Nurses at all experience levels pursue graduate degrees to improve career opportunities. The main issue in finding the best nursing graduate school is finding the right one for you needs. Magazine and online ratings of nursing graduate programs change from year to year. Most nurses lack the financial wherewithal to visit schools throughout the country. You should look at criteria ranging from faculty to research opportunities when choosing the best nursing graduate school.
The nursing profession features a wide variety of concentrations and sub-fields. Registered nurses can work with patients from birth to adulthood and old age, depending on their specialties. As a future graduate student, you should look at areas of concentration offered by nursing schools. Graduate programs with long lists of specialty fields will allow you to pursue a high-demand job or switch between concentrations.
The best nursing graduate school features experienced faculty and staff members. Faculty members with extensive clinical, teaching and publishing experiences provide invaluable assistance to graduate students. You also should inquire about the qualifications of departmental staff members who are responsible for academic advising, research and employment assistance. The quality of nursing faculty and staff members will contribute greatly to your experience in graduate school.
Graduate nursing programs with clinical and research opportunities can be attractive. You can gain experience in your area of concentration by signing up for clinical rounds at local hospitals. Universities with medical laboratories and on-campus facilities allow you to put new skills into practice. These experiences not only bolster your résumé but will provide anecdotal experiences that can inform future decisions.
You should keep financial aid opportunities in mind when assessing the best nursing graduate schools. The continued demand for nurses in various medical fields means that graduate schools try to attract promising students. The best nursing programs feature endowed scholarships and fellowships from alumni that benefit exceptional students. If you are pursuing research opportunities, you might find an institutional fellowship to pay for this work.
Geography plays a significant role in choosing the best nursing graduate school. You might be limited to finding a school close to home. If you have a family, a home and a job, you might not want to sacrifice all three to travel across country for graduate school. If you are young and have flexibility for your graduate education, look at the job markets close to your prospective schools. The best nursing graduate school might be the one located in a region with plenty of nursing jobs.
