussions. Other factors you need to look into would be the location, cost of attendance, and student to instructor ratio.
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