8 Best Nursing Schools in Massachusetts

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best nursing schools in massachusetts

The employment trend happening in the nursing workforce continues with more people in need of healthcare now more than ever. Millions of nurses are also closely approaching the age for retirement, which means hospitals across the country need more trained nurses. In Massachusetts, there’s a 12% projected growth in the demand for a new nursing workforce, with 5,900 approximate job openings between 2020 and 2030.

As an aspiring nurse, seeing that your expertise is highly needed because there’s actually a promising demand for it, it’s only right to get your education and training from an excellent college. Picking the right nursing school is critical to your success after all. It’s where you’ll learn the basic knowledge and skills you’ll need to effectively care for your patients and function well in the healthcare setting.

If you’re looking for the best nursing school in Massachusetts, it must be a little hard considering the significant number of top nursing schools in the state. Let us help you make it easier as we round up the best nursing schools in Massachusetts for you to consider.

1. Northeastern University School of Nursing

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Via pinterest

Northeastern University School of Nursing prepares its students to become successful nurses by giving them the right professional values, knowledge, and skills to be successful in the field. It offers the following options for those who want to pursue nursing or are looking to elevate their careers: Bachelor of Science, Accelerated Bachelor of Science, and Direct Entry to Masters.

To give you a glimpse of the school’s simulation lab, here’s a video you can watch:

To qualify, there are clinical requirements you need to accomplish. First, you need to obtain a health clearance from the University Health and Counseling Services. This clearance should document a student’s immunity for different infectious diseases and a physical examination which can be performed by his own healthcare provider.

Additionally, the student must also receive a clinical clearance that includes a recent negative tuberculosis screening, certification in CPR, positive titers for varicella, hepatitis B, and MMR and other health screenings deemed necessary by the program. A clinical background check may also be performed. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing,

Northeastern University’s BSN program requires students to complete 133 total semester hours.

2. Boston College Connell School of Nursing

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Via thoughtco.com

One of the top colleges for nursing in Massachusetts, Boston College Connell School of Nursing molds students who can practice as generalists in a wide range of healthcare settings, like clinics, community agencies, and hospitals.

The school has an impressive track record. Its BSN program in particular has generated desirable results with 99% of its graduates employed, in graduate school, or engaged in a service or a fellowship a year after graduating. This can be attributed to the college effectively combining clinical experiences with classroom learning to ensure that its nursing students receive sufficient training and exposure to be successful.

Boston College’s BSN program also encourages students to thrive outside of the classrooms. The university takes pride in the fact that one-third of their junior students study abroad and another third of senior students take on global clinical experiences.

The Connell School of Nursing has a 1:14 full-time faculty-to-student ratio, ensuring utmost focus from our educators, which of course, results in efficient learning. The first-time pass rate of Undergraduate students on NCLEX is 98% as of this writing.
In addition to the BSN program, Connell School of Nursing also offers the following programs: Master’s, DNP, Ph.D., and DNP in Nurse Anesthesia.

3. University of Massachusetts – Boston School of Nursing

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Via bizjournals.com

 

University of Massachusetts – Boston or UMass Boston offers an Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, which you can take online and complete as fast as 12 months.

To be accepted to UMass Boston’s ABSN program, you’ll need these GPA requirements: Cumulative Baccalaureate GPA of 3.0, prerequisite GPA of 3.3. To know everything about admission requirements, you can see the full list here.

The school offers several other undergraduate programs, like the traditional BSN program and graduate programs. To get into the BSN program as a first year student, you’ll need to submit a Completed UMass Boston Application or Common Application with Essay, SAT or ACT scores, a recommendation letter, and English Language Proficiency for non-native speakers of English.

Every nursing program offered at UMass Boston is designed to improve the quality of care and lower healthcare disparities. If you want to obtain a strong edge in the nursing practice, this school should definitely be in your list of options.

4. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

massachusetts college of pharmacy and health sciences

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is near to some of the nation’s top hospitals and healthcare facilities. With that, it provides a unique experience for its students to learn and practice the profession in the clinical setting. The school also takes pride in ranking in the Top 20% of nursing programs in the country.

