RN Programs
Welcome to RN Programs! I created this website to help other future nurses to find the best RN programs out there. There are thousands of nursing schools out there including many online ones as well.
My goal is to help you get a better idea of what's available out there, inform you on what you should be looking for, and then help you get started by getting you information from the RN programs that will work best for you.
So let's get started. Below, you'll find a brief guide on what you should be looking out for. I also follow up with a post of why you should be considering online RN programs. Then I finish by guiding you to two of the best resources to finding RN programs.
Hopefully, this process will get you quickly on your way to becoming a registered nurse. It's an exciting time to be a nursing student, and that's something I know first hand. Nursing has been a rewarding experiencing for me, so I hope I can share the same experience with others by helping you pick one of the many RN programs.
What to Look Out for in RN Programs
RN programs come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are small and some of them are part of large universities. And more recently, you can actually become a certified RN by taking online classes on your own time. However, the important things you need to be looking out for is still the same for any of the RN programs.
The following list is a collection I have put together through my experience. I have seen too many students attend RN programs without accreditation and end up not being able to become a registered nurse. Don't let this happen to you, so be aware of the following when looking at RN Programs.
1. Accreditation of RN Programs
The school must be accredited for you to take the NCLEX exam. This exam is what makes you a registered nurse. The RN programs at the two program directories I'm recommending are all certified, but if you're looking at other RN programs near you, be sure they are accredited.
Sometimes RN programs promise you that they will become accredited before you graduate. However, I have heard horror stories of nursing studies who graduate to find out their school never received their accreditation, so be careful!
2. Prerequisites of RN Programs
RN programs have different requirements for what a potential students needs to have before even being considered being admitted. Many times students will apply to one of the RN programs and find out later they didn't even meet the minimum requirements. Some of these requirements include a minimum GPA, SAT or ACT scores, and certain number of years of various subjects.
Just be aware of these prerequisites before you waste your time and money applying to RN programs.
3. Cost of RN Programs
RN programs come in all shapes and sizes, and cost is no exception. Online schools can be extremely affordable and offer just as good education, and then there are private schools with high tuition fees, but may not actually be worth the price. This is something that is very important to factor in when you're looking at RN programs.
My best advice is to request information to a few schools including both online and local RN programs. You'll be surprised what you don't know.
Why Online RN Programs?
Online RN programs have been massively popular over the last 5 years. This is because most traditional schools can't accept that many students in their traditional classrooms. This has caused many students to look at online RN programs.
To the surprise of many, the online RN programs end up being much cheaper, convenient, and just as effect as traditional RN programs. This is why online education has taken off and has helped thousands of nurses achieve the proper certifications to be a registered nurse. Here are the benefits again of online RN programs in list form.
1. Cost - Save literally thousands of dollars
2. Convenience - You can work while you study, and do it on your own time. This is especially great for people who have unrelated careers but want to move into nursing.
3. Accredited - Online RN programs are fully accredited by the state which means they provide the proper education to pass the NCLEX exam to become a registered nurse.
4. Speed - Work at your own pace. Take it slow or finish quickly. It's up to you.
These are just a few of the major reasons why you need to consider online RN programs. I personally was shocked to find out about it. I had my doubts that an online program could deliver the same education as traditional programs, but boy was I wrong.
I recommend picking a few online RN programs and requesting some free information. It can only help.
Picking One of the RN Programs
The next step is to check out a list of RN programs and reading a brief overview of each one and deciding which one perks your interest. Then, you request free information from each one that interests you, and you'll be contact by a school representative as well as given an information package.
The problem is that you can spend countless days searching for individual nursing programs, which is a waste of your time. People and companies have already done the hard work for you by putting together an exhaustive list of RN programs and providing summaries of each.
After going through thousands of websites, I found the two below are the best in providing a large and accurate list as well as making it extremely easy to request free information.
1. eLearners - They are one of the absolute best because they include an exhaustive list of RN programs, and they provide a great summary for each program. This is the first destination and probably the last one as well.
2. Monster Learning - Monster is known to many as a jobs site, but has recently transitioned into the education field. They are a large and reputable company that has consistently helped people achieve their educational objects. It's worth a look to see which RN programs they recommend.
RN Programs Blog Updates
Is Oklahoma is Trouble? - RN programs in Oklahoma can't seem to have the funds to accept enough nursing students to tackle the increasing nursing shortage. The question is the federal help and changes that are taking place enough to make sure Oklahoma doesn't fall into a major problem. This is the question many people are asking is whether the RN programs have what it takes to produce fresh new nurses, but time can only tell.
Pamela Chally says Training is the Real Issue - Florida is also experiencing problems, but it does not lie within the RN programs. They are lacking the extra training needed to take nurses to the next level since the older experienced nurses are leaving. RN Programs in the area are now looking to focus on higher nursing education now.