It’s a major choice to choose a nursing school while selecting a nursing school that will one day become your reality is life changing. There are several factors to take into account whether you’re just beginning your nursing profession or taking your nursing education overseas. You may choose a program that will help you start your career off on the right foot by taking into account factors like curriculum, pricing, time commitment, and school location.
It could be helpful to think about a number of questions in order to select the ideal nursing program. For instance, do you choose campus-based or online nursing programs? How much money do you have to spend? Do you meet the requirements for numerous scholarships? You may narrow down the hundreds of nursing programs available to a select few that best suit your academic and professional objectives by keeping questions like these in mind.
AuRNPathway developed five major tips to help you choose the suitable nursing program for you in Australia.
Five Major Tips on Nursing Program Selection
1. Program Delivery
Program delivery refers to how a program is conducted. implies the use of technologies, methodologies, curricula, and techniques to facilitate students’ learning, including but not limited to instruction, teaching, facilitation, use of curricula, books, electronic media, distance education technologies, self-paced learning materials, media, and courseware (Law Insider, n.d.).
It is important for you to research the program delivery on your desired nursing program to evaluate whether it suits you the best. Majority of nursing programs have two options: online or on-campus delivery. On-campus delivery refers to the typical collegiate setting, when students either travel from home or reside on campus (Nurse Journal, 2022).
As an alternative, a growing number of students are choosing online courses due to their relative cost. The tuition for online programs is often less expensive, and many of the student fees that apply to on-campus students are not charged. Additionally, online students save money by eliminating the cost of on-campus housing and transportation.
Many online programs allow students to attend lectures and complete coursework at their convenience in addition to cost savings. For students who are dedicated to supporting a family or who work full-time, these programs may be suitable. The rigor of the majority of online programs is on par with that of their on-campus equivalents thanks to advancements in online learning tools.
Alongside program delivery, these related factors are also considered:
A. Length of the Nursing Program
At the time of knowing your desired nursing program and its delivery, look at your individual time schedule and goals. Do you want to start working in the industry right now, or do you want to get a graduate degree first?
B. Classroom Structure
Your program’s classroom layout might have a significant influence on your academic performance. Some students discover that big lecture environments are the most effective for learning, while others prefer the personalized attention of small classrooms or the flexibility of online courses. So which one do you think gives out the best in you?
C. Clinical Rotations
Whatever sort of degree you obtain, clinical rotations are a requirement. Depending on your curriculum, these rotations may differ in length and format. For students who work during the day and attend school, certain institutions may provide evening clinical rotation hours.
2. Nursing School Statistics and Nursing Program Accreditation
If you wish to obtain your license, the nursing school you select must be accredited by the nursing board in Australia. By conducting a database search on each Board’s website, you can confirm Board approval.
Rankings of nursing schools, on the other hand, might be useful, but they shouldn’t be the only consideration. This is so because the rankings are guidelines based on data and statistics rather than on the experiences of specific students. Rankings do not take into consideration factors like campus culture or teachers’ teaching methods, thus they may not be comparable. However, if you’re having trouble deciding between two schools, rankings may be able to assist you.
Also, you ought to carefully consider enrolling in an accredited program. Although it is not necessary for license, accreditation confirms that your program fulfills Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia criteria. Additionally, if your school is not recognized, you could have problems obtaining financial help, transferring credits to a higher degree, or getting the job you want.
3. NCLEX first-time pass rates
Every state mandates that all nurses pass the NCLEX, or National Council Licensure Examination. Passing the NCLEX on your first attempt might be financially crucial since taking it will cost at least $200 and there may be extra costs depending on where you reside. For NCLEX Australia, the application fee and evaluation cost usually ranges from $4,400 to $4,600 (IPASS, 2022). Inquire about the exam pass rate at the schools that top your list. Schools that have high NCLEX pass rates have a track record of successfully educating their students for the field of nursing.
4. Career Placement Programs
What kind of career placement or work connections your institution has, if any, is a significant resource to take into account. Some schools work closely with local medical facilities to assist students secure employment following graduation. Other colleges could get unique job postings that are solely open to program alumni.
5. Tuition Costs
Although money shouldn’t be the primary determinant of the degree you pick, tuition is surely on students’ minds. The amount you could spend might differ greatly depending on the program, the institution, the school’s location, and other factors.
Thankfully, most students don’t cover the whole cost of their tuition alone. There are various ways to get assistance, including work-study programs, government financial aid, and numerous awards. Fortunately, a lot of governmental and private organizations provide financial assistance possibilities to help nurses pay for school. The parts that follow go through several tuition cost-cutting strategies. You may also go at several scholarships available to students studying nursing.
AuRNPathway’s Role on Your Choice of Nursing Program
Upon completion of your nursing program, you have to pass the NCLEX to start your nursing career. In Australia, there are many processes you have to undergo to fully become a registered nurse. NCLEX is just the start. You still have the OBA and OSCE which are two of the tests that nursing aspirants are heavily challenged with.
But with AuRNPathway and our consistent statistics of 100% passing rate, these processes will go smoothly just as how we did it with our previous enrollees who are now working and practicing as a registered nurse here in Australia. We know how daunting it feels to ambiguously journey in a pathway that will eventually become your future. That is why, AuRNPathway is here to help you. Daunt no more because we totally got you!
Choose wisely your nursing program. We will see you soon at AuRNPathway. Kudos, future nurses!
References:
Nurse Journal. 2022. How to Choose a Nursing Program
Law Insider. n.d. Program Delivery Definition
IPASS. 2022. NCLEX: USA vs. Australia.
