Nurses form an important group of healthcare professionals in the country. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), there are over 3.8 million registered nurses (RNs) in the country. The AACN also states that according to the federal government, the number of jobs in the nursing industry is expected to grow by more than 2 lakh each year from 2016 to 2026. Nurses have been one of the most important front-line workers who have a crucial role to play when it comes to healthcare in the country.

How to choose the right nursing program and school
There are hundreds of institutions in the country offering nursing programs. It may be overwhelming to make the right choice when you are presented with glossy brochures of these institutes; all of them urging you to apply. One of the primary factors that you need to keep in mind to filter out the right institution is the nursing programs you are interested in. You may still end up with several options even after narrowing down on institutions based on nursing programs you are inclined towards.

Nursing programs are divided into four levels of degrees. These include associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral degree. Apart from these, there are bridge programs available for RNs who work full-time or part-time and want to study more. Under such programs, RNs with an associate degree can earn a bachelor’s in nursing. Those with a bachelor’s qualification can pursue a master’s degree course and further upgrade their education.

While zeroing down the various nursing programs, one may also want to consider aspects such as whether you want to go ahead with an online learning course or study on campus, and then choose the institution. Institutions can be narrowed down only if you are sure of the program you want to opt for. The following ideas can help you in choosing the appropriate nursing program:

Decide on the mode of the program: On-campus or online learning
Choosing the appropriate program directly influences your career path and goals. If one is still uncertain at this step, here are some factors to keep in mind. The first aspect is the mode of delivery of the program. On-campus programs require you to attend classes and represent the standard college experience.

The other mode of delivery for nursing programs is online resources. It is an affordable alternative as compared to on-campus programs. Students enrolling in an online program will also save the costs of relocating to the university and commuting expenses. Selecting between these two modes of program delivery will depend on one’s personal preference, the feasibility of commuting to the college, and the learning style of the student.

If you plan to opt for any of the online nursing programs, you may want to consider some key factors like the learning environment, schedules, and learning styles. Such programs are conducted in hybrid or blended learning environments. These programs will typically involve students meeting once in a week or month at a campus or a satellite location for completing lab work or other components of the course that require a hands-on approach. This mode of learning can prove helpful if the students live close to the campus or the satellite location.

The second factor that will decide whether an online program is suitable for you is whether the course schedules are synchronous and asynchronous. The former involves attending live classes along with all the other batchmates and the latter involves watching recorded videos of the lecture as per the convenience of the student. You may want to keep your personal and professional obligations in mind when considering this factor.

You should also take your learning style into account when deciding whether an online program would be ideal. While some students need to listen to lectures and explanations to grasp a concept, there may be others who need only the learning material.

Shortlist colleges/universities

Once you have chosen your preferred nursing program, you need to shortlist colleges and universities based on the agencies that have accredited the institution. Doing this is important, irrespective of the mode of program delivery. There are national, regional, and program-based accreditations. There are seven regional accreditation agencies in the country that are managed by the Department of Education.

For online programs, look out for an accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. This is one of the most prestigious agencies whose approval is the gold standard for online courses. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) oversee the standards for getting program-specific accreditations for nursing programs across the country.

Apart from denoting the high standards of education, choosing an accredited program is important for many other reasons. One of them is that students enrolled in institutions without accreditation are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferring credits towards the program and in-between switching schools may also be difficult without accreditation. Further, a degree from an accredited institution offers a competitive edge in the job market.

Keep your budget in mind

You may also want to consider the cost of the nursing programs in different schools. While there are ample financial aid opportunities available, the criteria for obtaining these would vary. These opportunities are offered by both federal and private entities.

Choose between public or private schools

Another criterion to finding the best nursing programs is whether the school offering the course is private or public. Public nursing schools are funded by the government and are more affordable compared to private schools. Even though nursing programs at private schools are more expensive, this is neutralized by the fact that most of these institutions provide an array of financial aid packages to students who excel in their studies or do not have sufficient funds to study.

Decide on the course format

Nursing programs are available in two-year and four-year formats. The choice of duration is also a factor that should not be overlooked while browsing through nursing programs and schools. The two-year schools offer associate degrees. The credits from two-year nursing schools can be transferred to schools offering four-year degrees, if found eligible. This may be an ideal option if you are looking to save the time and efforts spent in relocating to a place that has schools that offer a four-year degree. Nursing schools that offer associate degrees are usually community colleges. The four-year nursing programs are similar to the traditional full-time courses in other fields.

