Nursing Schools in Minnesota

Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” because of the many picturesque lakes scattered all across the state. This adds a unique feature to the scenic beauty of Minnesota.

The state is geared towards promoting healthier environments for citizens There are some very strong healthcare reforms in Minnesota, such as a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants and bars which was enacted in 2007, one of the highest rate of participation in outdoor activities and a high rate of health insurance. All these factors contribute towards making Minnesota as one of the healthiest states in the U.S.

As of 2014, there are 47 accredited nursing schools in Minnesota which are either a part of larger universities or are a separate nursing institution. All 47 of these institutions have received their accreditation from the Higher Education Learning Commission while the nursing programs are all accredited by the state authority, the Minnesota Board of Nursing, which comes under the Minnesota Health Licensing Boards.

There are five degree types available for students of Nursing in Minnesota:

• Certificate Programs are basic post-secondary courses of education that require a high school diploma or a GED to pursue. They can be done online or on-campus, depending on the university you pick. There were 62 certificate programs in Minnesota in 2010.
• Associate Programs are normally two-year on-campus degrees that can also be taken online; they have the same admission criteria as a certificate program. There were 29 associate degree programs in Minnesota in 2010.
• Bachelor’s Programs in Nursing (BSN) require the same credentials as associate programs for eligibility, or can be continued after the associate program. It is a four-year course of study program on-campus. However, the length of the program can vary if taken online. There were 25 bachelor degree programs in Minnesota in 2010.
• Master’s Programs in Nursing (MSN) require the completion of a bachelor’s degree in nursing as well as relevant work experience. They allow students to specialize further in the field of nursing by choosing specializations such as; family care nursing, oncology nursing, adult-gerontology nursing, pediatric nursing and nursing anesthetist. In 2010, there were 27 programs for Master’s in Nursing.
• Doctor’s programs in Nursing are a very advanced course of study that can only be pursued after a MSN Degree. There were 7 doctorate programs in nursing in Minnesota in 2010.

Career Expectations

The two main nursing positions which are most common for graduates in Minnesota are:

• Licensed Practical Nurses in Minnesota received a median pay of $40,000 annually in 2012 according to careerinfo.net. The job growth for LPNs in Minnesota from 2010-2020 is 23%.

• Registered Nurses in Minnesota receive a median pay of $70,600 annually in 2012 according to careerinfo.net. The median pay in 2012 nationally for RNs was $65,500 which shows much better job prospect for nurses in Minnesota than the rest of the US. The job growth for RNs in Minnesota from 2010-2020 is 22%.