A NURSES GUIDE TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN CONNECTICUT

Funded by Fairfield University Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies

Choosing the Right Path for You
Congratulations on considering a graduate education! There are many options and choices for nurses when making this choice. To invest your time and money wisely, please consider the following questions/information when evaluating your options. This informational brochure was created by the Connecticut League for Nursing’s Council of Deans & Directors and the Connecticut Healthcare Educators Group to provide nurses with the best support to succeed.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN RETURNING TO SCHOOL

• Do I feel I have developed clinical expertise in this area?
• If not, would focus on clinical development be more beneficial to my career goals?
• Would focus on national certification or other clinical opportunity be a good next step?

Recommendation: A strong clinical foundation supports a diverse and successful nursing career. Nurses may want to practice 1-2 years before entering a graduate school program.
Recommendation: Ask a nurse leader for input concerning your readiness for a graduate education.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CHOOSING A PROGRAM

• What types of programs are available?
• What types of role(s) or career options will this degree prepare me for?
• Where are the employment opportunities?
• For the role I am considering, what setting am I most likely to end up in? (Inpatient or outpatient)
• What is the entry-level pay for nurses in these roles?
• If the program is fully online, does the curriculum promote the development of professional relationships?

Recommendation: It is best to speak to nurses in these roles to learn about their program and settings. If possible, it would be beneficial to shadow a nurse for a day to experience their role and daily tasks in person

QUESTIONS ABOUT RETURNING TO SCHOOL 

• What is the reputation of this school among professionals?
• What types of meaningful interactions will I have with faculty and peers?
• Will I be proud to have this college or university on my resumé?
• What are the benefits and limitations of this school for my career goals? Most graduate programs have some requirements for clinical placement.

The following questions are specific to this topic and very important!

• What support will the school provide for required clinical placements? (Especially important for out of state and/or online programs.)
• What are the specific state requirements for placements?

Recommendation: Nurse Practitioner placements are extremely competitive in Connecticut, so it is very important to thoroughly investigate this area.
Recommendation: Reach out to graduates of the school to discuss placement details as they can offer different insights than recruiters.
Recommendation: Validate and verify the school has regional and national accreditation.
Recommendation: Check the CT Nursing Guide for program and accreditation details by visiting CTNursingGuide.com.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
What is the price per credit?
How many classes are required per semester/term?
How long are terms/semesters?
What financial support is available from the school or other sources?
Are there technology requirements such as hardware (computer specifications) or software requirements?
What other costs are involved and how often do they need to be paid such as lab fees, e-book fees, technology fees, instate or out of state fees?
What is your organization’s tuition support policy?
Recommendation: Talk to current students to gather as much financial information as possible.
Recommendation:  Review the financial details of the program carefully and calculate costs. Sometimes a school with a higher per credit price may not cost more than other schools.
Recommendation: Meet with Human Resources to discuss tuition support, available discounts, reimbursement schedules, associated work commitments, etc. (if your employer requires a work commitment, does your employer have opportunities for you to practice in this new role?)

Steps Graduate Degree
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