A career in nursing can be emotionally rewarding and financially lucrative. In the US and Europe, nurses are one of the most respected professionals.

Before you can embark on your career as a vocational nurse, you need to acquire the required qualification and pass a qualifying exam. The first step, of course, is to enroll in a nursing school.

Finding the right nursing school or LVN program can be challenging, especially since lots of options are available. Before you zero in on a particular school, there are some specific factors you should consider.

State approval

Make sure that the school and the program are approved by the state board of nursing. The school should have received its approval from the state board of nursing. This is by far the most important thing.

State approval is crucial because if the school has not received approvals, students graduating from there cannot take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) exam. To complete the program successfully, you have to take this exam in the state where you want to work. Without approval, you cannot take this test or earn your license.

Another advantage of choosing an approved nursing school is that its faculty will be qualified enough to ensure that each student graduating from their school has acquired all the skills required to practice as a licensed vocational nurse.

What’s more, they will prepare the students for NCLEX. Keep in mind that if you cannot take the NCLEX exam, all the months and years that you invested in acquiring a nursing education will go down the drain. Hence before enrolling, ask if the school has received state approval.

Accreditation

Accreditation is just as important as state approval. In some states, if you complete the program from a state-approved school and successfully pass the NCLEX, you can receive the license even if your degree is unaccredited. However, this is not the case in some other states.

Hence, to ensure that you will not run into problems in the future should you decide to move to another state, get your degree from an accredited nursing school. Employers prefer nurses with accredited degrees because they believe that an accredited program imparts more knowledge. What’s more, an accredited nursing degree enables you to opt for further education.

So, for example, if you aspire to be a nurse midwife, nurse educator, or nurse anesthetist in the future after working as a vocational nurse for a while, by all means, get a degree from an accredited nursing school.

NCLEX Passage Rates

Before enrolling in a school, take a quick look at the number of students who clear the NCLEX exam in each batch. While it is true that the results of individual students depend on the amount of time and effort they put in, it is also an indicator of how good the curriculum is and how dedicated the nursing faculty members are.

If the curriculum is good and faculty members are committed to helping the students pass the exam, the results will certainly be good. Schools that have high pass percentages will definitely display that information in their brochures and on their websites.

So, you don’t have to do much research to find out whether their students are passing the test or not.

If you cannot find the passage rates, be sure to ask the enrollment personnel for this number. The national average NCLEX passing percentage is currently 84% for individuals who graduate with an associate degree and around 90% for those who graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

Curriculum

The curriculum should be prepared in accordance with the current academic standards. You should also ensure that the class requirements and curriculum are flexible enough to give you enough time to complete any papers or projects on time. This is important for people who are working or have a family to take care of.

Clinical opportunities

Aspiring nurses need to receive adequate numbers of clinical opportunities. Keep in mind that some nursing schools provide far more clinical hours than others. This hands-on experience makes you more confident in your skills.

It will even help you find that first job. You should also check whether you will have opportunities to practice in more than one hospital. Another important factor is the kind of opportunities you will have. Ideally, you should have the opportunity to practice in surgical, maternity, community, and psychiatric wards.

Location

How important is the location to you? Traditional nursing schools offer classes on campus. That means you have to visit the campus every day. Make sure that the campus is close to your home. If it is not, it is important to ensure that viable living options are available nearby.

If the commute takes long hours, it could affect your study time. Hybrid nursing schools may allow you to live away from the campus as they offer a combination of online and in-person classes. You should still have to attend some in-person classes.

The main advantage of choosing a hybrid school is the flexibility it offers. However, don’t forget that learning the concepts is easier in the traditional classroom as you have the opportunity to clear any doubts as they arise and connect better with your classmates.

However, hybrid classes are ideal for people who already have another job and cannot afford to attend class regularly in person. Check how frequently you will need to attend those classes. It is equally important to check whether the clinical opportunities will be available close to where you live.

For most students, a school in their neighborhood is the right option. However, some may want to relocate. Regardless of where you learn, make sure that the school you choose will prepare you adequately for the NCLEX.

Class size

If there are too many students in the class, the faculty members will not be able to give adequate attention to each student. This can affect their preparation. By contrast, in a smaller class, you have more opportunities to ask doubts and get them cleared.

Faculty

Make sure that the faculty members are approachable, knowledgeable, and patient. They should know what they are teaching. Each teacher should have some background in the subject they are teaching.

Also, they should be committed to helping their students pass NCLEX upon their graduation. See if you can have a meeting with the faculty members before you enroll.

Cost

Cost is an important factor, but it should not be the most important consideration when choosing a nursing school or LVN program. However, the cost can be the decisive factor for you if you already have a family to support and cannot afford to spend a lot of money on nursing education.

Or you may have just completed high school and lack any savings. A cheap school is not worth your time or money if it cannot prepare you for NCLEX.

Generally speaking, the cost of a nursing program depends on a variety of factors such as the length and type of the curriculum, the type of the school, the scholarship or work programs offered by the school, and the financial assistance you qualify for.

Now that you know what to look for in a nursing school, choosing the right one should be easy. Regardless of where you study, remember that your success largely depends on your commitment to your studies. Choosing a good school and an accredited program is still important because they make you better prepared for your exams and future career.