At many nursing schools aspiring surgical nurses can get the graduate-level training they need for success in the field.
Top 10 Schools with Graduate Nursing Programs
According to U.S. News and World Report's 2016 rankings, these are some of the best nursing schools in the country:
| College/University | Location | Institution Type | Tuition (In-state, 2015-2016)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 4-year, Private | $38,060 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 4-year, Private | $36,216 |
| University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 4-year, Public | $26,803 |
| University of Washington | Seattle, WA | 4-year, Public | $21,370 |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 4-year, Public | $37,392 |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | 4-year, Private | $1,568 per credit |
| New York University | New York, NY | 4-year, Private | $40,024 |
| University of Maryland--Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | 4-year, Public | $682 per credit |
| University of Michigan--Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | 4-year, Public | $20,550 |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | 4-year, Private | $1,750 per credit |
Source: *U.S. News and World Report
School Selection Criteria
Prospective students may want to consider the following when selecting a college or program:
- Some surgical nursing programs are more flexible than others, so if you want to specialize in a particular area of surgical nursing, find out about the school's class and elective offerings in the subfield. Specialties include oncology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, urology, gynecology, transplants, trauma, cardiac, thoracic and general surgery.
- Explore the research opportunities offered by the school, either at the institution itself or at outside hospitals and medical facilities.
- Get an idea of the curriculum at the school, including the number of clinical practice hours required for graduation.
- Make sure that the program fulfills the educational prerequisites for the certification level or career title you are seeking.
By studying to become a surgical nurse at a highly ranked school with strong academic offerings, aspiring surgical nurses can maximize their chances for success in the field.