Hello all, I wish to know whether nursing at Mercer University is a good option. I have heard that nursing is better at Georgia State and Georgia Southern rather than Mercer. Is that true? Also, can anyone tell me about their experience after graduating from the Mercer nursing program-e.g level of difficulty in gaining a job right after graduation? Thank you all!
I don’t know about these schools. However let me suggest 2 criteria that you can use to judge programs. The first is the NCLEX pass rate. This is the state test to get a RN license. If a school you are thinking about has a low rate compared to others, its a sign to ask why. You can find links to pass rates at the bottom of http://www.nursinglicensure.org/articles/how-to-become-an-rn.html – pick a state, read the info.
The 2nd criteria, which none of these schools meet, is to pick a school that is direct-admit. These means that when you apply as a frosh they accept you into not just the university but into the nursing program. Just like any other major, unless you really mess up you will get your degree. At many schools you need to enroll for 2 years and only then are you allowed to apply for the nursing major. The requirement is often a B average, sometimes also a B in all of a specified set of courses. Mercer has a program you can apply during your frosh year (eg. after enrolled, not when applying) that “guarantees” admission but it comes with a set of requirements including GPA. You can find this info on their website.
If you are not a senior, then I would strongly recommend applying to any direct-admit schools you think you can afford. If you are a senior and these 3 are your choices, look at the requirements to get into the nursing program and the NCLEX pass rate.
BTW there is a forum for nursing majors where you ought to post your question. see http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/nursing-major/
I don’t know that much about the nursing program at Mercer - Mercer is generally well-respected for its health-related programs, and it has some regional reputation in the Southeast (mostly in Georgia and closely neighboring states).
However, if you’re a Georgia resident, Georgia State and Georgia Southern are likely to be far cheaper and a better bargain for studying nursing, and it’s not like Mercer is ranked above them or has a much better reputation or anything.
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The first is the NCLEX pass rate. This is the state test to get a RN license. If a school you are thinking
about has a low rate compared to others, its a sign to ask why.
[/QUOTE]
NCLEX pass rates for Georgia colleges for the last few years:
http://sos.ga.gov/PLB/acrobat/Forms/38%20Reference%20-%20Nursing%20Education%20Program%20Results%20(NCLEX).pdf
Looks like GA State is fractionally better than Mercer, which is fractionally better than GA Southern.