Welcome To The Department Of Nursing Education
San Antonio College has been providing our community a steady stream of nurses for over 50 years. Each semester, some 300-400 students are enrolled in SACs Nursing program. Due to the outstanding curriculum and dedicated faculty, the program has become highly competitive admitting fewer than 100 new students each semester. Students attending the San Antonio College nursing program come primarily from the Bexar County Metropolitan area. Graduates from the programs fill nursing positions within many acute and longterm health care facilities in the area.
The faculty members of the Department of Nursing Education uphold the mission of San Antonio College in supporting the educational and lifelong learning needs of culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse communities. The mission of the Department of Nursing Education is to prepare professional nurses who, as members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, use nursing judgment to provide safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care to promote quality patient outcomes.
California State University San Marcos
The California State University, San Marcos School of Nursing offers a variety of nursing programs at the baccalaureate & masters level. Cal State San Marcos is recognized among the best nursing schools in San Diego and throughout the state of California. In addition to several Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, Cal State San Marcos offers an online RN to BSN degree program plus an accelerated BSN program that can be completed in 2 years for those students who already hold an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field.
Cal State San Marcos was established in 1989 by California State Senate Bill 635. CSUSM is a member school and one of 20+ member schools organized as the California State University system. Cal State San Marco consists of four colleges/schools that serve more than 14,400 students. Cal State San Marcos is the third newest of the 23 members school in the CSU system.
How We Ranked The Top Nursing Schools In San Diego
To rank the best nursing schools in the San Diego metro area, TopRNtoBSN editors researched accredited, reputable institutions of all kinds offering certificates and degrees in nursing. From our initial pool, editors ranked programs according to their affordability, reputation, and student success, using data from IPEDS and Niche.
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What Is The Career Outlook For Nursing
The BLS projects a 45% employment growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners to the year 2020 to 2030 . This high demand is due to multiple factors that include an aging baby-boom population and emphasis on preventive care. In terms of salaries for APRN roles, the median annual wage for nurse anesthetists, , and nurse practitioners was $117,670 in May 2020.
What Are Typical Lvn Pre

As all schools have different academic requirements to get accepted into their LVN program, California LVN schools are no exception. You can expect an entrance exam or at least a prerequisite check when you submit your application to determine your eligibility. There may be additional academic requirements also.
At the very least, most schools require applicants to have a High school diploma / GED. You also must get accepted to the college that you are applying to.
Financial aid, including nursing scholarships or federal grant money, may be available to you as a new students enrolling in San Diego LVN classes. For more information, check with the Admissions office at the program you are applying to.
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View Our San Diego Nursing Programs
Choose to study at one of the top San Diego nursing schools with Azusa Pacific’s School of Nursing. With a range of nursing programs conveniently available at the university’s San Diego Regional Campus, you can select the program that best fits your goals as you prepare to advance your career and make a difference in health care.
Why Become A Nurse
Nurses are an integral component of a San Diego CA medical team, and for a number of patients, their primary care providers. A nursing career opens doors to a number of opportunities, such as research, health care education and specialty areas of practice. Nurses enter the profession for various reasons, among the most notable are its practical and personal advantages. Nurses provide direct, one-on-one care to patients. Most individuals in a medical facility or home care setting spend more time with nurses than with physicians. Nurses commonly go into the profession due to a passion to tend to the needs of patients, including in situations of short-term treatment of illness and extended care of chronic conditions. This human aspect of the health profession, rather than the analytical or research related facets, is appealing to many who elect to pursue a nursing career. Nurses have extensive applicable skills and can select from a variety of work environments, including home care facilities, physician’s offices, health clinics, community centers and hospitals. Also, nurses can progress into a variety of specialties, such as substance addictions, critical care, genetics and neonatology. While most nurses deliver personal patient care, others choose to be educators, policy advisers or pharmaceutical representatives.
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Point Loma Nazarene University
Point Loma Nazarene Universitys School of Nursing offers a variety of baccalaureate, graduate, and post-graduate academic degree programs. Among the best nursing schools in San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene Universitys nursing programs have received accreditation from the CCNE the Commission on Collegiate Nursing. At the undergraduate level, PLNU offers a BSN program and a bridge program for LVNs to BSNs. At the graduate level, PLNU offers a Master of Science in Nursing , a bridge program from RN to BSN, and a DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
Point Loma Nazarene University was established as the Pacific Bible College in 1902, with several name changes subsequent to that name. Point Loma Nazarene University has a religious affiliation with the Church of the Nazarene. PLNUs suburban campus serves more than 3,300 students. Point Loma Nazarene University is one of eight liberal arts member schools organized under the Church of the Nazarene.
