1.  St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center- A 697-bed medical center, working as a not-for-profit hospital located in Phoenix, Arizona.  Functions as part of the largest healthcare system in the Western US.

2.  NorthShore University HealthSystem- Academic health system associated with the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine.  Great location in Chicago’s northern suburbs.

3.  Northwestern Memorial Hospital- More than 7,000 employees and volunteers are put to work in this Chicago location.  Their mission is “patients first,” a concept they turn into reality through an emphasis on community services.

4.  Providence Hospital and Medical Center- Talent and new ideas are rewarded here.  The atmosphere of efficiency, effectiveness and progression is appreciated by employees and patients alike.

5.  Mayo Clinic - Saint Marys Hospital- Many cutting-edge services are offered here.  A Level One Trauma Center, computer-assisted neurosurgery and heart transplant equipment are all present.

6.  University Hospitals Case Medical Center- Focus on adult and pediatric medical and surgical specialties.  Functions as the primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University.

7.  Vanderbilt University Medical Center- All members of the staff work as a team, giving this Nashville medical center the best chance at advancing medical science to benefit patients.

8.  University of Virginia Medical Center- This is an integrated network of care services on the primary and specialty levels.  Wellness programs and routine checkups to the most technologically advanced care are all offered here.

9.  Cleveland Clinic Florida- One of the newest medical centers in the state of Florida.  The fully-integrated campus includes modern Clinic housing and a staff of more than 150 physicians practicing more than 35 different medical specialties.

10.  Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center-South Bend- A not-for-profit, full-service health system.  There are three hospitals and multiple satellite facilities throughout north central Indiana.

11.  Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa- Faith-based, not-for-profit community health care system.  Comprehensive health care services for people throughout northern Iowa and southern Minnesota is offered.

12.  Union Memorial Hospital- One of the nation’s top, not-for-profit, specialty hospitals.  A strong emphasis is placed on cardiac care, orthopedics and sports medicine through the values they emphasize, including integrity, respect and teamwork.

13.  MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland- More than 6,000 employees, doctors and volunteers make up the staff that provides service in the 12-county region covered by this health center.

14.  St. Cloud Hospital- Since its founding in 1886, this facility has grown tremendously, from a petite, community hospital to a wide-ranging, first-class regional medical center.  Today, there are more than 4,300 employees and a medical staff of 380 physicians working there.

15.  Riverside Methodist Hospital- Ranked as one of America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for seven years running. Noted for its heart surgery, cancer care and neurosciences.

16.  Hillcrest Hospital- Offers cardiovascular services, among other things, under the direction of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

17.  Hamot Medical Center- The condensed mission statement is to identify, collect, preserve and provide access to non-medical hospital records and other documentation for the use of medical center staff and associates.

18.  Lancaster General Hospital- This Pennsylvania facility is the winner of numerous national and local awards.  The mission is to advance the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

19.  Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center- A member of Avera Health, the region’s largest and strongest health care network.  Patients receive care of the highest clinical quality from this Sioux Falls, South Dakota location.

20.  Gundersen Lutheran Health System- A physician-led, not-for profit healthcare system.  A staff of over 6,000 people serves the 325-bed facility in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

21.  San Antonio Community Hospital- Has become a healthcare leader in the rapidly expanding city of San Antonio. A number greater than 2,000 professional, technical, and support personnel have made a career for themselves there.

22.  Silver Cross Hospital- Currently building a $400 million state-of-the- art replacement hospital three miles from the current campus.  It will enhance partnership with Children’s Memorial pediatric specialists from Chicago.

23.  Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital- Medical services at this Park Ridge, Illinois location include cancer care, diagnostic imaging, emergency and trauma services, obstetrics, cardiovascular services and much more.

24.  King’s Daughters Medical Center- A not-for-profit, 465-bed center.  The facility covers a 150-mile radius that includes southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia.  It is currently fourth in the state of Kentucky in regards to overall admissions.

