Nursing Schools In Philadelphia

When it comes to getting an education in the nursing field, there are a variety of nursing schools in Philadelphia, PA that have a lot to offer. The demand for qualified nurses in Philadelphia is at an all time high and the base salaries are through the roof.

There aren't many careers you can go into in which you can enroll in classes, graduate with a certificate and walk straight into a $35,000 - $75,000 per year career within sixteen months.

The available nursing programs in Philadelphia cover a wide variety of nursing fields within the health care industry. These nursing fields include CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and RN (Registered Nurse). No matter what career you want to pursue, you can easily find a Philadelphia nursing school that is right for you. In this article, we will discuss what nursing schools in Philadelphia are available for all levels of nursing.

CNA Schools in Philadelphia

We will begin with Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs. A CNA is the backbone of the nursing field. They are responsible for some of the more unpopular tasks within the hospital such as cleaning bedpans, changing soiled bed sheets, and helping bathe the patients. They also train to take temperatures and vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate.

CNA programs in in Philadelphia will generally take about 4 to 6 weeks to complete depending on the class schedule. CNA certification requires that you have a basic GED or High School Diploma and have completed your training from an accredited facility. A couple of nursing programs in Philadelphia that offer CNA training are the following...

• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross
  2221 Chestnut Street - Philadelphia, PA 19103
• Clinical Pathways
  4918 Penn Street - Philadelphia, PA 19124
• Health and Technology Training Institute
  1319 Locust Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107
• Holy Redeemer Health System
  5600 Tabor Avenue - Philadelphia, PA 19120

Besides the above, check in with vocational schools, community colleges and health institutions in your area. They will be able to guide you to upcoming CNA courses.

LPN Schools in Philadelphia

The next level of nursing is the LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse. LPN programs in Philadelphia generally take between 9 to 12 months to complete and are offered by several community colleges, technical schools and online programs. Upon completion of an accredited LPN nursing program students must take the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical/ Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN) exam in order to become certified and start working as an LPN. LPNs in Philadelphia can earn salaries ranging from $35,000.00 to $70,000.00.

Prospective students looking towards a career as an LPN have several great nursing schools in Philadelphia to choose from. One of the best Philadelphia nursing schools that offers an LPN program is Northampton Community College (Located at: 3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020). Northampton has been churning out LPNs that are in the top of their field for over 40 years. Students at Northampton are trained in classes preparing them for an exciting career in nursing such as anatomy, biology, pharmacology, as well as clinical nursing.

Besides Northampton, other LPN schools in Philadelphia to look into include the following...

• Princeton Information Technology Center
  140 South Easton Road - Glenside, PA 19038
• Saint Joseph School of Nursing
  1522 W Girard Ave - Philadelphia, PA 19130
• Germantown Hospital & Community Health Services School of Nursing
  3 Penn Blvd - Philadelphia, PA 19144
• Professional Nurses Service Training Center
  6334 Stenton Ave - Philadelphia, PA 19138

RN Programs in Philadelphia

If you want to maximize your earnings and career potential as an nurse than you will definitely want to look into one of the many available RN schools in Philadelphia. RNs work very closely with doctors and oversee patient care. RNs are also responsible for ensuring diagnostic tests are performed as well as handling paperwork. To become an RN you will need to obtain either your Associates of Science in Nursing (ASN) which is a two year program or your Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) which is a 4 year program.

If you are going to pursue your ASN then look into the Community College of Philadelphia Department of Nursing (Located at: 1700 Spring Garden Street - Philadelphia, PA 19130). This school has a great 2 year ASN program that has helped thousands of Philadelphia residents pursue a career in nursing without breaking the bank. There are also some online programs that offer ASN degrees that you might want to look into too.

When it comes to pursuing a bachelors degree or higher in nursing, you will be happy to know that Philadelphia is not only home to some of the top nursing schools in Pennsylvania, but also the nation. Philadelphia nursing schools that offer RN programs include the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, La Salle University and Temple University.

What Are The Best Nursing Schools In Philadelphia?

University of Pennsylvania
US News & World Report National Ranking: Tied for #1
Available Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD, Post-Doctoral
Address: 418 Curie Boulevard - Philadelphia, PA 19104
Website: http://www.nursing.upenn.edu
Notes: The University of Pennsylvania is one of the top nursing schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and even the nation. According to CNNMoney.com, the University of Pennsylvania has tuition costs of around $37,000 a year with 47% of its students receiving scholarship or grant money. The four year graduation rate is 88%.

Thomas Jefferson University
US News & World Report National Ranking: Tied for #127
Available Programs: BSN, RN to BSN, Accelerated BSN, MSN, DNP
Address: 901 Walnut Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107
Website: http://www.jefferson.edu/nursing/
Notes: Thomas Jefferson University is another one of top nursing schools in Philadelphia. According to CNNMoney.com, Thomas Jefferson University has tuition costs of around $26,000 a year with 42% of its students receiving scholarship or grant money.

La Salle University
US News & World Report National Ranking: Tied for #127
Available Programs: BSN, RN to BSN, Accelerated BSN, MSN, DNP
Address: 1900 W. Olney Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19141
Website: http://www.lasalle.edu/schools/snhs/
Notes: La Salle University also enjoys national recognition and is one of the best nursing schools in Philadelphia. According to CNNMoney.com, La Salle University has tuition costs of around $35,000 a year with 78% of its students receiving scholarship or grant money. The four year graduation rate is 57%.

Temple University
US News & World Report National Ranking: Tied for #127
Available Programs: BSN, RN to BSN, Accelerated BSN, MSN, DNP
Address: 1316 W. Ontario Street Philadelphia, PA 19140
Website: http://chpsw.temple.edu/nursing
Notes: Rounding out our list of top nursing schools in Philadelphia is Temple University. According to CNNMoney.com, Temple University has tuition costs of around $13,000 a year with 56% of its students receiving scholarship or grant money. The four year graduation rate is 38%.

Nursing Schools In Philadelphia: Conclusion

In closing, the nursing schools in Philadelphia are some of the finest in the state of Pennsylvania. No matter what type of nursing career or job you are looking to pursue, you should have no problem finding a Philadelphia nursing program that fits within your needs, budget and location. To get more information on these nursing schools in Philadelphia we suggest contacting the schools directly or visiting their websites.