Overview
Located on the northwest coast of the United States, Washington is best known for the city of Seattle, which often elicits thoughts of the Space Needle, grunge music, and Starbucks - and rain. Other major cities include Tacoma and Spokane. Most of Washington’s residents are concentrated in metropolitan areas; however, there is a need for nurses in hard-to-reach rural areas. The majority of Washington’s nursing education programs are concentrated in the western parts of the state.
Nursing Education in Washington
Prominent nursing programs in Washington include the University of Washington in Seattle and Washington State University in Spokane. Nursing students in Washington are eligible for the Washington State Nurses Foundation Scholarship, as well as other scholarships, loans and grants from the Washington Center for Nursing. Students are also advised to apply for the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association scholarship..
Outlook for Nursing in Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010 edition, Washington employs just over 55,000 registered nurses. At $73,680, the mean annual salary for registered nurses in Washington is quite high compared to the national average. In the face of a predicted shortage in the state nursing workforce, Washington is intent on promoting nursing education opportunities. The Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Washington estimated that the state would be short approximately 25,000 registered nurses by 2020 if steps were not taken to bolster the nursing workforce. As a result, Washington is intent on improving nursing educational opportunities and funding and employment prospects. Nursing graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in order to work in the state.
Some of the top employers of Registered Nurses in Washington include Sacred Heart Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center / First Hill Campus, Southwest Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, and Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
Nursing Degree Programs in Washington
Transition programs for nurses:
Graduate programs for nurses:
- All Masters in Nursing Programs in WA
- All DNP and PhD in Nursing Programs in WA
- All Nurse Practitioner Programs in WA
Entry level nursing programs:
