Nursing Programs in St. Louis
St. Louis, the second-largest city in Missouri, is one of the 20 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. If you want to become a nurse, attending school and starting your career in this area may give you greater access to a variety of schools and employers. There are over 2.8 million people living in the St. Louis area that rely on the services provided by nurses.
As a St. Louis nursing student, you may be able to earn an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctoral degree at one of the area’s many schools. You can consider all of the school near you to find a program that’s right for your needs. Select the nursing programs in St. Louis from those listed on our site and request more information to begin.
Looking at nursing salaries in St. Louis can help you plan out your career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that licensed practical nurses in the area earn an average of $42,670 per year and registered nurses have a median income of $62,760. Their estimates show that nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $92,160 per year and nurse anesthetists claim an average income of $151,910 each year (BLS, 2016).
Curriculum, Costs, and Financial Aid for Nursing in STL
There’s a big range of nursing schools in St. Louis, so it’s important to evaluate each school’s tuition rates and scholarships before deciding on a school. The University of Missouri-St. Louis has some of the lowest tuition rates in the area. Residents pay $315.80 per credit hour and non-residents pay $826.50 per credit hour. Tuition at Maryville University is slightly higher; students here pay $12,347 per semester. At Saint Louis University, tuition is $37,350 per year.
If you earn a two-year Associate’s degree or four-year Bachelor’s degree, you can take the NCLEX-RN when you graduate. This permits you to work as a registered nurse in Missouri and other nursing compact states. As a nursing student, you may take courses like Human Anatomy, Introduction to Nursing, Health Promotion Across the Lifespan, and Public Health Nursing. You may also take classes that focus on nursing care for specific populations, like Nursing Care of Childbearing Families and Nursing of Older Adults. By the time you graduate with a nursing degree, you may have over 600 hours of clinical experience.
There are several nursing scholarships that you can apply for in this region. The Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation awards the Friends of Saint Louis Municipal School of Nursing Scholarship. The Susan K. Goddard Nursing Scholarship is awarded by St. Louis Children’s Hospital. You can also apply for nursing scholarships through SoutheastHEALTH.
Nursing Career Options in the St. Louis Area
Whether you’re looking for your first nursing job or a place to complete your clinical hours, you may want to look into Magnet facilities in the area. Per the American Nurse Credentialing Center, Magnet hospitals are the best of the best when it comes to patient care and nursing staff. Magnet facilities in the St. Louis area include Mercy Hospital, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. St. Louis Children’s Hospital also has a large nursing research department.
Many hospitals and health care employers in the St. Louis area offer tuition assistance or reimbursement to their employees. At Barnes-Jewish Hospital, students of the Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing can receive reimbursement for completed courses. Employees at St. Louis Children’s Hospital may enjoy scholarships and tuition assistance. St. Anthony’s offers many student services to employees, including tuition reimbursement and proctored study groups.
Take some time to investigate all of your options for St. Louis nursing programs, then contact the schools that offer the programs you might want to attend.