Ways To Get An Msn Degree
The scope of MSN programs is broad. Other MSN programs are often known as bridge programs and may also be offered in an accelerated format. These programs could have their own requirements. Aside from the degree pathway, some programs may allow students to select an emphasis. It should also be noted that students usually must successfully complete one segment before they move onto the next.
- Entry-level MSN programs: Designed for non-nurses. These students hold a bachelors degree in an area of study outside of nursing and seek to pursue a career as an RN
- RN to MSN Programs: Designed for RNs with their BSN degree
- BSN to MSN Programs: Basic programs for all RNs nurses that want to complete their MSN in an accelerated way
- ADN to MSN programs: Students first study to earn their BSN and then continue to the MSN degree
- : Designed to quickly and effectively help students enter the nursing profession without earning a bachelors degree in nursing .
Graduate Nursing certificates are courses of study that could add onto existing nursing skills. Often just a few courses and credits , nurses could study to gain clinical competency and apply evidence-based practices.
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San Diego City College
San Diego City College is recognized among the best nursing schools in San Diego. Nursing programs have received accreditation by ACEN and the California Board of Registered Nursing. San Diego City Colleges Associate Degree in Nursing program prepares graduates for rewarding careers in clinics, nursing facilities, hospitals, and hospice agencies. Program graduates have an NCLEX RN pass rate in 2019 of 98.4%.
San Diego City College was established in 1914. The schools 60-acre campus is located near San Diego high school and the I-5 freeway. San Diego City Colleges student enrollment exceeds 16,500 students studying for more than 225 degrees offered by colleges many divisions. The Chief Executive Officer of Costco Wholesale Warehouses, James Sinegal, and Pearl Jams lead singer Eddie Vedder are San Diego City College, alumni.
San Diego County Nursing Schools By Nclex Score
MiraCosta College
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing: 97.1% NCLEX pass rate
- Certificate in Vocational Nursing: 92.9% NCLEX pass rate
- Associate of Arts in Vocational Nursing
- LVN-to-RN 30-Unit Option
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing: 96.1% NCLEX pass rate
- LVN-to-RN 30-Unit Option
California State University, San Marcos
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 95.9% NCLEX pass rate
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN
- Master of Science in Nursing
- RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing: 94.1% NCLEX pass rate
- LVN-to-RN 30-Unit Option
- Associate’s Degree in Nursing: 93.8% NCLEX pass rate
- LVN-to-RN 30-Unit Option
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 93.0% NCLEX pass rate
- LVN-to-BSN Bridge Program
- Master of Science in Nursing
- RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
- Certificate in Vocational Nursing: 91.8% NCLEX pass rate
University of San Diego
- Direct Entry MSN: 91.3% NCLEX pass rate
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- LVN-to-RN 30-Unit Option
- MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Post-Baccalaureate DNP
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 90.0% NCLEX pass rate
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN
- Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
- RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Concorde Career College – San Diego
- Certificate in Vocational Nursing: 88.6% NCLEX pass rate
Point Loma Nazarene University
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 87.7% NCLEX pass rate
- LVN-to-BSN Bridge Program
- Master of Science in Nursing
- RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
- Nursing Assistant Certificate
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Financial Aid Opportunities For Nursing Students In San Diego
To help you pay for your education, a variety of sources offer grants, scholarships, and loans. These include state and federal governments, charitable organizations, corporations, and nursing schools. For financial aid options tailored for students in San Diego, visit the California Board of Registered Nursing and The San Diego Foundation. EduMeds nursing scholarship guide and financial aid guide provide additional resources.
What Are Doctorate Nursing Programs

Doctorate of nursing practice programs in fall into two principal types: research-focused and practice- focused. These two types of doctoral programs differ in their goals and the skillsets of their graduates. They also represent alternate approaches to the highest level of educational preparation in nursing. Furthermore, there are various areas that could be used as anchor points for either research or clinical practice. Sometimes, a nursing grad school offers MSN tracks with a companion Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
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Life And Career Options In Metro San Diego
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System has a trolley system that connects East San Diego, the South Bay and downtown, plus there are 93 fixed bus routes as well, making public transit to and from many schools and healthcare facilities possible. When you complete your nursing degree, you may find yourself working in a variety of different settings, the most common of which is usually an acute care facility such as a hospital or medical center.
Hospitals In San Diego
The American Nurses Credentialing Center has recognized several hospitals in San Diego for their nursing excellence by giving them the Magnet award. These hospitals include:
- Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
- Sharp HealthCare
- UC San Diego Health System
- Washington Hospital
In addition to acute care hospitals, San Diego nurses can find positions in public schools, community health, non-profit clinics, home health care and surgical centers. One significant healthcare system in San Diego, Scripps Health is a nonprofit, private health system that includes four hospitals, dozens of outpatient clinics, home health and hospice care. Scripps Health may be a good place to explore employment, and they also have a program to transition new graduates into clinical practice.
