If you have paid any attention to the news recently, you have probably heard that there is a significant shortage of nursing professionals. There is some concern that the medical field may struggle to deal with the nursing shortage, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, there are plenty of opportunities for you to pursue a better career in the nursing field, but you should consider going back to a UIC RN to BSN program. With so many options available, how can you choose the right program to meet your needs? Take a look at a few important points below.
1. Think About Where You Want To Work
First, you need to think carefully about where you want to work once you finish your program. Do you want to work in a hospital setting? Do you want to work in an office? Do you want to work in the emergency room? Importantly, you may want to get your degree from a program that is relatively close to the part of the country in which you want to work. There is a chance that the program has connections with some of the local institutions, so you may have an easier time getting a job in that area.
2. Think About Your Schedule
Next, you need to think carefully about your schedule. Specifically, take a look at the class schedule. There might be a chance for you to continue to work even as you go back to school. For example, you might be able to work during the day while going to school at night. This is important because it could give you the ability to draw an income even as you go back to school. That way, you might be able to reduce the financial burden you take out when you go back to school. You might even be able to find a program that allows you to go to class remotely, which means you don’t have to worry about moving somewhere else. Think about the schedule before you decide what program you want to attend.
3. Consider the Competitiveness of the Program
In addition, you should think carefully about the competitiveness of the program. How easy is it going to be for you to get in? Even though there is a lot of demand for nurses right now, there is also a lot of demand for open spots and nursing programs. Some nursing programs are more competitive than others. You may want to reach out to a few programs ahead of time to figure out what they care about when they review applications. That way, you can figure out what you have to do to put yourself in the best position possible to get in. Always consider how hard it will be to get into the program before you apply.
4. Consider the Placement of the Graduates
Finally, you must think about the placement of the graduates. Do you want to be able to get a job once you finish nursing school? Any nursing school that is serious about accepting students should provide you with a clear cross-section of where their graduates get jobs. If you like where their graduates are getting jobs, then you may have found the right program to meet your needs. If there is somewhere specific you want to work, you might want to reach out to the program ahead of time to see if they can help you get a job there once you finish the program.
Find the Right Program To Meet Your Needs
Ultimately, there are a lot of important factors you need to think about if you are considering going back to school to get your BSN. Even though you might already have a lot of experience as a nurse, if you want to compete for the best jobs in the field, you need to go back to get your bachelor’s degree. There are plenty of programs out there, and the right program for one person is not necessarily going to be the right program for someone else. If you need help finding the right program to meet your needs, you might want to reach out to an expert who can point you in the right direction.