25.  St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital- Recently implemented state-of-the art Electronic Medical Record (EMR) technology for computerized physician order entry and electronic patient charting.

26.  Missouri Baptist Medical Center- Built around cancer care, women’s health and the best cardiac care in Missouri. Cutting-edge medicine is offered here along with values that include compassion, integrity, teamwork and respect for patients.

27.  Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center- Specialties include maternity, neuroscience, children’s health, physical rehab and much more.  The faith-based health ministry is sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives and Immanuel Health Systems.

28.  Saint Thomas Hospital- Committed to serving everyone in need of special attention.  The Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually-centered holistic care with emphasis on physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

29.  Centennial Medical Center- Their mission statement is based on the importance of integrity, compassion, a positive attitude, respect and exceptional value.  Services include kidney transplant, neuroscience, obesity treatment, PET imaging and cancer care.

30.  Providence Regional Medical Center Everett- Offers award-winning care as recognized by HealthGrades.  It is number 1 in the state of Washington for cardiac and stroke care, general surgery and critical care.

31.  West Anaheim Medical Center- An acute-care and general medical/surgical hospital with a complete range of services.  Founded in 1964, this center is dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare.

32.  Riverside Medical Center- A not-for-profit medical facility. There are currently two medical campuses, one in Kankakee, Illinois and the other in Bourbonnais, Illinois.  A number of services are provided including orthopedics, speech therapy, spine care, and women’s services.

33.  Columbus Regional Hospital- This 225-bed facility has an emergency and surgical service, centers for strokes, chest pain, lungs, the heart, cancer, and many other specialty areas.

34.  St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis- Opened in 1995, this health center features up-to-date technology with an emphasis on convenience for both inpatient and outpatient access.

35.  Gratiot Medical Center- Blends the science of medicine with the art of healing to promote compassionate care and dignity for all since 1955.

36.  Rutherford Hospital, Inc. - A team of about 800 employees and more than 100 doctors work as a team, providing superb health and wellness for all the citizens of the community.

37.  Wooster Community Hospital- Many services—including a joint center, infection control, pain management, radiology and pulmonary health are emphasized here.

38.  Mercy Hospital Clermont- A holistic care center.  A full range of quality medical services are provided by caring, dedicated physicians and healthcare professionals.

39.  Memorial Regional Medical Center- Ranked among the top 10% of US hospitals for cardiac services and among the top 5% for cardiac surgery by HealthGrades.

40.  Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center- From cardiology, oncology, and general surgery to dermatology and orthopedics, these and other medical breakthroughs are offered daily.

41.  Chambers Memorial Hospital- A not-for-profit hospital with high standards for health care.  They promise quality care while simultaneously keeping health care costs down.

42.  Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast- This 58-bed facility was built with growth and progress in mind.  With the capacity to expand, new services will continue to be introduced as the Emerald Coast continues to grow and change.

43.  The King’s Daughters’ Hospital & Health Services- A private, not-for-profit organization. Its vision and resources are focused on excellent patient care and community commitment.  Physician services, a nationally accredited cancer center, full service rehab center and many more advanced outpatient services are offered.

44.  Saint Joseph-London- Located in London, Kentucky, this 89-bed acute-care hospital provides a full range of medical, surgical and obstetrical services.  A new replacement facility to be built this year will increase its bed capacity to 120 and will include all private rooms.

45.  Central Michigan Community Hospital- The care center has seen many facility updates since it initially opened in 1943.  The hospital is committed to improving the health status of the people they serve in their caring, compassionate and high-quality services.

46.  Saint Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital- Accredited by the Joint Commission on Health Care Accreditation.  The award winning 24-hour emergency department and newly-expanded nuclear medicine suite coupled with future plans to develop an imaging center make this an ever-expanding facility of excellence.

