Nursing Schools in Philadelphia
If you are looking for colleges in Philadelphia for nursing, you have come to the right spot! This historic city has several excellent universities, colleges and online nursing programs, making it a great place to start or expand your nursing education. To find the nursing programs in Philadelphia that you are looking for, scroll down to the bottom of the page and choose from our complete list of options. Once you find the Philadelphia nursing schools that you are interested in, request information directly from our site to start building your nursing education and career today.
Nursing Education in Philadelphia
Many of the nursing schools in Philadelphia, PA offer a full range of programs, from Bachelor’s degrees in nursing to Doctorate level nursing education. Thomas Jefferson University is affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, which is a Magnet hospital. Their programs include the RN–BSN and the RN-BSN/MSN programs. They also partner with Partner Community College for associate degree students to complete their BSN. In addition, this fully accredited university has an undergraduate program for registered nurses, graduate programs and a Doctorate of Nursing program. Other nearby universities include the Widener University, Philadelphia University, Holy Family University and several others.
The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing offers all of the basic nursing programs, which includes accelerated programs and doctoral level with PhD or DON degrees. There are also nine programs for Nurse Practitioners (NP), including:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Adult–Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care
- Psychiatric–Mental Health
- Streamlined Post–Masters Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Women’s Health/Gender
The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, PITC Institute and Prism Career Institute each have programs for the LPN that may be completed in one year. LPNs account for over a quarter of Philadelphia’s nurses, so if you are just starting out in your nursing career, this may be a great place to begin.
Curriculum of Nursing Programs in Philadelphia
In an entry level nursing program in Philadelphia, basic core courses in science, math and English are required before taking nursing courses. Once you have completed general education requirements, you will move on to the nursing curriculum, which is often quite similar across different nursing schools in Philadelphia. The most common nursing courses include the following:
- Medical Surgical Nursing
- Family Focus Maternal–Newborn Care
- Gerontological Nursing
- Knowledge Synthesis for Nursing Practice
- Family Focus Care of Children
- Pathopharmacology
- Nursing in the Community
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
- Sociocultural Influences on Health
- Ethical Aspects of Health and Technology
- Nursing Leadership
Most nursing degrees in Pennsylvania have a financial aid office to assist you in finding financial aid and scholarships to help you pay for school. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a federal application that you can complete to determine what federal, state and institutional need-based aid might be available to you. Examples of possible grants include the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal SEOG Grant and the Pennsylvania State Grant (PHEAA).
Thomas Jefferson University also provides needy students with gift-aid to help pay for college expenses. Widener University awards grants to undergraduate day students who are attending college for the first time on a full-time basis. The University of Pennsylvania bases grants solely on financial need.
There are several options for nursing schools and programs in Philadelphia that can give you the education you need to have a successful career in nursing. Request information about the nursing programs you are interested in to begin planning the next step in your education today!
Life and Career Options in Philadelphia
The American Nurses Credentialing Center have awarded approximately six percent of hospitals in the United States with the Magnet award. Magnet hospitals are recognized for their commitment to nurses and nursing excellence, and are often the first place that many new graduates apply to. In Philadelphia the Magnet hospitals include:
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
- Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Comments Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia
Hospitals in Philadelphia
Nursing positions are usually available at several Philadelphia hospitals in a variety of settings. Positions are available for staff nurses, management positions, nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners. Nurses with doctorate degrees have job opportunities at universities to teach or become involved in research. Additionally, nurses with specialty degrees earned from nursing schools in Philadelphia are also considered valuable within each specialty. If you have an idea of a specialty area you would like to focus on, select it from the left hand side of the page to request information about the nursing programs in Philadelphia that are available.
Philadelphia has one of the highest concentrations of employed RNs in the nation, with 42,380 nurses in the metro area, according to the BLS, 2016. Philadelphia nurses earn a median income of $81,210 annually, and these figures tend to increase with experience and education (2016). You will find that as you expand your nursing skill set and knowledge base, you are eligible for a wide variety of jobs in different practice settings.
Philadelphia nursing schools employ 1390 nursing instructors and teachers, making the city second to only New York City in this regard. Nursing faculty in Philly earn an annual average income from $71,270 per year (2016). If you are looking to earn an advanced degree with the intent of teaching Nursing in Philadelphia, you are making a solid choice.
There are several nursing associations in Philadelphia that can provide support both while you are in school and after you graduate, including the American Nurses Association, The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals (PASNAP) and the Visiting Nurse Association, to name just a few. Joining these professional groups can give you resources for networking, continuing education, access to legislative updates and career planning and assistance. They may also offer financial aid to support your academic endeavors.
