Nursing Schools Almanac is excited to announce that Shawna Stephens is the second annual recipient of the $2,500 RN-to-BSN Scholarship. Shawna has worked for several years to improve nutrition, lifestyle, and health outcomes among patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In 2016, she completed the ADN program at Excelsior College and earned her RN license. Shawna is now enrolled in the online RN-to-BSN degree program at Colorado Mesa University.
Nursing Schools Almanac is excited to announce that Lilian Chen is the fourth annual recipient of the $1,000 Aspiring Nurse Scholarship. Lilian recently graduated from Lynbrook High School in San Jose, California. She is currently enrolled in the Nursing and Healthcare Management dual degree program at the University of Pennsylvania, where she will pursue both a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from Penn Nursing and a bachelor of science in economics (BSE) from The Wharton School.
For our 2018 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We evaluated each school on three dimensions:
Our mission at Nursing Schools Almanac is to provide aspiring nurses a detailed, comprehensive, and analytical resource for selecting their future nursing school. An integral part of this effort is our annual rankings of the top nursing schools in the country.
To provide a complete view, we collected a wealth of data on over 3,000 nursing schools and campuses nationwide. We then assessed each of these institutions on three critical dimensions.
For our 2018 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. Approximately 1,900 of the institutions surveyed were public, including community and technical colleges, four-year colleges, and universities. We evaluated each school on three dimensions:
Nursing Schools Almanac is proud to announce our second annual RN-to-BSN Scholarship. We will award a $2,500 scholarship for a nursing student to pursue baccalaureate education through an RN-to-BSN program. Applicants should demonstrate:
We encourage applicants to read the competition guidelines on this page in their entirety before completing the online application.
The path to a nursing career in California begins with the proper education and training at an accredited nursing school. California is home to the highest-paid nursing professionals in the country and requires licensing, registration and/or certification, and continuing education for all nursing career paths. The most common nursing career paths include registered nurse (RN), certified nursing assistant (CNA), and licensed vocational nurse (LVN).
Texas is home to more than 600 hospitals, more than 350,000 licensed nurses, and over 200 approved nursing education programs. If you’re interested in joining Texas’s booming healthcare industry as a nurse, successful completion of a state-approved program is the first step. The Texas Board of Nursing also requires successful passing of the relevant licensure or certification exam, plus continuing education on a biennial basis for all licensed nurses.
The past decade has seen a steady increase in the quantity and quality of Florida's nursing programs. Nursing is a popular career option in the state, with strong employment prospects and competitive pay. It is important for aspiring nurses to understand the different nursing roles, certifications required, and education programs available.
Nursing assistant
Nursing Schools Almanac is excited to announce that Pearl Phillips is the inaugural recipient of the $2,500 RN-to-BSN Scholarship. Pearl has worked for several years in the New York City healthcare system, including various LPN roles with Sisters of Charity Health. In 2017, she completed the ADN program at Excelsior College and earned her RN license. Pearl is now enrolled in the online RN-to-BSN degree program at Villanova University.
The post-master’s doctor of philosophy (PhD) equips masters-prepared nurses to become “global and national leaders, scientists and scholars who make significant contributions in theory generation and knowledge development,” explains the School of Nursing at University at Buffalo. Programs accomplish this through curriculums that cover advanced areas of nursing such as healthcare research, health care policy, information technology, and designing and testing interventions.
Though the path from bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) to doctor of philosophy (PhD) can be challenging, most graduates would agree that it’s well worth the journey. This terminal degree can open the door to top positions at prestigious institutions and major healthcare facilities across the country, leading to higher pay, greater stability, and many other benefits. For example, professionals that hold a doctoral degree have the lowest employment rate in the United States. As of 2016, the unemployment rate for these degree holders was 1.6 percent.
The doctor of philosophy (PhD) in nursing is one of the highest degree levels a nurse can achieve. The program is best suited for registered nurses (RNs) seeking an advanced degree that focuses on research in a clinical, academic or scientific environment. RNs with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or a master of science in nursing (MSN) qualify for entry into programs such as the BSN-to-PhD or MSN-to-PhD option. Nurses who have attained a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) qualify for the DNP-to-PhD option.
Post-master’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs are designed for master of science in nursing (MSN) prepared registered nurses (RNs) looking to take their nursing career, leadership skills, and clinical expertise to the next level. Programs focus on preparing experts in advanced nursing practice, with opportunities in clinical practice, leadership, and policy. Curriculums incorporate the eight essential competencies set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) including:
If you are a registered nurse (RN), and have earned a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), you are eligible to apply for a post-bachelor’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program. Post bachelor’s DNP programs are known as the BSN-to-DNP pathway. These programs are designed for BSN-prepared RNs who desire to complete their master of science in nursing (MSN) and DNP degrees in a specialty area.
