Learn About Washington Nursing Degrees
Nurses are often regarded as the backbone of the health care industry. Every professional who works in this industry is important and necessary, but nurses play a particularly important role. From patient care and charting to doctor assistance and patient communication, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses carry out many of the daily tasks that help health centers run.
If you want to improve health care in the state of Washington, contact the schools below to learn more about nursing programs in Washington.
According to Staffing Industry, Washington is the top state for working nurses. They came to this conclusion after looking at the amount of health care facilities, salary data, and amount of nursing openings per capita. Investing in your education can help you make your mark in this field.
Throughout the state of Washington, nurses can look forward to recognition for their hard work and success with patients. Recently, a Daviess Community Hospital nurse was named the 2015 Nurse of the Year.
Nursing Education in Washington
As you proceed through your nursing education, you may enroll in a huge variety of courses that test and develop your nursing skills. When you first start your education, you can plan on taking courses like Anatomy and Physiology, Health Assessment, Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing Practice, Introduction to Nursing Research, and Public Health Nursing.
Throughout the one to four years you spend in nursing school, you may get many different types of clinical experience. It’s likely that your school will send you to hospitals, clinics, and community health centers to meet the experience requirements of your program. In total, you should have more than 500 hours of clinical experience by the time you graduate.
Washington organizations, employer, and government entities supply a number of financial aid opportunities to nursing students. The Washington State Nurses Foundation distributes funds to those who show great promise in the field of nursing. You may also wish to join Nursing Students of Washington State for access to their scholarship programs. The Washington Center for Nursing also awards scholarships each school year.
Nursing Education & Career Information in your City
Nursing Schools in Washington
You’ve decided to make a difference in the field of healthcare, and you know that nursing is the way to do it. Now it’s time to choose from the many accredited nursing schools in Washington State. Depending on how you learn best, you may want to attend a traditional program or explore some of the best Washington nursing schools online. Compare degree options to figure out which one makes use of your previous education and experience.
Washington LPN Programs
- Admissions requirements: High school diploma or GED, physical exam, and criminal background check
- Credit hour range: 30 to 40 credits
- Online degree options: Unavailable, since students must meet clinical experience requirements
- Licensing exams: NCLEX-PN
As an aspiring nurse, you may wonder how much time you have to put into your education before you can start working. If time is of the essence, an LPN diploma or certificate may be the perfect choice for you. Many nursing programs in Washington have LPN programs that can be finished in one year or less.
BSN Programs in Washington
- Admissions requirements: High school diploma or GED, physical exam, and criminal background check
- Credit hour range: 120 to 130 credits
- Online degree options: Unavailable, although some schools do have blended degree options available
- Licensing exams: NCLEX-RN
If you want to work in a greater variety of specialties, you could be a perfect fit for RN schools in Washington. Choosing a Bachelor’s degree comes with plenty of benefits, since the extended training period includes exposure to different nursing specialties. From start to finish, it takes about four years to complete a Bachelor’s degree.
Washington MSN Schools
- Admissions requirements: Washington nursing license and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
- Credit hour range: 30 to 60 credits
- Online degree options: Offered in some areas of study
- Licensing exams: Determined by each national certification agency
Once you’ve earned a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree may be next on your list. Graduate programs are optimal for those who want to take on more responsibility in their daily work and focus more specifically on one area of nursing. Some of the administrative specialties available at this level include informatics, leadership, and education. Clinical specialties include nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and clinical nurse specialist. There are some online nursing schools in Washington with graduate programs.
DNP and PhD Nursing Programs in Washington
- Admissions requirements: Washington nursing license and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
- Credit hour range: Up to 90 credits
- Online degree options: Limited, due to clinical and research requirements
- Licensing exams: Determined by each national certification agency
Doctoral programs also require a Bachelor’s degree, but they are much longer than graduate programs. Depending on how long it takes you to write your dissertation, you may complete a PhD or DNP in four to six years.
If you’re passionate about healthcare and the opportunities in this field, it’s time to make your move. Learn more about earning a traditional or online nursing degree in Washington by contacting schools near you today.
Nursing Colleges in Washington with Nursing Bridge Programs
If this isn’t your first venture into postsecondary education, you may have looked into bridge programs in the past. Nursing bridge programs make use of your previous education and save time, letting you graduate with your nursing degree in as little time as possible. As an LPN to RN student, you may finish your Associate’s degree in nursing in just one year. Those who choose to earn a BSN through an LPN to BSN program may finish their training in under three years. There are other bridge programs for ADN graduate. RN to BSN programs are meant to be finished in 18 to 24 months. Online nursing programs in Washington State often offer this program, since you should meet your clinical requirements as a working nurse.
For nurses who begin their career in another industry, you may want to explore second degree BSN programs. You may complete your BSN in as little as 12 months while attending class for up to 40 hours per week. Direct entry MSN programs are also meant for those who have a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree. Early in your program, you finish entry-level nursing courses. You then move on to graduate nursing courses.
Tips for Choosing the Top Nursing Schools in Washington
Choosing the right nursing school may help you get more out of the time you spend in school. The degree you earn may determine where you gain clinical experience, which professional connections you make, and how much experience you have. You may want to start your search at the Washington State Nursing Commission, which makes it easy for students to verify that their school is an approved nursing education provider. This falls in line with accreditation recommendations. While you may be able to earn a nursing license with a degree from an unaccredited school, it is not guaranteed. Currently, the two primary licensing agencies in the United States are the ACEN and CCNE.
The more time you spend getting clinical experience, the more prepared you may be to enter the workforce. As you reach out to schools in your area, ask for more information regarding clinical experience. You should find out how many hours students complete by graduation and where they go through clinical rotations. This is particularly important for those who want to work in a specialized part of nursing after graduation.
Finally, check out the student support offered at each school. Nursing school can be demanding, and you should have the option to get help from advisors, instructors, and other students.
2018 Career Outlook for Nursing Professions
You could make a real difference in patients’ lives as a nurse in Washington. Washington is already known for its high healthcare standards; in fact, it is top of the list in terms of long-term care accessibility, quality, and choice (San Juan Islander, 2017).
Job outlook data and salary averages vary across different nursing careers, but as a general rule, demand is fairly high in Washington. You may become an LPN after completing a licensed vocational nursing program. Currently, licensed practical nurses claim an average income of $50,740 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Between 2014 and 2024, job openings for licensed practical nurses may swell 10% (O*Net, 2017).
Registered nurses may possess either an Associate’s degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A 20% increase in job openings is expected between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017). The average annual salary for a registered nurse in Washington is $80,120 (BLS, 2017).
Nurse practitioners may get started with nurse practitioner programs that focus on pediatric, adult, or geriatric care. Since NPs may provide primary care and handle one of the most severe healthcare shortages in the state, they are in high demand. Demand for NPs may swell 28% through 2024 (O*Net, 2017). Currently, the average salary for a nurse practitioner is $107,400 per year (BLS, 2017).
As a nursing professional, you can work with people of all different needs and medical backgrounds. Why not take the first step right now? Check out our list of Washington nursing schools and get in touch with programs near you today.