Know about the NCLEX pass rates
The NCLEX pass rates can also help in determining whether a particular program and the school offering the course are good. NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination and is an important examination for nurses. State boards of nursing use this as the guiding measure for determining whether a nursing graduate is ready to begin practicing at the entry level. There are two variations of this test; one is for practical nurses and the other for RNs. Only licensed nurses, if found eligible, are allowed to appear for the NCLEX.

A high NCLEX pass rate for a college indicates that the course equips the students with all the practical and theoretical knowledge to easily pass the NCLEX.

Apart from a degree, nurses are also required to get certified depending on their qualifications. Three of the common categories based on licensure are registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPA), and certified nursing assistant (CNA). The licensure requirements may vary across states. So it is always better to check for the relevant requirements of the state where you intend to appear for NCLEX.

Check out popular ranking lists
You can also look at popular ranking lists for nursing schools. These contain details of the current and previous years. Getting featured in some of these prestigious lists is a validation that these schools are constantly in the pursuit of improving their services to maintain their presence and positions.

Commonly pursued nursing specialties
Nursing jobs are categorized based on specialties. Some popular specialties in this field include:

• Emergency Room (ER) Nurse

These nurses are stationed in the ER and are expected to attend to patients’ wounds, review their medical charts, and stabilize them for further treatment. This job requires a registered nurse license and a Certified Emergency Nurse Certification. This is an ideal specialty if you feel that you can work well in high-pressure scenarios.

• Family Nurse Practitioner

These types of nurses are trained to diagnose, treat, examine, and prescribe medicines of all age groups. A Master’s degree in Nursing and an RN license is required for pursuing a career as a family nurse practitioner. This is ideal for if you are inclined towards working in a role that involves providing comprehensive medical care for patients.

• Cardiac Nurse

The demand for cardiac nurses has grown as the number of heart ailments and patients affected by them has increased. An RN license and an associate degree is the minimum requirement to pursue this specialty. One of the main responsibilities of a cardiac nurse is to assist in preparing the patients before cardiac surgery and helping the surgeon in conducting surgical procedures.

• Critical Care Nurse

Critical care nurses are equipped to offer patient care in emergency cases. They are trained to monitor life support systems and attend to patients who have serious wounds.

• Nurse Educator

Nurses in this role are responsible for partaking in the teaching and training processes for students enrolled in various nursing programs. A Master’s Degree in Nursing along with the RN license is essential to have a career as a Nurse Educator.

• Oncology Nurse

To become an Oncology Nurse, one needs to have a minimum qualification of an associate degree in Nursing and an RN license. These nurses are responsible for monitoring the progress of cancer patients, educating them about their treatment options, and other related services. Working with cancer patients can be quite stressful and such a job profile is ideal for those who have a strong hold over their emotions.

Important skills required to be a successful nurse
Completion of a nursing program only qualifies a person to become a nurse. Besides a degree, there are qualities that one must possess to become a good nurse. Some of these include:

• Strong communication skills
  The ability to effectively communicate is key for nurses. Strong communication techniques, which include maintaining eye contact are important. Additionally, nurses are also responsible for making the patients and their loved ones understand the treatment and the illness in layman’s terms.
• Empathy
  Another much-required trait to become a good nurse is empathy. As technology takes over most functions of healthcare, the chances of someone expressing empathy also reduces. Nurses are front-line workers who communicate and deal with patients more often than even doctors at times. Being empathetic can help the nurse acknowledge the patient’s emotions and behavior in a more resounding manner.
• Self-care
  A lot of the efforts in becoming a good nurse also comes from self-care. As a nurse, you need to understand that your job is to look after patients. Your job involves a lot of physical and emotional strain. Thus, you need to take good care of your health so that you can serve the patients in a much more effective manner to the best of your abilities.

These are just a few skills that are ideal for those considering becoming a nurse. There are various others, some of which are inherent. If your passion drives you to be a nurse, then you can surely become a successful one in the future. Be prepared for a lot of ups and downs in your journey if you decide to pursue a career as a nurse. Nursing programs can only equip the students up to a certain extent, as in the real world, your progress will depend on your performance while on the job.