Learn about Nursing Schools in PA

Nursing is one of the most valuable and needed professions in the entire world of employment. Nurses often work long hours in stressful environments helping to care for people who are sick or injured. Due to the high amount of knowledge and experience needed to become a nurse, it is necessary for prospective nurses to attend nursing school. Some of the best Nursing schools in the entire United States of America are located in Pennsylvania. Nursing schools in PA have earned their reputation as being amongst the elite due to the high quality of teaching provided. A qualification from one of the nursing schools in PA is well respected and can lead to a prosperous career as a nurse.

Nursing Schools in PA – Which School to Go To?

One of the leading nursing schools in PA, not to mention the entire country, is the University of Pennsylvania’s Nursing School. This is an Ivy League school which offers a wide range of courses to set students up for a career in nursing. Degree programs in Nursing are available at a variety of levels of study including Undergraduate Programs, Accelerated Programs, and programs taught at the Doctoral Level. It is also possible to combine nursing degrees with other degrees for a broader education that has a wide range of applications in the world of employment.

There are a wide range of alternative schooling options for aspiring nurses in Pennsylvania who may lack the grades or financial resources to attend the elite University of Pennsylvania’s Nursing School. Other nursing schools in PA teaching accredited degrees include the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology and Gannon University.

Nursing Schools in PA – Which Degrees Are Available?

The basic degree required for most Nurses is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or BSN for short. This is widely recognized by healthcare employers and equips nurses with the skills they need to succeed in the profession. It is also possible to undertake a Master’s degree in nursing which requires specializing in a particular area of Nursing. Nursing degrees can be obtained in less time for people who already have a university education in another related field such as science or health care.

Nursing Schools in PA – What Are the Specialties Available for Nurses?

Nursing Schools in PA may allow students of nursing to specialize in a particular area of the nursing profession. This can increase the earning potential for nurses once they have entered the world of employment as there is often greater demand and increased levels of financial remuneration for nurses that are qualified in a specialist area of the profession.

Some of the most common areas of specialty which nurses undertake include geriatric nursing, which is nursing focused around caring for the elderly population, psychiatric nursing, which involves nursing people with mental disorders, pediatric nursing, which involves looking after children and home health nursing, which is the practice of providing nursing care to people within their own home.

An excellent way to become a specialist nurse is by taking a Master’s Degree in nursing which focuses on the skills needed for a given specialty. The specialty which any given nurse chooses to pursue is likely to be in area that they either particularly enjoy working in or have specific skills suited to a certain specialty.

Nursing Schools in PA – What Background is Needed?

Nursing schools in PA look for certain background skills and experience in the people they take on to study nursing. High school courses in health and science subjects are desirable. In terms of work experience it is beneficial to have voluntary experience within a care home, clinic, hospital, or other health care facility. Each course and school has slightly different requirements so it is always worth checking with specific institutions regarding their requirements.