47.  Lakeview Hospital- They understand the call for evolving to continue to provide the highest achievable level of healthcare. The past few years have been a time of progression into one of Minnesota’s finest hospitals with leadership in patient approval and facility development.

48.  Jamestown Hospital- The small hospital was opened in 1935.  Today, it is nationally recognized.  The modern, fully equipped and professionally staffed facility has a 25-bed capacity that serves as the nucleus of dedicated health care providers in the community.

49.  St. Mary’s Medical Center of Campbell County- A faith-based facility with a mission to continue a strong healing ministry by improving the health of the community.  An emphasis is placed on those who are deprived and underserved.

50.  Lake Whitney Medical Center- Many services are provided here.  Respiratory therapy, home health services, senior care, assisted living and much more are offered by this facility located in Whitney, Texas.

The most common degree sought by individuals going into nursing is the Associates Degree in Nursing, or ADN. This type of degree can be pursued at a community college, technical trade school, four year university or college, or from an accredited online school. Typically, this degree will require 72 semester hours. A chunk of these hours are general education based, though. If you have a prior degree, you may not to take those classes. Some schools will even let you test out of them. This gives you a projected finish time of one to two years, depending on how many classes you actually need to take.

A more structured and rigorous form of training is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN. This is similar to any other basic bachelor’s degree you might seek in another area, and, as such will require somewhere between 120-130 hours of coursework, or four years of classes. Keep in mind, though, that the average time it takes a college student to finish a bachelor’s is more frequently five years these days. As is the case with an ADN, you may be able to place out, test out, or transfer in credits for any kind of general education classes you need to take. If you already have your ADN, some schools will offer an accelerated track to complete your BSN, which will only take one year.

Finally, one may seek out of Master of Science in Nursing, or an MSN. In order to study for this degree, you usually need to have a background in nursing, meaning you already need to have completed either an ASN or a BSN, and usually the BSN. This degree requires around 70 hours, and some programs will offer an accelerated course for people who are working part time already, meaning you can complete it within one to two years.

It is important to remember that all of these time lines depend on what kind of student you are. Typically, these are accurate if you intend on being a full time student. If a full course load will be too much with work and/or family commitments, it can take much longer to complete any of these degrees. However, it’s better that you work at your own pace so that you absorb the information better and can be more successful.

The first component of figuring out how to choose among nursing schools is to look at location. A program may have a million and one qualities, but if it’s three hours or more away from your home, you may want to reconsider. Nursing school requires long hours for classes, clinicals and studying. If you’re spending several hours a day on the road, you may find yourself too tired to give the program your best effort. If the program is even further away, requiring you to move, it still may not be your best choice. At home, you have a network of friends and family to support you when the work load seems to be too much. If you move away from home, you could find yourself in over your head with no one to turn to.

Another thing to look at when deciding how to choose among nursing schools is the cost of attendance. Nursing school, like many other forms of higher education, is not cheap. Some schools will offer one form of financial assistance or another, but most of the time, you’ll find you need to take out loans. Unless your credit is spectacular, it could be difficult to get loans for how much you’ll need, especially because working while in nursing school is difficult, so you may need loans for living expenses. Even if you do get a loan, your interest rates could be through the roof. Thus, how much the program costs is important to think about.

Finally, you should look at the quality of education. Ideally, the program you select should have dual accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing and Education. This speaks highly of the program, and employers appreciate that. You should also take a look at how many clinical hours are offered, as this is the amount of hands on experience you’ll gain from the program. At last, you should look at how many students in the program actually pass the NCLEX in the end. If the pass rate is 15%, the program may not be giving all the necessary information to its students. All of this is important when considering how to choose among nursing schools. 

The first thing people wondering how to get scholarships for nursing degrees need to do is fill out their FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application requires you to submit information about your income, taxes, and expenses. The Department of Education takes this information and calculates what your expected contribution to your own tuition should be. The reason this could help you get scholarships is that many schools have a needs-based scholarship fund, and based on the information from the FAFSA, they may be willing to give you some of this money. It’s worth a shot!