Nursing wages in California tend to be higher than many other areas in the country, and San Diego is no exception. The mean annual wage for an LVN in the San Diego area is $54,460, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2016. Registered Nurses earn a mean wage of $92,480 per year in San Diego .
If you are interested in Advanced Practice Degrees in Nursing from San Diego nursing schools, select your field of interest from the categories to the left to learn more about wages and specific higher level nursing programs in San Diego.
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Applying To An Lpn/lvn Program In San Diego
San Diegans can become LPNs or LVNs in about one year. Applicants to LVN school in San Diego must meet certain admission requirements. Vocational colleges have adopted similar standards, but each school may ask for specific prerequisites prior to admittance. Colleges may require a candidate to take a scholastic exam if they do not possess a college degree.
Aspiring LVNs and LPNs need a high school diploma or GED certificate at minimum. When applying, they also submit documents, such as high school or college transcripts and proof of their proficiency in reading and writing English.
Since students work in practicums with patients, they also need CPR certification, a criminal background check, a toxicology test, and their immunization records.
If you want to become an LVN, consider what the job entails before applying for LVN programs near you.
Msn With Np Specialties
The Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Specialties offers the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner , Family Nurse Practitioner , and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialties. These three clinical areas of content and advanced practice prepare nurses to work with patients across the adult years, throughout the human lifespan, or in the psychiatric and mental health settings.
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Find Nursing Schools In San Diego
Students who study in this location find both the undergraduate training they need to enter the field and graduate learning opportunities to obtain advanced nursing jobs in San Diego. The search tool below can help students find the San Diego nursing schools that are the right fit for them.
AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
What Is The Nursing Program
A two-year program that prepares the student to become a registered nurse. The Department of Nursing Education offers a generic nursing program and a career mobility nursing program with two tracks, including a licensed vocational nurse mobility track and a military mobility track. Both tracks terminate in an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing. Upon successful completion of the nursing education program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses authorized by and administered through the Texas Board of Nursing. See our Admissions page for more information about program tracks.
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Nursing Students Step Up Amid Pandemic By Vaccinating Community
When the spring semester began in late January, it seemed as if the stars had finally aligned for Cal State San Marcos to send its nursing students back into the community for their badly needed clinical rotations.
Some were scheduled to be stationed in the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District, providing health screenings and education to children of all ages. Others were bound for a food pantry in Fallbrook. Still others were slotted to go to Rachels Womens Center, a homeless shelter in downtown San Diego.
San Diego Nursing School Programs And Locations

The landscape of healthcare is changing quickly in California, making it a great time to attend nursing school. San Diego has many nursing schools to choose from, making it a great place to look for a nursing program to attend. The University of San Diegos Hahn School of Nursing offers a Bachelors , Masters, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. In addition, they offer an international program where student nurses travel to Milot, Haiti where they provide care for patients at the Hôpital Sacré Coeur.
Other nursing programs in San Diego can be found at some of the schools listed below, or access all available nursing programs in California.
- Point Loma Nazarene College BSN and MSN for Adult Gerontology, Family and Individual Health, Pediatric and a Clinical Nurse Specialists program
- San Diego State University Bachelor and multiple Masters programs, such as Nurse Midwifery, Advanced Nursing of Adults and the Elderly, Leadership and Nursing Education
- National University Bachelor, Accelerated/Second Degree Bachelor, Doctorate, MSN in Nursing Administration and Informatics, LVN to BSN, MSN Nurse Anesthesia, and MSN
- San Diego Community College District and the University of Phoenix offer Licenses Vocational Nurse programs . This college also has nursing programs for the registered nurse and for a program for LVN to RN.
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Detailed Look At Online Nursing Programs In San Diego
In general, pre-licensure online nursing programs are hybrid programs that allow students to complete prerequisites and other classwork online but require completion of clinicals and labs in person. Many programs have labs on campus with clinicals or practicums at program-approved sites. Fully online nursing programs with no in-person requirements do exist but typically only at the graduate level.
Lvn Programs In San Diego California
In San Diego, California, there are many Licensed Vocational Nurse training programs. These programs are designed to prepare students for a challenging and rewarding career in healthcare.
When choosing from the many LVN programs in San Diego, it is important for an individual to make sure his or her program of choice is approved by the state board of nursing. In California, approved programs consist of at least 1,530 education hours, including 576 hours of theory, 954 of clinical, and 54 hours of pharmacology.
LVN programs in San Diego vary in terms of length, but can usually be completed in 12-14 months of full-time study and 18-20 months of part-time study. This allows individuals to begin a new career in a relatively short amount of time. After completing an approved LVN program in San Diego, one must pass the NCLEX-PN. He or she can become licensed after passing the exam.
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