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Nevada Nursing Programs and Degrees Guide

    Nursing students have numerous options when it comes to choosing a nursing program in Nevada. The following guide will provide you with essential information on your many choices in the state and online. Nevada’s colleges and universities make it easy for you to specialize in your particular area of interest with concentrations in such areas as nursing education, adult gerontology nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, leadership and management, and nursing informatics. If you prefer a flexible alternative to earning a nursing degree, you may want to consider earning a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in nursing from an online program.

    Quick Facts

    • 10 schools with nursing programs in Nevada are in our database (see below).
    • 5 colleges and universities offer associate’s degrees or certificates in nursing.1
    • 6 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing.1
    • 3 colleges and universities offer master’s or advanced degrees in nursing.1
    • No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.2
    • No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors in 2018.3
    • No schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s programs.4
    • No schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.4

    Read below to learn more about the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s in nursing programs available in Nevada.

    NCLEX Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Nursing Schools in Nevada

    The following table allows you to easily compare not-for-profit Nevada nursing schools on a variety of factors. Click on the arrows in the top row to sort the table. In addition to seeking a program that leads to licensure in your desired area of nursing, it’s advisable to consider accreditation as a factor in your decision. If you are considering education beyond the associate’s level, know that a degree from a school that holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a common requirement for admission to master’s degree, ADN/LVN and RN to BSN, and specialized certificate programs. You should also check to ensure that the school you are considering is approved or accepted by the Nevada State Board of Nursing (https://nevadanursingboard.org/).

    SchoolADN or LVN ProgramBSN ProgramGraduate Nursing ProgramACEN/CCNE Accred.*NCLEX-PN First Time Pass Rate**# TakingNCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate^# TakingNet Price^^
    College of Southern NevadaYesNoNoACEN93.75%1690.56%180$7,527
    Great Basin CollegeYesYesNoACENN/AN/A100%16$10,221
    Nevada State CollegeNoYesNoCCNEN/AN/A90.16%61$12,874
    Roseman University of Health SciencesNoYesNoACENN/AN/A85.96%171N/A
    Touro UniversityNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A72.09%43N/A
    Truckee Meadows Community CollegeYesNoNoACENN/AN/A95.24%42$8,673
    University of Nevada-Las VegasNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A96.88%128$11,424
    University of Nevada-RenoNoYesYesCCNEN/AN/A92.06%126$15,491
    Western Nevada CollegeYesNoNoACENN/AN/A95.12%41$9,901

    *The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits ADN/ASN/BSN programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits BSN/MSN/DNP programs.5,6
    **NCLEX-PN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
    ^NCLEX-RN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
    ^^The National Center for Education Statistics calculates net price from the total estimated cost of attendance, including includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses, for in-state students minus the average financial aid award (such as grants and scholarships).

    Schools in Nevada with Nursing Degrees

    Associate’s in Nursing Programs

    Great Basin College
    Great Basin College’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing provides preparation for entry-level nursing careers. Students learn how to use clinical reasoning and provide safe, evidence-based care centered on patients’ needs. Admission is competitive and is based on student GPA, pre-admission testing scores, and completion of prerequisite courses. Courses in the nursing core include Human Anatomy and Physiology, Introduction to Pharmacology, and Nursing Care of Adults in Health and Illness. This associate degree nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. Great Basin College also offers a fully online RN to BSN program that is accredited by ACEN and can be pursued through full- or part-time study.

    College of Southern Nevada
    The registered nursing program at the College of Southern Nevada can be completed through either full- or part-time study. The program leads to the award of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. As a limited entry program, admission is competitive. Accepted students complete clinical experiences beginning in the first semester of nursing courses. The curriculum includes such courses as Pharmacologic Basis of Nursing Care, Mental Health Nursing, and Nursing Management and Preceptorship. College of Southern Nevada also maintains programs for practical nursing and nursing assistants, as well as an LPN to RN bridge program. All nursing programs at College of Southern Nevada are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing.

    Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs

    Touro University Nevada
    Touro University Nevada’s RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is geared toward students who already have an associate’s degree in nursing or who have completed a minimum of 60 college credits in prerequisite courses. Classes are held year-round and the program generally takes one year to complete on a full-time basis. Nursing majors must complete core nursing courses in addition to mandatory clinical experiences at local medical facilities. Graduates will have the necessary qualifications to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

    Western Governors University
    Western Governors University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is designed for current registered nurses who already hold an associate’s degree in nursing or a diploma in nursing. The program generally takes 18 months to complete, with credits from the associate’s degree transferred to the BSN to meet the required 120 credits necessary for graduation. The nursing curriculum focuses on care of the older adult, health assessment, nutrition for contemporary society, community and population health, and leadership experience. All coursework can be taken online with mandatory clinical experiences completed in the student’s local area. Nursing majors will also complete a professional portfolio, illustrating the work completed during the BSN program.

    Roseman University
    Roseman University of Health Sciences confers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree that is offered in an accelerated online format from its Las Vegas, NV campus. The 15-month program includes over 70 credit hours of online learning paired with more than 800 hours of clinical rotations in local healthcare facilities. The curriculum encourages interaction between students, faculty, and healthcare partners in a supportive and engaging learning environment. Roseman’s ABSN program uses a unique grading system that deems a student to have achieved competency when he or she has earned a minimum score of 90%. Graduates of the program are prepared to begin nursing careers at the entry level in diverse healthcare settings. The program holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and approval from the Nevada State Board of Registered Nursing.