The next thing one should do is continually research. Websites like www.fastweb.com provide you with a list of scholarships that based on your intended degree, accomplishments, background and interests, you might be eligible for. Search the web in general. There are dozens of websites with scholarships designed for people just like you. People questioning how to get scholarships for nursing degrees need not look further than their Google toolbar. It’s important to KEEP looking, though. One search is not going to be enough. If you keep looking, several times a week or month, you will find new opportunities on a regular basis. This gives you much better chances of getting the type of scholarship you want. Don’t be afraid to apply for way more than you need!

Finally, it’s important to have a killer application essay. A good deal of scholarship require you to write some kind of essay, and many of them are asking the same question: why should we give you money? Spend time crafting the perfect essay. A lot of applicants will submit an essay saying that they want to get a nursing degree to help people. Make sure yours stands out! Tell a story about how helping your Grandfather recover from the flu when you were six lit a passion in you. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but make yourself sound unique. When people ask how to get scholarships for nursing degrees, the answer is simple: make yourself pop. It may take more time than you’d like, but the work you put into that essay could end up paying out… literally.

There are several benefits to pursuing a degree from an online nursing school. First and foremost, it provides a great deal of convenience. If you have a family, or you’re currently employed and looking for a new career, an online program gives you that opportunity. Need to do your coursework after the kids go to bed? That’s fine. Trying to finish an assignment after you get off second shift? Not a problem. It also gives you the ability to learn at your own pace. If you need to take longer than usual to finish a program, online nursing schools give you that chance. On the other hand, if you’re someone who flies through coursework faster than the average student, online nursing schools give you a chance to finish a degree faster than you would otherwise. Online nursing schools also tend to be cheaper than most accredited universities, giving you the ability to save some money.

However, there are some drawbacks to studying nursing online. You need to make sure you have your facts straight. First, realize that you’re not going to be able to complete the entire course online. Any accredited program will still require you to do clinical work at a local medical institution. You should also make sure that the online nursing school you’re going to be working with is accredited. Not all of them are, and if they are not, then you will not be eligible to sit for the NCLEX, which is the test you need to pass in order to be awarded your license. Even so, you should check with your local nursing board. Some will not recognize any online nursing school, so it’s important that you know their position on it before you fork over the cash for your studies.

As is the case with any degree you might seek, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of the program you enroll in. Studying nursing at an online nursing school provides a lot of benefits, but if you’re not careful, you may get more than you bargained for. Make sure you do your research before you enroll. It could be the opportunity of a lifetime, and a chance to reinvent your life in a burgeoning industry with high demand. The thing is that it could also be a colossal waste of time. Just be careful.

First and foremost, you should prepare. While one could, theoretically, decide at a random point in their lives that they want to go to nursing school, it’s usually more difficult to get into a program at that point. To begin with, you must have your GED to even consider applying. However, a successful applicant must take many other things into consideration. As a part of the medical community, nurses are held to standards similar to doctors and surgeons in that a strong emphasis is put on math and science. If you’re in high school, it’s very important that you get good grades in your classes pertaining to these subjects. If you’re truly interested in nursing programs, you might want to consider choosing electives that could be helpful in the field, such as anatomy, advanced biology, or the like. These classes look impressive on an application. Finally, you must score well on your ACT and/or SAT. To nursing schools, these scores indicate your ability to absorb information, which is critical when you’re treating a patient. These tips to apply to nursing schools will really give you an edge when it comes to being compared to other potential applicants.

Next, you’ve got to stand out on your application. While people may give you all sorts of tips to apply to nursing schools, this is the most important one. Individuals going through applications are constantly bored by the same old essay responses. Candidates often say they want to go into nursing to “help people” or “give back,” and while these answers aren’t bad, they are typical. Tell a story in your essays. Paint a picture of the person you are through example, and prove that you already have the makings of a great nurse. This is a chance to make up for less than fabulous algebra grades or a lower science score on your standardized tests than you would have liked.

