Nursing Programs in Charleston SC
The historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, known for its booming economy and friendly people, is a promising city for aspiring nurses. Becoming a nurse or expanding you nursing education in Charleston may permit you to care for the city’s 132,000 residents. However, you may also work with the thousands of tourists that come through the city every year. Being able to work with many different people and medical needs can serve you well in Charleston.
Nursing Schools in Charleston
In addition to a variety of practice options, Charleston may offer lucrative salary ranges to nurses. The average annual salary for an LPN is $41,050 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses earn an average of $72,910 each year (BLS, 2016). Nurse anesthetists, who often earn the highest salaries of all nursing professionals, claim a median income of $161,500 (BLS, 2016).
You can find a variety of nursing programs in Charleston, SC to choose from. Scroll down to the bottom of this page and choose from the nursing programs in Charleston SC that you are interested in. You can then read more about the nursing programs you are interested in, from LPN and RN programs to doctoral programs.
Curriculum, Costs, and Financial Aid
With multiple nursing school choices in the Charleston area, you can consider schools at a variety of price points. It’s important to also look into a school’s financial aid options, since financial aid can substantially change your education expenses. Charleston residents that attend Trident Technical College pay $172.48 per credit hour, while non-residents pay $313.59 per credit hour. The College of Charleston charges $10,558 per year for residents and $27,548 per year for non-residents. Tuition at Charleston Southern University is $11,400 per semester.
Many nursing scholarships in South Carolina are available to students at any nursing school. The South Carolina Nurses Foundation awards several grants, including the Palmetto Gold Undergraduate Scholarship and the Nurses Care Scholarship. Local health care employer Roper St. Francis funds many nursing scholarships.
The nursing curriculum at your school will likely be designed to address a set of learning outcomes. Upon graduating, you should feel confident performing basic and advanced nursing procedures. In addition, you may be expected to demonstrate strong communication skills with patients, peers, and superiors. It’s also necessary to understand a nurse’s role in any health care setting.
To reach these goals, your curriculum may include courses in many different nursing specialties. Courses you might have to take include Concepts of Health, Pharmacology, Professionalism in Nursing, and Diseases & Disorders. While some courses may require you to stay in the classroom and study, quite a few nursing classes are centered around practical experience. Practical experience courses include Fundamentals of Nursing, Phlebotomy, Maternity Nursing, and Pediatric Nursing. In total, you may complete over 600 clinical hours.
If you are already a nurse, looking to expand your education, have a look at the programs below and choose the type of nursing degree you are interested in. Once you have found programs that meet your criteria, request information from the Charleston nursing schools to learn more.
Life and Career Options in Charleston
As you begin your nursing education in Charleston, you’ll likely realize that hands-on experience is crucial. Working at a health care facility as a CNA, administrative assistant, or health aide can give you experience in many different parts of a hospital. Consider looking for a place that offers tuition reimbursement or assistance. As a nurse, your degree can be useful to your employer, regardless of what level it is at.
Trident Health System is a local employer with tuition assistance options. If you’re interested in rehabilitation nursing, you may find a rewarding job with tuition assistance at HealthSouth. Not only does East Cooper Medical Center provide tuition reimbursement, it has student loan repayment assistance.
Hospitals in Charleston, SC
The American Nurse Credentialing Center has provided several Charleston facilities with Magnet recognition. Roper St. Francis Health, Atrium Health, and Medical University of South Carolina are prestigious Magnet institutions.
