Clinical nurse leader programs are offered by a few colleges. In 2006, there were only 10 CNL programs in the US. The number has grown since that time due to increased demand. The program entails 16 months of clinical and classroom study. Onc [...]
Nursing Schools in Vermont
More than 5,000 nurses work in Vermont, a state which many consider as the epitome of the natural beauty of the New England region. It is the second-least populated state and life even in Vermont’s biggest cities is comparatively less hectic than in most metropolitan areas in America.
Many nurses who want to escape the draining hustle and bustle of neighboring states like New York choose to work and live in this state instead. The laid-back atmosphere plus the good quality of facilities attract nurses to “The Green Mountain State.”
Vermont was ranked first among U.S. states as the healthiest place to live for the seventh time in eight years in the 2008 survey of AOL. In the 2010 survey of Gallup and Healthways, Vermont ranked 6th nationally for overall well-being. But the health sector also has problems such as rising obesity rates and the aging population. Nurses are an important part of the state’s health care industry, the fourth largest in the state.
There are only five nursing programs in Vermont. They form part of an educational system that is one of the best in the nation. The University of Vermont is ranked 141st in the list of best nursing programs by the U.S. News and World Report in 2007. Schools offer practical nursing, associate degree and baccalaureate nursing programs. Norwich University and University of Vermont have masters programs for aspiring advanced practice nurses. Anticipating the nursing shortage, schools have expanded accelerated, second-degree, and direct-entry masters programs to take in more students from other fields. Classroom and online methods of learning are available.
Many applicants are being denied admission because of the lack of qualified faculty. Masters programs are very competitive because of the school’s limited resources. Thankfully, nursing educators have been trying to help students by expanding the capacity of programs and extending scholarships such as the one granted by the Vermont State Nurses Association.
After finishing their studies, graduates from nursing schools in Vermont need to know the licensure requirements from the Vermont State Board of Nursing and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Even though the nursing shortage in Vermont is less severe compared to other states, it will be felt acutely by 2020 when more than half of the nursing workforce in the state enters retirement. The average age of nurses in Vermont in 2009 was 49.7. In a few years, they will add to the aging population that will need quality health care. Current and future nursing graduates are poised to take the challenge and grab ample career opportunities in Vermont.
Employment: 5,680
Hourly Mean Wage: $30.40
Annual Mean Wage: $63,230
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
State Nursing Board: Vermont State Board of Nursing
State Nurses Association: Vermont State Nurses Association
State Hospital Association: Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Vermont Nursing Schools
| School Name:Castleton State College Address:62 Alumni Dr, Castleton, Vermont 05735 Contact:(802) 468-5611 Website:www.castleton.edu Type of School:4-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
| School Name:Norwich University Address:158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, Vermont 05663-1035 Contact:(802) 485-2000 Website:www.norwich.edu Type of School:4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types:Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree Accreditation: N/A |
| School Name:Southern Vermont College Address:982 Mansion Drive, Bennington, Vermont 05201-6002 Contact:(802) 447-6324 Website:www.svc.edu Type of School:4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LPN to ADN, RN to BSN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
| School Name:University of Vermont Address:85 S Prospect St, Burlington, Vermont 05405-0160 Contact:(802) 656-3131 Website:www.uvm.edu Type of School:4-year, Public Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing, RN to BSN Accreditation: CCNE accredited |
| School Name:Vermont Technical College Address:1 Main Street, Randolph Center, Vermont 05061-0500 Contact:(802) 728-1000 Website:www.vtc.edu Type of School:4-year, primarily associate’s, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN, LPN/LVN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
