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Factors to Consider When Selecting a College That Offers a Nursing Major

Higher Education Articles March 22, 2015

Students in nursing majors will learn through clinical training and classroom instruction. They will be ready for licensure exams. Some programs may highlight training in illness prevention, ethical practices, and health care education. Nursing majors may allow registered nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree by building on prior experience and training.

Selecting a College That Offers a Nursing Major

Four-year universities and colleges offer bachelor’s degree programs in nursing. The following are some factors you should consider when you select a college for a nursing major.

Prior Nursing Experience

Bachelor’s degree programs in nursing serve as a preparation method for licensure as a registered nurse (RN), as the course covers the educational requirements necessary for fulfilling examination eligibility. After they complete RN licensure requirements, students may also choose from numerous schools where they are allowed to continue their education to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree via RN-to-BSN programs.

Online Choices

Some schools offer bachelor’s degree programs in nursing in online formats or allow students to combine online and classroom education. Online programs can prove useful to students currently working full-time that wish to advance to managerial or specialized positions.

Accreditation

Professional organizations such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) accredit many schools that offer bachelor’s degree programs in nursing. Students must choose to enroll in accredited schools because many hospitals prefer holders of degrees offered through an accredited program. Additionally, applicants to graduate programs may also be expected to hold a degree from an accredited undergraduate program.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Programs

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) may be earned within two years by nursing majors that hold an associate’s degree, while it would take four years for individuals without prior schooling. Students prepare to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) through traditional bachelor’s degree programs in nursing.

Those currently employed as RNs can earn a bachelor’s degree through enrollment in an RN-to-BSN program. Both clinical and didactic training are available in these programs, which also have a research component. Core coursework in a bachelor’s degree program in nursing may include topic areas such as:

•Anatomy and physiology
•Chemistry
•Pharmacology
•Health assessment

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