The best Nevada nursing schools offer a variety of programs for new nurses and working nurses interested in advancing their careers. Most of the days of the year, the sun shines in Nevada! And the arid desert can be a pleasant change from more humid areas of the county. Nevada is a great affordable home base where the cost of living is low, and there is always something to do. If you want to become a nurse in Nevada, there are many excellent schools where you can start your Nevada nursing career! The Registered Nurse (RN) license requirements differ from state to state, so make sure you do your homework before setting out on your path to becoming a nurse in Nevada.
There are many quality nursing schools in Nevada. The key is knowing which one is best for you and will provide you with everything you need to succeed on your chosen career path. The best nursing schools in Nevada offer the highest quality education both in the classroom and over a state-of-the-art online platform. Both types of learning provide you with the skills and experience you need to start working as a nurse whenever you are ready.
How We Ranked The Best Nursing Programs in Nevada
Featured Programs
Nursing School Hub’s editors know prospective nurses want their degree to pay off, so we feature only accredited, trusted institutions. Programs are ranked according to data from IPEDS and Niche, including cost, potential salary, and student reviews.
1. The University of Nevada Reno
The University of Nevada Reno nursing program offers a variety of nursing degrees. The Orvis School of Nursing is accredited by the and offers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. This best nursing school in Nevada offers three BSN pathways – a traditional, an RN to BSN, and an accelerated program for those who hold a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing. In addition, two degrees offered entirely online are the RN to BSN and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
The University of Nevada Reno (UNR) was established in 1874 under the Morrill Land Grant Act as a land-grant school. In addition, UNR is the state’s flagship campus, a space-grant school, and home to Nevada’s first medical school. More than 21,450 undergraduate and graduate students attend UNR each year. In addition, the Reno campus of UN is home to one of the country’s most powerful high-intensity laser systems on any academic campus.
Programs: BSN, RN-BSN, ABSN
2. Nevada State College
The nursing program at Nevada State College is one of the best nursing schools in Nevada. Nevada State offers three Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs. In addition, Nevada State College offers a full or part-time traditional track and the online option for the school’s RN to BSN degree program. All of Nevada State’s nursing programs are CCNE accredited.
Nevada State College (NSC) was established in 2002. The campus sits at the McCullough mountain range in Henderson. NSC is recognized as the state’s first public college and is a member of the state’s higher education system. Additionally, this space-grant school serves about 3,200 students on its suburban campus or online studying for its more than two dozen baccalaureate degree programs.
Programs: BSN Full-Time Track, BSN Part-Time Track, RN-BSN Online
3. The University of Nevada Las Vegas
The University of Nevada nursing program offers several Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree options. As the best nursing school in Nevada, UNLV offers a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN (as a second-degree program), and an online academic completion track for RN to BSN students. In addition, the University of Nevada’s Nursing School is a NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.
The Las Vegas Campus at the University of Nevada (UNLV) was established in the late 1950s as UNV’s southern division. The University of Nevada’s urban campus serves about 28,550 students and is located a few miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The University of Nevada is home to the state’s only law school. UNLV is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Programs: BSN, RN-BSN, ABSN
4. Carrington College
The Carrington College Nursing Program is one of the best nursing schools in Nevada. Carrington College offers three nursing degrees for nurses who wish to attain their Registered Nurse license. The Associate Degree in Nursing program (ADN), the Practical Nursing/Vocational Nursing (LVN) program, and a bridge program for Licensed Vocational Carrington College offers affordable rates for its ACEN accredited nursing degree programs. Students can complete the Associate degree in Nursing program from Carrington College in as few as two years.
Carrington College was established in the late 1960s as a for-profit college. Its student enrollment exceeds 5,000, but the number of its alumni exceeds 130,000. In addition, the college operates more than 1.5 dozen academic sites offering career training in allied sciences and criminal justice, with two Reno and Las Vegas sites. Carrington College’s student enrollment in Nevada is about 800. Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC)
Programs: ADN, LVN
5. Truckee Meadows Community College
The Truckee Meadows Community College nursing program prepares nursing students for licensure and for completing a BSN. Truckee offers a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certificate program. Additionally, TMCC has an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree and an online RN to BSN degree. The Truckee Meadows Community College ASN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Students must complete 69 to 72 credit units to meet Truckee Meadows Community College’s requirements. The Online RN to BSN program is offered in partnership with the University of Nevada at Reno. All courses are offered in 8-week blocks, and the BSN takes 12 months to complete. Truckee Meadows Community College is considered the best nursing school in Nevada with existing transfer agreements with other state four-year schools.
Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) was established in 1971 as a Western Nevada Community College branch. TMCC is now a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education and has five locations. Truckee Meadows serves more than 13,000 students each semester, has more than 500 faculty and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on College and Universities.
Programs: CNA Certificate, ASN, Online RN-BSN
6. The College of Southern Nevada
The College of Southern Nevada nursing program offers various nursing degrees and bridge programs across the nursing spectrum. These ACEN accredited degrees from one of the best nursing schools in Nevada include an extended and regular Associate Degree in Nursing program. In addition, CSN also offers extended and accelerated tracks for the RN to BSN programs and an LPN to RN bridge program. Classes for these programs include anatomy and physiology, human relations, nursing principles, and fundamentals of life science.
The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) was established in the early 1970s and currently operates several campuses, including North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Las Vegas. The College of Southern Nevada holds the distinction of being Nevada’s largest public university with approximately 33,000 students in attendance each year and more than 2,500 teachers and support staff. In addition, Southern Nevada is a space-grant school.
Programs: ADN, LPN-RN Bridge, RN-BSN
7. Great Basin College
The Great Basin College nursing program offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing. The degree prepares students for the RN exam and entry-level nursing work. As one of the best nursing schools in Nevada, Great Basin College offers ACEN accredited nursing degree programs. The nursing coursework includes fundamental concepts in nursing, intro to pharmacology, nursing care of adults in health & illness, clinical decision making in drug therapy, and nursing care for acute and chronic disease.
Great Basin College (GBC) is a public institution of higher education founded in the late 1960s in Elko, Nevada. This space-grant school is a member school of the state’s higher education system, with a student enrollment that exceeds 3,750 undergraduate and graduate students. Howard Hughes donate a quarter of a million dollars when it first opened, which help save the school from financial issues.\
Programs: AAS, ACEN
8. Western Nevada College
The Western Nevada College nursing program offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Nursing that prepares candidates to sit for the NYCLEX-RN exam. This AAS is offered by the best nursing school in Nevada and requires 71.5 credit units to graduate. Students enrolled in Western Nevada College’s ACEN-accredited associate of applied science in nursing degree complete classes in health assessment theory, foundations of clinical nursing, mental health and illness theory, and introduction to cell and molecular biology, to name a few.
Western Nevada College (Western Nevada) was established in 1971 as a public institution of higher education in Carson City. Additionally, Western Nevada College is a space-grant school with multiple campuses in Carson City, Fallon, Dayton, Yerington, Hawthorne, Fenley, Smith Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Lovelock that serve more than 3,700 students. Highlight – The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Nevada College is 17 to 1.
Programs: AAS
9. The Roseman University of Health Sciences
The Roseman University of Health Sciences (RUHS) nursing program is home to one of the best nursing programs in Nevada. The Rosemond Nursing College provides a variety of academic degrees in nursing at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. This a best nursing school in Nevada offers an Accelerated BSN or a Veteran to BSN pathway. In addition, Roseman University of Health Sciences offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree pathway. Roseman University of Health Sciences’ accelerated BSN degree is available online (hybrid) and on-campus options.
Established in 2001, the Roseman University of Health Sciences is a multiple-campus school. The school uses the block delivery system, which allows students to focus on one course at a time. Roseman is organized into five colleges offering dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and business administration programs. The Nursing College at Roseman University of Health Sciences is accredited by the NLNAC.
Programs: ABSN, Veteran-BSN, MSN
10. Touro University Nevada
The Touro University Nevada nursing program offers a comprehensive set of degrees from the bachelor’s to doctoral level. As the best nursing school in Nevada, Touro University Nevada offers CCNE accredited program, with the RN to BSN and DNP degrees requiring only one year to complete. Touro also offers a post-MSN graduate certificate for Family Nurse Practitioners. In addition, the Touro master’s degree for nurses prepares students to meet eligibility requirements for ANCC and AANP.
