Covid-19 has shown exactly how important nurses are in the fight to help us get and stay healthy, especially in the face of a global pandemic. According to new data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, while nursing school admissions have risen this year, so has the number of applicants. We’ll break it all down for you here.
Nursing Programs Are Enrolling More Students
Admissions to programs that grant Bachelors in Nursing degrees were up 6% overall in 2020, including both 4-year degree programs and accelerated programs for nursing students who have already completed a bachelors in another major. Two-year degree programs were also up similar amounts. The good news here is that more slots are available for qualified applicants – over 250,000 students enrolled in baccalaureate programs in 2020.
Applications Up As Well
It’s a good thing that admissions are up, because applications to nursing school are higher as well, by as much as 18%. The incredible impact of nurses on the front lines and the heightened profile of healthcare careers overall during the pandemic seems to be a strong driving force behind the additional interest.
Standing Out
With competition to get into nursing school as fierce as ever, it’s important to make your application the best it can be. Here are some things to focus on as you put your application together:
- Apply to multiple schools: Research the schools that are most likely to fit with your budget, living situation, and any other relevant factors, and apply to the schools that work best with your personal circumstances. You’re more likely to get accepted and have options when you apply to more than one school.
- Score high on the ATI TEAS: Scoring well on the TEAS will help show you’ve got the academic skills to get through nursing school. Here’s some advice to help you with the test.
- Volunteer: Many nursing schools have started to require volunteering hours, and it’s still a great idea even when it isn’t required. Contact places local hospitals and community health centers or the American Red Cross to start seeking out opportunities.
- Prepare for an Entrance Interview: Think through your answers to questions that are likely to come up, why you want to go into nursing, favorite prerequisite courses, volunteering experience, and how you handle challenging situations.
It may feel intimidating at first to think about how much competition there is to get into nursing school, but that’s okay – you wouldn’t be interested in nursing if you weren’t up for a good challenge!
Taking the ATI TEAS remotely? Here are the FAQs to help you get ready.