So you want to go to nursing school? Follow these tips to apply to nursing schools, and you’ll already be ahead of the other candidates going through the same process. Good grades, scores, and storytelling will get your foot in the door. 

1. Surgical Nursing

If you’re interested in making over $80,000 a year, consider being a surgical nurse. Here, you help surgeons perform intense procedures such as organ transplants. Your best shot at this position is if you attain a BSN.

2. Certified RN Anesthetist (CRNA)

A Nurse Anesthetist provides anesthesia care to patients in the same way that an anesthesiologist does. This kind of position requires a BSN typically, but the pay is more than worth it, at an annual rate of $165,000.

3. Nurse Practitioner

If you’re interested in seeking out multiple degrees, you might want to consider being a nurse practitioner. These individuals usually have a Masters or Doctoral degree, which allows them to administer a wider variety of health services. As a result, they often run their own family or adult health clinics, resulting in a high level of pay.

4. Clinical Nurse Specialist

Have you always been good at managing people and resources? Then the position of Clinical Nurse Specialist, or CN, might be a good fit for you. These are usually people with expertise in the diagnosis and management of an illness, and they will oversee an entire case. The pay for a position like this is usually around $80,000 a year.

5. Staff Nurse

A staff nurse is someone who is typically far more involved in patient care than the average nurse, and will help in making a diagnosis based on scientific information. You must be an RN to get a position like this one, and the pay is more than worth it: over $60,000 a year.

6. Flight Nurse

If you like intensity, look into being a flight nurse. You’ll be responsible for helping treat patients on the scene after a plane lands, or en route to other forms of care. If this sounds like the job for you, you’re likely to make over $60,000 annually.

7. Travel Nursing

Like to travel? Check out Travel Nursing. This position requires nurses to travel to remote areas in need of medical assistance, and pays well for it. You can expect to be paid $24 to $42 per hour! RN’s will be able to qualify most easily for this position, but LPNs can also register if the local boards will allow.

8. Military Nursing

Help out your country, and your bank account. Consider being a military nurse! Your pay may be in the ballpark of $45,000 a year and you may be able to get your nursing degree paid for, or even receive another one while in service. You won’t necessarily go abroad, but that is a possibility.

9. Forensic Nursing

Always had a penchant for those CSI shows? You could be part of the process as a forensic nurse. In this position, you would go to the crime scene with investigators to identify injuries, causes of death, and help collect evidence. You can start off getting paid about $35 per hour, and some nurses end up with a pay rate of $100 an hour!

10. Legal Nurse Consultant

Were you always more interested in Law and Order than CSI? Take your spot in the courtroom, and become a legal nurse consultant. Here, you put your nursing smarts to use by testifying in cases that require medical expertise. 

First things first, you have to realize that these top nursing schools ratings and rankings are tremendously subjective. Some require that the schools have dual accreditation just to be considered. Others have no requirements for accreditation whatsoever. Other lists create their rankings based on student reviews, while some base their scores on test results, and still others use the feedback of professors across the board from all of the schools to determine placement. Because the criterion used for ranking differs across the board, it is extremely rare to see the same rankings on even ten lists. How do you decide which methodology is best? You don’t. Instead, look for repeats across the board. If one school is listed on nearly every list in the top five, it might be worth looking into.

Second, remember that these top nursing schools ratings and rankings are typically based on strictly academic perceptions. It may have little to do with the qualities that you find important. That’s why it’s so important to evaluate the schools you do see on these lists on your own, instead of just assuming that the lists give you a series of schools that you should definitely apply to. If you’re someone who values small class sizes and accessibility of professors, some of the larger schools that appear on these lists may not give you the kind of education you need. If you’re looking to work one on one with some of the brightest minds in the industry, you’ll have to do separate research as well, just to make sure that the names affiliated with a program actually participate in the classes.