    Master’s in Nursing Programs

    University of Nevada at Reno
    The University of Nevada at Reno allows students to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in one of four concentrations: nurse educator, family nurse practitioner, adult gerontology nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse leader. A dual degree program is also available with the MSN and the Master of Public Health. Students may pursue the MSN on a full-time or a part-time basis. All graduate nursing students must complete a thesis or a project, which they must defend to a thesis or a project committee. Graduate students may be eligible for scholarships and funding may be available for graduate students who wish to travel to professional conferences.

    University of Nevada-Las Vegas
    The University of Nevada-Las Vegas offers two master’s level nursing programs, the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner and the Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator. The Family Nurse Practitioner track focuses on direct practice and the skills and knowledge needed to work as a nurse practitioner. The Nurse Educator track focuses on preparing future educators while enhancing clinical expertise. Both programs have full- and part-time enrollment options. Classes are often offered online, though students should expect campus visits for some courses, as well as travel to clinical placements. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas also offers several doctoral programs in nursing. The graduate nursing programs at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

    Student Reviews

    Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

    Nevada State College
    1125 Nevada State Dr
    Henderson, NV 89002
    (702) 992-2000
    https://www.nsc.edu

    Student Review: “Getting into NSC’s nursing program has been very competitive. They require a specific minimum GPA and they only accept a few students. It is good that they have increased available seats in the program from 16 to 30+ though. Being accepted into the program has been worth all the pressure and hard work. The program itself is wonderful. I have had skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate lecture and clinical instructors so far who care about their students and their performances. It is not flawless nor is it all sunshine and rainbows though. I am not particularly fond of its system on -for lack of better term- ‘weeding out’ students (those who fail twice on dosage calculations tests or those who fail to achieve a 75% average on all exams will be automatically dropped out of the program). Overall, it is still a great program because they try to get the best out of us to be competent and skilled future nurses.” – Student at Nevada State College
    stars-4

    Student Review: “My experience at Nevada State College has been wonderful to say the least. The program’s curriculum is focused around the “caritas” of Jean Watson’s caring science. This is an imperative part of nursing that I feel is missing from current practicing nurses. The professors for all of the classes are very knowledgeable, kind, and have a passion for teaching students safe practice techniques. This program is also based on Evidence-Based Practice. They instill the practice of critically thinking and having a research-based rationale for every action taken for the care of a patient. This college is still new when compared to other colleges, but it feels wonderful to be a part of a growing entity. This program is also making a significant impact on the way hospital facilities practice within the valley by instilling the caring science within the facilities. I am very happy to have been a part of this whole experience and institution.” – Student at Nevada State College
    stars-5

    Student Review: “Nevada State College’s nursing program is very competitive that I admit I got a bit discouraged while I was still taking my prerequisites. Even then, I still applied and fortunately got accepted. The program itself is wonderful and what I like most about it is its emphasis in caring. The program promotes and incorporates Jean Watson’s ten Caritas in the clinical practice. The professors are very helpful and just like the program’s caring vision, they are doing their best to support us and help us succeed. I remember when I did not do well on one of my exams, the professor set up a meeting with me to identify the factors that influenced my performance and discussed strategies that I can use to improve my study habits and pass the next exam. They do it with every student who failed or did not perform well on exams. The clinical experience is great because we get rotated to different facilities around the state where we get to work with different groups of people. It also has a student organization that is active in volunteer works around the city, which the program supports.” – Student at Nevada State College
    stars-4

    Student Review: “The Nevada State College School of Nursing is amazing! Although the curriculum is very difficult at times, the professors, students, and staff all make it worth the while. I loved how I was given the choice of taking the program part-time, full-time, or accelerated. I took the part-time courses due to my working schedule and kids, but the workload was just enough to ensure that I had still had time in my personal life. As far as the courses go, pharmacology by far was one of the hardest courses to take. But of course, just like any other class, having the right professor makes all the difference (I passed with a high B, which was really hard to do with such difficult material). The professors, for the most part, were able to speak with students after class and during office hours; there are study sessions, headed by nursing students further on in the program, either before or right after class, and everyone, my classmates and all, genuinely was there to help me pass! I wouldn’t change anything about it, and if I had to do it all over again, I sure would!” – Student at Nevada State College
    stars-5

    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    4505 S Maryland Pkwy
    Las Vegas, NV 89154
    (702) 895-3011
    https://www.unlv.edu

    Student Review: “University of Nevada, Las Vegas offers an amazing nursing program, with lots of hands-on practical work and some great instructors who’ve been in the field for a long time. I really felt like they helped me to learn not only the science behind nursing but how to care for patients and how to treat their emotional and spiritual needs beyond just the diseases they were suffering from. I especially enjoy working with children. I feel like I finally have a career that will carry me forward through my life, and I owe the UNLV School of Nursing a huge debt of gratitude for all the work they did to help me get there. It’s not easy (I remember seeing the sunrise while studying more than a few times…), but it’s worth it. And worthwhile.” – Student at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    stars-5

    References:
    1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
    2. Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
    3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.
    4. US News Top Graduate Nursing Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
    5. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
    6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp
    7. Nevada State Board of Nursing: https://nevadanursingboard.org/