Compare Nursing Schools in Minnesota
Minnesota, a state known for its high-quality health care establishments and organizations, can be an excellent place for an aspiring nurse to complete their education and get started in their career. If you have a penchant for helping people and you’re interested in working in a stable industry, you may wish to consider becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN) in Minnesota.
Contact the nursing schools in Minnesota to learn more about getting started with your education to enter this promising career.
Minnesota is home to the famous Mayo Clinic, an organization that has recently been increasing its hiring of nurses. As a result, many other health care employers have seen the growth of a nursing shortage. No matter what degree level or specialty you decide to pursue, you may be able to look into employers throughout Minnesota.
Local schools are also beginning to focus on their nursing programs and career paths. A trustee meeting at a local school focused on ways to increase their recruitment of nursing students and strengthen their nursing programs. This may lead to more nursing school openings and school choices for new students.
If you’re interested in working with the aging population, Minnesota may be the place for you. A recent House bill would improve funding for nursing homes throughout the state, allowing these organizations to increase their hiring of nurses and other skilled personnel.
Nursing Education in Minnesota
The first step to becoming a successful, working nurse is choosing the right school. Depending on your location, you may be able to choose from two-year schools, four-year public colleges, or four-year private colleges. An LPN diploma or certificate can often be completed in fewer than three semesters, while an associate’s degree in nursing may involve at least two years of schooling. bachelor’s degree programs tend to last eight semesters.
To become a skilled nurse, you must develop your knowledge in many areas of study. This involves learning about different medications, care procedures, nursing research, patient communication standards, health care ethics, and the human body. Courses that may be part of your curriculum include Theoretical Foundation for Nursing, Nursing Informatics, Applied Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, Family Health Nursing, and Community Health Nursing.
Throughout the duration of your education, you should get several hundred hours of practical experience. Clinical requirements tend to increase as you go through the different levels of education.
Minnesota is home to many associations and organizations that fund financial aid programs for nursing students. The Minnesota Nurses Association is one example, with several grant and scholarship programs. Fairview Health Services awards the Elaine Marie Nelson Hoke Memorial Nursing Scholarship, which is worth $1,000.
Consider joining the Minnesota Nurses Association to learn more about their scholarship offerings.
Nursing Education & Career Information in your City
Licensed Practical Nurse Job Outlook
- Average salary of $43,620 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017)
- Expected job growth of 11% between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017)
Registered Nurse Job Growth
- Average salary of $73,940 per year (BLS, 2017)
- Expected job growth of 12% between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017)
Job Statistics for Nurse Practitioners
- Average salary of $106,820 per year (BLS, 2017)
- Expected job growth of 26% between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017)
Ready to make your mark on the world of health care? Get started today by contacting nursing programs in Minnesota directly from our site.
Saint Mary’s Hospital, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview – University Campus, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Saint Cloud Hospital, and Hennepin County Medical Center
Nursing Degree Programs in Minnesota
Specific information about nursing programs in Minnesota can be found via the links listed below. General information is provided following the list of links.
Transition programs for nurses:
Graduate programs for nurses:
- All Masters in Nursing Programs in MN
- All DNP and PhD in Nursing Programs in MN
- All Nurse Practitioner Programs in MN
Entry level nursing programs:
- All LPN/LVN Programs in MN
- All Associate Degree Nursing Programs in MN
- All Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs in MN
- All Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs in MN
- Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing Programs in MN
Minnesota LPN Programs
- Admissions requirements include a high school diploma, up-to-date vaccinations, and a clear criminal history
- 40 credits required for graduation
- No online study options, due to the need for clinical hours
- Must pass the NCLEX-PN after graduation
BSN Programs in Minnesota
- Admissions requirements include a high school diploma, high grades, and proof of good physical health
- 120 credits required for graduation
- Blended options combine online study and in-person study; no 100% online options are available, since clinical hours are mandatory for licensure
- Passing score on the NCLEX-RN required for licensure
Minnesota MSN Schools
- Must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a current nursing license
- Approved programs include 50 to 60 credits
- Many programs allow some online study, requiring students to attend certain courses and clinical rotations in person
- Must be licensed by a nationally recognized certifying organization
DNP and PhD Nursing Programs in Minnesota
- Must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a current nursing license, and nursing experience (typically one to two years)
- Programs require 80 or more credits
- Online study options available in some specialties, but most programs require some in-person clinical work or research work
- Must be licensed by a nationally recognized certifying organization
Keep in mind that there is quite a bit of flexibility in nursing careers. If you start at the RN or BSN level, you may decide to advance your education with a Master’s degree or PhD years down the line.
