America's number one nursing school, according to the "U.S. News and World Report's" ranking profile, is the University of Washington's School of Nursing. Located on a research-oriented campus in Seattle, the school works closely in the health care environments locally, nationally with the National Institute of Health, and abroad. It is also aligned with a health care facility. The four-year bachelor program includes two years of a liberal arts/science education. The final two years are dedicated to nursing studies. Application information sessions are held quarterly. Students can also choose to study abroad through the school's International Opportunity programs.
A strong research base and the integration of a liberal arts education with the sciences is the focus of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing in Philadelphia. Students also have the opportunity to pursue dual degrees with other departments within the school. The four-year program leads to a bachelor of science in nursing degree. The university owns and operates a clinical practice for the elderly, working with patients to help them maintain an independent lifestyle. Semester-long study abroad options are available as are research opportunities.
New York University's College of Nursing is located in lower Manhattan. Its educational base focuses on teaching students to work as nurses in a global society, linking health problems with health care. The school has a strong research environment. The liberal arts/science curriculum taught in the first two years of a four-year program is designed to teach students beyond the basics of the laboratory. The clinical education of the last two years introduces students to world-wide medical environments. Admission is through the university's undergraduate program and prospective students must satisfy the technical requirements of the college.
A part of the state of Wisconsin's health care system, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Nursing was established in 1924. Research is a priority of the four-year nursing program as the school links with health care partners around the world. A hospital, children's hospital, and cancer care center are utilized for clinical practice. Once the initial two years of liberal arts/science study have been completed, students have the option of continuing their nursing component at the Madison or La Crosse campuses. Freshmen entering the university must have a strong science background to be admitted to the school's pre-nursing program.