The programs to choose from are: Nursing (BSN) — Accelerated, Nursing (BSN) — Postbaccalaureate, as well as graduate programs like DNP and RN to MSN and certificates. The accelerated BSN program, which is a 32-month program at the school’s Boston campus, is the ideal choice if the goal is to fast-track your career in nursing. Applicants must fill up a MCPHS application to begin. The post baccalaureate BSN program, meanwhile, is a year-round program that provides students immersive education, deeply preparing you to take on the nursing path.

If you are interested in gaining real-world experiences that’ll prepare you, this is one school you should seriously consider. You can find more about its tuition fees and rates here.

5. College of Our Lady of the Elms

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Via collegeconsensus.com

If you are looking to start work as soon as graduation, check out College of Our Lady of the Elms. Also known as the Elms College, it’s considered a leader when it comes to teaching and honing work-ready nurses. Elms College’s School of Nursing offers three paths to gain a BSN degree: Baccalaureate, Accelerated Second Degree, and RN-BSN Degree Completion.

Elms’ BSN program has been educating and training nurses for over 40 years with 1,700 nurses graduating since 1982. If you’re a first-year student, you just need to submit a completed application form and high school transcript or GED/HiSet scores to begin your application. There are optional application items as well, such as your personal statement, letters of recommendation, or test scores (SAT I or ACT).

Then there’s the Accelerated Second Degree, which you can finish in just 20 months. This is the program for you if you already have an associate’s, bachelor’s, or higher degree in a non-nursing major. Admission for this full-time program is competitive as it limits the number of students to only 24.

To advance your nursing career, Elms College also offers the RN-BSN program, which is designed for those who want to advance their nursing career. This takes around 12-15 months to finish and supports students juggling family, school, and career since you can take the program online with both synchronous and asynchronous options available.

In addition to Bachelor of Science programs, the school also offers Master of Science programs and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.

6. Simmons College

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Via bostonherald.com

Applying to Simmons’ BSN degree program is free as long as you use the Common Application option. One of the requirements to be accepted into the program include a minimum grade of C+ in all science course prerequisites. Simmons College also requires two nursing sequences with both leading to a nursing degree. In your admission letter, you will learn which of these nursing sequences you have been admitted to.

Simmons College also has an undergraduate nursing BS/MS program you might find interesting if you are looking for a quicker track to a graduate degree. In its accelerated five-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program, students will need to spend about 5 years studying full time and by the end, they’ll possess both an MSN and a BSN. That’s a quick way to gain comprehensive education and advance your career at the same time.

In this set-up, students complete the BSN curriculum and take the NCLEX exam following completion of their degree. After passing the exam, they can then proceed to the MSN part of the program comprising of three components: foundational courses, primary care, and research.

To have a glimpse of the kind of training the college provides, here’s a look at Simmons College’s nursing simulation lab:

7. Fitchburg State University Department of Nursing

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The first public state university in Massachusetts to offer a nursing program, Fitchburg State University offers its students a comprehensive program that’s flexible and can accommodate students from different cultural backgrounds. It has its own health assessment lab, simulation lab, and home care setting lab to let you get the best possible education to prepare for your career.

Nursing programs currently offered are a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Online). Fitchburg State University’s nursing department also offers a Master of Science degree in forensic nursing.

8. Regis College School of Nursing and Health Sciences

regis college school of nursing and health sciences
Via regiscollege.edu

This school of nursing offers all levels of nursing education. The list includes undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and specializations in different areas. It has a simulation center and clinical resource which makes it one of the leading schools in the area. Offering flexibility, their programs include on-campus, online, and accelerated learning options to boot.

For the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program, applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and no courses below 2.0. If you’re keen to finish your degree sooner, Regis College School of Nursing and Health Sciences also offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, which students can complete in just 16 months.

The Takeaway

Pursuing a nursing career is worthwhile considering nurses are always in high demand. As per this information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to increase 7% from 2019 to 2029. This rate is very promising and way much faster when compared with the average for all occupations.

If you’re aspiring to become a nurse in Massachusetts, the colleges/universities listed above are some of the best nursing schools in the state to consider. Check their available programs, requirements, and other important details so you can make an informed decision on where to get your nursing education.

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