Within many of these degrees, you must choose an area of specialized study. For example, students earning an MSN with the goal of becoming nurse practitioners may choose to specialize in family care, gerontological care, psychiatric care, women’s care, pediatric care, or psychiatric/mental health nursing.
At the LPN and BSN levels, clinical practice is the primary focus. Once you move beyond these degrees to graduate nursing programs in Minnesota, you may shift your focus to leadership and research while still building on your clinical experience.
Nursing Colleges in Minnesota with Nursing Bridge Programs
The requirements listed for nursing colleges in MN above primarily cover standard nursing programs, rather than those that bridge from one nursing degree to a more advanced nursing degree.
If you already have a degree and you’re making a career switch, you may have other options for getting a nursing degree in MN.
For example, many nurses may start with an Associate’s in nursing. From there, you may choose to attend an RN to BSN bridge program, which takes about 18 to 24 months. During this time, you develop more advanced nursing skills and enhance your clinical reasoning skills.
Another option is the RN to MSN program, which includes both Bachelor’s-level and Master’s-level coursework. In this type of degree, you use your nursing experience to move through advanced courses at an accelerated pace. Those with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing may complete a bridge program to move directly into doctorate study, a path which may lead to a DNP or PhD.
Bridge programs are generally significantly shorter than traditional programs. Since most are designed for working nurses, you may get to count some of your work experience as clinical hours. Furthering your training with a bridge program may help you expand your scope of practice and permit you to provide greater assistance to a wider variety of patients.
As healthcare facilities try to reduce the ever-growing nursing shortage, nurses who can fill multiple roles may become an even greater asset to local institutions.
Tips for Choosing the Top Nursing Schools in Minnesota
- Ensure that schools are accredited by the ACEN or CCNE; this streamlines the licensing process after graduation
- Look for a high NCLEX pass rate; this indicates that a school offers exemplary training to nursing students
- Consider attending a school with a low average class size, which allows you to ask questions and connect with instructors
- Explore the clinical training options offered at each school
- Find out what financial aid programs are available at different RN programs in MN
- Look into each school’s job placement rate; high job placement rates may indicate that the school is viewed favorably in the healthcare community
- Connect with working nurses to learn more about where they went to school and what they recommend
- Tour nursing campuses to explore their lab facilities, classes, and overall learning environment
Beyond accreditation, many of the factors that go into a nursing school decision are highly personal. You should take some time to think about how you learn best and which learning environment suits you.
This is where campus tours are especially helpful. While you can learn a lot about schools via websites and brochures, stepping onto the physical campus makes it much easier to know whether or not you’ll feel at home there.
If a nursing career is in your future, then it’s time to explore accredited nursing schools in MN. These schools meet national standards, as well as those set by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. There are varying levels of education available for nursing students, so you’ll need to compare degree options before selecting a nursing program.
Job Outlook for Nursing in Minnesota
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to jump into the field of nursing, this may be the time to act. A 2016 report claims that the United States, which has faced a growing nursing shortage for decades, is about to go through one of the worst shortages it has ever experienced (The Atlantic, 2017).
By 2025, experts predicts that the shortfall may leave more than twice as many nursing job openings as any shortage since the 1960s. As the elderly population of the United States hits record highs in coming years, the demand for nursing professionals may continue to see aggressive growth.
Whether you want to become a licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse, or a nurse practitioner, the training you get at nursing colleges in MN may put you in a position to combat this staffing shortage. At Minnesota licensed practical nurse programs, you can build core nursing skills that allow you to provide support to registered nurses and physicians.
Students at Bachelor of Science in Nursing colleges in Minnesota may be able to move into leadership positions as they gain experience and confidence. With the advanced study options at Master of Science in Nursing programs in Minnesota, registered nurses may pursue a higher level of licensure and take on more responsibility for patient care. Job growth statistics indicate that the decision to learn how to become a nurse in Minnesota may benefit you for many years to come.
