Washington Nursing Schools

The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future Raises Funds for Washington

Seattle, WA - To help ease Washington's growing shortage of nurses, a statewide coalition of hospitals, nursing schools and nursing organizations joined Johnson & Johnson for the Promise of Nursing for Washington gala. More than 650 local nurses and health care professionals attended last night's event at the Seattle Westin Hotel to celebrate the nursing profession while raising funds to help relieve the shortage.

"The shortage of registered nurses in Washington and across the country impacts each and every one of us," said Scott Armstrong, CEO of Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, WA. "In Washington alone there is a need for at least 1,900 hospital nurses. As a result of the shortage, emergency rooms are unable to handle all the patients they receive, elective surgeries are cancelled and care cannot be delivered, as it is needed. This problem needs the help of the entire community and our business leaders. Collectively, we can step up to the plate and solve the nursing shortage."

The collaborative efforts of the state's health care organizations along with The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future , raised $510,000 at last night's event, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward regional nursing school grants, faculty fellowships and student scholarships. Nursing student scholarships and faculty fellowships are granted to qualifying applicants for the duration of their program.

"It's great that we are seeing a significant increase in interest in the nursing profession, but there's still much work to be done to alleviate the very acute faculty shortage that our nursing schools are experiencing," says Dorothy Detlor, dean and professor, Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing. "Funds raised through events like the Promise of Nursing for Washington help support nursing schools and colleges to provide the educational programs needed to prepare the next generation of nurses."

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, by the year 2020, Washington is expected to suffer a nursing shortfall of 56 percent, or 26,000 nurses.

Read more about the Washington's growing shortage of nurses.

Nursing Schools in Washington

One of the fastest growing healthcare fields, nursing, draws men and women who want to have a variety of employment opportunities, look forward to help others and don't mind being intellectually challenged. The nursing field has opportunities for individuals with a great diversity of abilities and talents. Washington State Board of Nursing requires that students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination in order to become a registered nurse or practical nurse.

At Washington Nursing Schools our mission is to help you find helpful information regarding nursing schools, rewarding job opportunities, and career options in the growing field of healthcare. Maybe you are ready to contemplate switching from your existing job to a much better career and you could use advice about what the first step is or maybe you are being faced with choosing the best nursing school to suit your needs. You may be thinking of what to expect in nursing school or seek details regarding the NCLEX-PN test and how to get ready for this essential licensing examination.

This is the place where one is able to read about the educational programs and training required to become a licensed practical or registered nurse or a nurse aide in Washington including available nursing degree programs, employment duties for RN, LPN and CNA as well as possible nursing career benefits and opportunities. In order to find out whether working as a nurse is right for you we have also included data about places of employment, job outlook and nurse salaries. If you choose to wait to become a licensed practical nurse or a RN you might want to consider becoming a nursing aide to help you decide if this is a career you want to pursue.

You should choose a nursing school carefully as this is an important step in receiving the good education needed to become a successful practical or registered nurse. Washington Nursing Schools can be used as a guide to learn about many avenues to become a practical or registered nurse and where to find nursing programs throughout Washington.

The comprehensive list of nursing schools in Washington is separated by category of nursing programs and it presents the following groups: practical nursing programs, two-year programs, BSN programs, and master degree nursing programs. If your dream is to be a nurse, then your initial step is to decide on the type of nursing degree program you wish to pursue. Washington Nursing Schools discusses the different ways to obtain a licensed practical nurse or RN license, taking into account the duration and prerequisite courses needed for each type of nursing program. As soon as you have selected a nursing program, you should look for nursing schools in your area offering the nursing degree you are seeking.

Another step will be to ask for admission details, such as criteria for selection of nursing students, application deadlines for the licensed practical or registered nurse program you are interested in, as well as attendance cost and scholarship opportunities at that nursing school.

You will become a graduate nurse when you complete one of any of the following nursing program types: LPN program - 1 year of classroom plus hands-on practice, this type of program requires the least amount of time to become a nurse; ADN program - many nursing schools in Washington provide this type of program, which takes 2 years to complete but each nursing school requires the student to have completed specific educational prerequisites prior to being accepted in the ADN program; BSN programs - a multitude of nursing schools in Washington offer a traditional nursing program which takes four years to graduate from and some universities are offering a non-traditional, accelerated second-degree nursing program to obtain a bachelor's in nursing degree for those with a bachelor degree in a different discipline.

Fast-track BSN nursing programs are an increasingly popular choice for many individuals because this type of program takes between one to 2 years to finish. Master's degree nursing programs prepare the student nurse for advanced professional practice. Universities and nursing schools in Washington may require one or 2 years of work experience as a RN before graduate enrolment.

The duration of a nursing program including LPN to RN (ADN), LPN to RN (BSN), RN to BSN, RN to MSN or BSN to PhD depends on attendance status and requirements of the chosen nursing program in Washington State. To inquire about the specific requirements of a nursing program you can contact the nursing school admission person.

Being a nurse can be the best career path for men and women who are committed to helping others. As a student nurse you need to study specific courses and practice the skills and knowledge obtained throughout nursing school in order to provide a superior quality of client care. There are a multitude of nursing schools in Washington, and each of them is providing the skills and clinical practice to get you ready for this healthcare profession.

For those who already hold a registered nurse or practical nurse license, there are a lot of opportunities to increase your skills by pursuing advanced nursing degrees or certification programs. Along with useful information for students and nurses, Washington Nursing Schools lists registered nurse programs, licensed practical nursing programs, and graduate programs in Washington State.

Accelerated BSN programs also are available for Washington individuals who have a bachelor's or higher degree in another field and who are interested in moving into nursing. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree. A bachelor's degree often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties - clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners.

Washington individuals who complete a bachelor's receive more training in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor's degree programs offer more clinical experience in non-hospital settings.

All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master's degree. Most programs last about 2 years and require a BSN degree and some programs require at least one to two years of clinical experience as a registered nurse for admission. Upon completion of a program, most advanced practice nurses become nationally certified in their area of specialty. In some States, certification in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty.

Nursing is a dynamic and expanding profession - it is an art but also a science with a focus on helping people achieve an optimal state of health. Nurses assist people in the promotion of health, the ability to cope with health problems and maintain life and the capacity to adapt or recover from the effects of disease or injury.

Employers - including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations, among others - need registered nurses for health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college and university faculty or conduct research.

Nursing Resources

For a list of accredited clinical nurse specialist programs, visit the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. For information on nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

For information about accredited programs in other states visit one of the following websites: Massachusetts Nursing Schools, Nursing Schools in Maine, Registered Nurses in Ohio, and Nursing Programs in Illinois.

Information about employment opportunities may be obtained from local hospitals, nursing care facilities, home health care agencies, psychiatric facilities, the Washington State Board of Nursing, and local offices of the State employment service.