Touro University Nevada (TUC) was founded in 2004 and is a Touro University system member school. Touro University is affiliated with the Jewish faith and home to more than 1,250 students each year. Touro University Nevada’s two colleges offer programs that are the first of their kind in the state, in fields that include osteopath medicine. In addition, Touro University’s programs focus on autism, cardiovascular, cell and evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and regenerative medicine.
Programs: RN-BSN, MSN, DNP
How Do I Choose a Nursing School in Nevada?
The best nursing schools in Nevada provide you with the most advanced and up-to-date information possible. While many of the skills and concepts will remain the same, some techniques and best practices may change over time. Therefore, nursing programs must periodically adjust their curriculums and teaching methods. These updates ensure patients get the highest quality of care possible and the nursing program meets the medical and healthcare field standards.
Nursing schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, also offer specializations that will allow you to fine-tune your schools. Specializations give you the skills you need to work in specific fields. Surgical nurse, trauma & emergency care, pediatrics, ICU, orthopedics, and oncology nursing are just a few of the most popular nursing specializations available. While you can work in any field as an RN, you will need to specialize in one or more specific areas to continue advancing your nursing career.
How is the Job Market for Nurses in Nevada?
Nursing jobs in Nevada are available in many different areas. Hospitals, rehab facilities, nursing homes, group homes, schools, and research facilities are just a few places that constantly hire new nurses. Even nurses who have several years of experience can find work transitioning from one job to another. Some RNs who have many years of experience can use that extra knowledge and go back into the classroom, this time working as nurse educators. For new graduates, Travel Nurse jobs in Nevada, including Las Vegas, are a popular choice. Working as a Travel Nurse is a great way to try out different nursing job settings while earning an excellent travel nurse salary!
Nevada nurse jobs are available for anyone who takes the time to earn the necessary degrees. And there are more opportunities for nurses who have taken the initiative and earned a degree in a specific specialization. For example, Trauma Nurses may go back to school and further their education to become a Flight Nurse. A Flight Nurse travels with patients from one location to the next. These nurses must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and under less-than-desirable conditions.
Nurse jobs in Nevada are easily found if you take the time to look closely at what your goals are. You may choose to take on an entry-level position and then go back to school to further your education. Some students continue to move forward with their general nursing degree, while others choose to pursue a specialization. Earning a specialization will open many more doors in terms of advancement and a higher wage. For example, there are many nurse practitioner jobs in Nevada. Or, you may choose to combine your MSN with an MBA and move to a nursing management position.
Before looking into nursing jobs in Nevada, know what your goals are. Once you have a planned career path, it’s much easier to follow the steps and complete your education. By enrolling in an online nursing degree program, you can continue to work while you go to school. This allows you to explore all of your employment options while you are finishing up your degree. And, it also gives you a chance to take a closer look at any specializations that may interest you.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Nevada?
The exact amount of your nursing salary in Nevada will depend on several things. Your location is one of the most critical factors. Rural areas may not have the financial support they need to pay the higher wages earned in metropolitan areas. So working in a city will likely bring a higher salary. While working in a larger city may provide more financial gain, working in a rural area will offer other incentives. Rural areas often have a lower cost of living that can make up for the lower salary. There can be other rewards on a more personal level from working in a smaller town. Getting to know your patients may make providing quality care a much stronger commitment.
Your nursing experience and nursing education will also factor into your earning potential. New graduates who have just passed their nursing exam can expect a nurse salary in Nevada of approximately $50,000 to $57,000 even with minimal experience. Nurses who have at least five to ten years of experience can expect to earn more. A Nevada nurse practitioner’s salary can be as much as $85,000 to $100,000 per year. Those amounts will continue to go up if you keep working and gaining experience. Earning a degree in the specialization of your choice will also boost your earning potential.
Suppose you plan on advancing your career and improving your ability to earn a higher wage. In that case, you will need to be committed to your goals. Take the time to look for new opportunities and explore every new challenge. You may be surprised to find that you have the potential for advancement with your current employer. In addition, going back to school may give you the extra education you need to move up the ladder and reach your career goals much faster.
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