Finally, make sure the list of top nursing schools ratings and rankings are up to date and credible. If you’re doing research online, which most people do, you may find a lot of outdated information. People may post rankings from six years ago which put one school on top, but current ratings may have different schools rated highly. Moreover, the ratings that are posted aren’t always from a credible source. The Princeton Review and US News Guide tend to publish pretty authentic lists, but other websites will post “top ranked” schools as a means of advertising alone. Make sure that you vet any information you find online, and confirm the information from several sources before you give a school serious consideration.

One of the best in the country is easily located at the University of Washington-Seattle. This school has been on the top of everyone’s list for several decades now. What makes the school so spectacular? Their staff puts them light years ahead of the competition. They have a tremendously experienced staff with more awards to their names than most schools could ever dream of. It’s not just about the staff, though. University of Washington-Seattle also gives great learning opportunities to their students. There is a large amount of hospitals in the areas that the University maintains close ties to, which means that you’re exposed to the specialty you’re gunning for, and may even get a chance to get hands on managerial experience. This makes the University of Washington-Seattle one of the best graduate level nursing schools in the country.

The University of California-San Francisco is also an excellent graduate level nursing school. For someone who is seeking their master’s in nursing, a school like this, that receives incredibly large amounts of research grants from the government, is a dream come true. You’ll not only get in depth training in the specialty of your choice, but you’ll get exposed to the cutting edge technology and techniques of your field, making you a more desirable applicant at any hospital in the United States. The wide array of specialties the program offers makes the University of California-San Francisco one of the best graduate level nursing schools in the nation.

The nursing school at the University of Pennsylvania is another excellent choice for those seeking their masters in nursing. Their program is one of the hardest in the country to get into, and its selectivity guarantees the kind of one-on-one training that helps pushes individuals in the field of nursing to the top of the ladder. Your odds of getting into the program are better if you received your undergraduate degree in nursing from the same school, but it’s not impossible to get into otherwise. The range of training you receive and the intensity of the program prepares you for some the highest stress positions in medical care, and potential employers are well aware of this. 

One of the best in the country is easily located at the University of Washington-Seattle. Ever since 1984, it has topped the lists of some of the most reputable ranking sources, such as US News and World Report. Why is this program so notable? First and foremost, they have some of the most renowned faculty on staff. Their professors are experienced and acclaimed, meaning that you’re going to have some of the best in the industry as your guides on this educational journey. However, they’re also well known because of the educational opportunities afforded to their students. Seattle has a wide variety of hospitals in the community that people from across the country will go to receive treatment, and the University of Washington-Seattle has strong partnerships with these programs, meaning that you get hands on experience in a wonderful atmosphere. For these reasons, the University of Washington-Seattle is easily one of the top undergraduate nursing schools in the country.

Another top undergraduate nursing school is the University of California-San Francisco. US News and World Report ranks them as number two in America, and with good reason. This nursing school is notable because they receive a large amount of research grants from the government. What does this mean for you as a student? It means that you’re constantly being exposed to new medicines, treatments and techniques, making you as a job candidate very desirable. You’ll go into any hospital with a lot to offer. The program is also very diverse, giving you a wide spectrum of specialties to go into. If you’re looking to specialize in a very specific brand of nursing, this is truly the program for you.

One of the final top undergraduate nursing schools you might want to look at resides at the University of Pennsylvania. The school, generally speaking, is the crème de la crème, and has provided rigorous academic programs since 1729. US News and World Report ranked the University of Pennsylvania as the number three nursing program in the United States in 2008. It’s tremendously difficult to get into, but if you can gain admittance, it’s more than worth the effort. Its specialties range from biobehavioral health services to community health services, providing a wide range of studies for their students to pursue. Undergraduates also have unique opportunities to go straight from their undergraduate work to one of the twenty different master’s programs offered by the school.