Becoming a nurse is a fine ambition and indicates a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. But, it is also a position of considerable responsibility. As a nurse, you will literally deal with matters of life and death. Split-second decisions can be crucial, and you’ll need to have the knowledge that such decisions require. This means that, before you ever enter a patient’s room as a nurse, you’ll need the best education that you can get. You’ll need to go to nursing school. But even after you’ve researched which nursing schools are the best, you’ll still need to choose the one you want to go to. Here are some factors to keep in mind when making that decision:
Cost: Can you afford the tuition at the nursing schools you are considering? It might seem like you can’t, but you need to know that there are a number of ways in which you can fund your education. Many organizations, particularly the United States government, make grants, scholarships, and loans available to prospective students who can show financial need or who qualify based on other criteria. Go to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) Web site to fill out the FAFSA form. This allows you to apply simultaneously for a large number of potential grants and loans. Any student loans will need to be paid back after graduation (though the interest is usually low). But, grants and scholarships are essentially free, so be sure to research your options there first.
Location: Do you need to choose from nursing schools that are close to home? Perhaps you need to work while attending school, or maybe you need to take care of your family. In that case, you’ll need to find a nursing school within easy commuting distance—less than an hour’s drive each way, if possible. (Remember that you don’t want to use up all of your studying time driving to and from classes.) If you are able to relocate, decide if the school is in a place where you’d like to live. You may even like it so much that you’ll decide to stay there to launch your career.
Prestige: Do the nursing schools you are considering have strong reputations? Will having their names on your résumé open doors for you with hospital or clinic administrators? The more prestigious a school is, the more expensive your education will be, but the prestige of the school will also help you find a higher-paying job more quickly. And, it may speed up the transition to your career as a nurse if the school is well known.
Staff: Are the teachers at the nursing schools well regarded, using state-of-the-art techniques? Don’t forget that it will be these people who help you find your first job and send recommendations to prospective employers.
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