How to Choose a Nursing School
Whether you decide to become an LPN, RN or NP, you have to go to nursing school. Fortunately, there are many wonderful nursing schools; here is how to narrow the list down to the one that's best for you.
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Instructions
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1
Know what your needs are. Make sure to decide what kind of nurse you want to be---a licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse or a registered nurse with a bachelor's.
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2
Decide what nursing school characteristics are most important to you: NCLEX exam pass rates, location, cost, size of student body, size of classes, specialization opportunities, admissions requirements, clinical opportunities or opportunities for further study.
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3
List your nursing school criteria in order of importance.
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4
Visit websites that list and describe nursing schools (see Resources). Find schools that match your criteria.
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5
Talk to nurses and nursing students you know. Ask them about their schools or any recommendations they may have.
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6
Make a top ten list of schools and visit the websites of the top ten. Ask for brochures and visit the campuses if possible.
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7
Coordinate your priority list with your observations from Step 6 to choose a top five. Apply to those five schools.
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8
Wait for your acceptance letters and financial aid information to come in before making the final decision.
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Tips & Warnings
Find out as much about nursing as you can before choosing a nursing school.
While tuition costs should be a priority, don't make them the only priority. Sometimes a degree from a more prestigious school will help you earn more money in the long term.
