Choosing Marian ABSN, as one of the top nursing schools in Tennessee, can mean a better nursing education and boost to your career. This exciting city is filled with opportunities for nurses, as well as being one of the top emerging food, music and cultural destinations.
After deciding you want to go back to school for nursing, it’s important to find the right city and school. Not only do you want to live somewhere that fits in with your lifestyle, but you need a city that offers you the best future career prospects. If you’re curious about nursing in Nashville, Tennessee, Marian University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is offered in Nashville as a second-degree or transfer path option.
With nursing education options and many nursing positions available in cities across the nation, why choose nursing schools in Tennessee? In this post we will explore what the nursing industry looks like in Tennessee, how studying nursing in Nashville can provide access to new opportunities, and the amenities that make living and working within the state so attractive.
The State of Nursing in Tennessee
Nashville has become one of the most desirable cities in the U.S. for nurses, with an in-demand job market, multiple high-quality healthcare facilities, and an expanding healthcare industry. Marian’s ABSN offers degree pathways for second-degree and transfer students, meaning that regardless of your previous academic experience, you will have a pathway to enter the field and can work across a range of practice areas. Let’s look a little closer at what nursing in Tennessee looks like.
Understanding the Tennessee Nursing Shortage
Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare workforce in Tennessee and across the nation, and there will need to be a sharp rise in the nursing workforce within the state to meet demand. Tennessee is growing in population, and more care is needed to cater to a growing and aging population. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 22,420 nurses working in the Nashville metro area. Statewide, that number rises to 63,430 practicing nurses in Tennessee. That is a robust amount, but more are still needed. The Tennessee Hospital Association has released research stating that in order to meet projected demand and reach the average national level of care, the state is needs about 15,700 more RNs. By 2035, it is projected that the state’s nursing workforce could need to rise by as many as 25,900. With such a great need for nurses, Tennessee will present plenty of opportunities for employment and advancement.
Career Opportunities Amidst the Nursing Shortage
Amidst this significant demand for nurses, those who study to enter the field now can position themselves to enter any number of practice areas or pursue leadership roles. Demand will be high across nearly every practice area, and since each area comes with a different patient population and professional environment, you can find opportunities in whichever best appeals to you.
Many nursing leaders will also be needed, and if you work hard and gain experience as a professional, you will be well-equipped to pursue leadership roles when there are even more professional opportunities available in the future due to a larger overall workforce.
The Benefits of Nursing Schools in Tennessee
Nursing schools in Tennessee can help you to begin your career, with professional opportunities and connections with area providers available upon graduation and licensure. For instance, clinical placements at local healthcare facilities like those offered through Marian ABSN can help build familiarity with a range of practice areas while providing a forum for students to build their professional network. Studying nursing in Tennessee could be the right choice for you.
What are the most important factors to consider when selecting a nursing school? We explore selection criteria for your education here.
High-Quality Education Programs
Tennessee has multiple quality nursing schools, and Marian ABSN’s offering in Nashville could be the perfect offering to suit your life and schedule. To start, our curriculum merges online-based coursework with in-person labs and clinicals to offer the maximum amount of flexibility. This reduces the amount of in-person attendance at our program site, while still offering access to instructors. Labs are administered with fellow cohort members, building up nursing skills and techniques before participating with clinical rotations with real-world patient populations.
Clinical Partnerships
The experience that a given nursing program can provide in terms of clinical experience and networking is also important. Marian’s ABSN in Nashville is partnered with Ascension St Thomas, one of the top area providers. During this time, students can gain experience across a range of practice areas which may include:
- Adult Health
- Obstetrics and Pediatrics
- Acute and Long-term Care
- Mental and Behavioral Health
Gaining a variety of experiences before earning your degree can help to clarify the direction you are looking for your career to take. The experience you attain as a Marian ABSN student can also start you off on the right foot in your career, with networking opening potential job opportunities after graduation.
Access to Accelerated Nursing Programs
One of the biggest differentiators between Marian’s ABSN and traditional BSN programs is the amount of time you must dedicate before earning a degree and attaining licensure. A traditional nursing school will require four years of instruction. On the other hand, our 16-month curriculum format can allow you to enter the field in under two years. With so much opportunity and earning potential, the faster you become a nurse, the sooner you can pursue your career goals.
Nursing Licensure in Tennessee
Is Tennessee a compact state for nursing, and what does this mean for your nursing career? Attaining nurse licensure in Tennessee requires you to pass the NCLEX exam, like every other state, but earning your license in the state can qualify you to practice across the majority of the U.S. through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC is a program which expands access to healthcare and widens the scope of where a nurse can practice. In essence, once you attain licensure in one NLC state, your license will be valid in participating NLC states and territories. Currently, 42 jurisdictions participate in the NLC, making Tennessee a perfect location to attain licensure.
Salary Expectations for Nurses in Tennessee
How much do nurses make in Tennessee? The BLS indicates an annual mean wage for registered nurses in Tennessee as $78,240. For those working within Nashville, that average sharply rises to $83,360. Advanced practice nurses who have attained additional education and certification all surpass the six-figure mark, making advancement within this career an attractive prospect.
Living and Working in Tennessee
Tennessee has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the nation, with plenty of top-notch arts, culture, nature, and food throughout. Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, with a world-famous music and cultural scene, all with a cost of living around the national average. For those who want a vibrant city to engage with outside of work, Nashville is among the top destinations.
Throughout the state, there are many opportunities for rural nurses to provide care. Learn more about this practice area here.
Ready to Pursue a Nursing Career in Tennessee?
As one of the top nursing schools in Tennessee, with access to hospital-grade medical equipment for skills and simulation labs and top area healthcare facilities for clinical rotations, Marian University could be the best option for completing your nursing education. Nashville’s great career prospects and many amenities make it a compelling city to begin your career, and Marian’s ABSN can equip you with the education and opportunities necessary to make your mark.
Contact us today to begin the conversation with an admissions advisor about our second-degree and transfer pathways.