Nursing Programs in Salt Lake City, UT

Entry Level ADN & BSN Programs in Salt Lake City, UT

For students without nursing education or experience, an entry-level nursing program is the place to start. In the Salt Lake City area, the choices for entry-level nursing programs include Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs and direct-entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs (BSN). Both programs prepare students for the nursing certification exam and their first professional jobs as nurses.

ADN Programs

ADN programs provide students with a basic understanding of nursing theory and practice, and usually take around two years to complete. Upon graduation, students will have a nursing diploma, the baseline degree required for nursing positions in a variety of healthcare settings. Salt Lake Community College offers a two-year ADN program that prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, and to either begin working as a nurse or to matriculate into a BSN program.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

A bachelor’s-level nursing program provides a more in-depth nursing education than an ADN program, with additional coursework in public health, management and leadership and nursing research. The BSN degree may open the door to a wider range of job opportunities and career growth opportunities. Western Governors University offers a BSN program that offers didactic coursework in an online format with the clinical practice component taking place in a local healthcare setting.

Learn more about Utah Accelerated BSN Programs

Salt Lake City RN Program NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Top Ranked Accredited Nursing Programs in Salt Lake City

Listed below are the top nursing schools in Salt Lake City based on our RegisteredNursing.org RN program rankings for Utah out of 17 other accredited programs offered in the state:

• University of Utah - #4
• Westminister College - #5

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Salt Lake City, UT

Registered nurses who have completed their ADN but are interested in advancing their careers by earning a higher degree may be interested in RN to BSN or MSN programs. These specialized “bridge programs” provide a quicker route to a higher degree for working nurses by taking their previous coursework into account.

RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN bridge programs provide a convenient path to a bachelor’s degree for working RNs who hold an associate’s degree. One example of these programs is the RN to BSN program at Nightingale College, which offers coursework entirely online to accommodate working students and can be completed in three terms or 12 months.

Learn more about Utah RN to BSN Programs

RN to MSN Programs

RN to MSN programs are also designed for RN license-holding nurses who have completed their ADN degree. Upon completion, students will hold a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) and be prepared for specialized advanced practice careers. Western Governors University offers RN to MSN programs that allow students to choose a concentration in nursing education, leadership and management, and nursing informatics.

Learn more about Utah RN to MSN Programs

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Salt Lake City, UT

An increasing number of nurses are going back to school for advanced practice nursing degrees in order to secure leadership positions and higher salaries. In the Salt Lake City area, nurses have the option of selecting an MSN program, post-master’s certificate programs, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Ph.D. programs.

MSN Programs

A master’s degree is required for many leadership positions in nursing, as well as for nurse practitioner and administration roles. An MSN degree program allows students to learn advanced nursing practice theory and skills, as well as to concentrate their studies in a particular field of nursing. The MSN program at Westminster College allows students to focus their studies in nurse anesthesia and the family nurse practitioner role.

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Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Designed for nurses with an MSN who would like to move into a new specialty area of nursing, post-master’s certificate programs provide students with master’s-level coursework in a given practice area. The University of Utah offers 15-credit certificate course programs for BSN-educated nurses in case management, informatics and nursing education, as well as nurse practitioner certificates for MSN-educated nurses that focus in women’s health, nurse midwifery, family medicine and adult/gerontology acute care.

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DNP & Ph.D. Programs

DNP programs prepare nurses for the highest level of nursing practice with coursework in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, healthcare policy, healthcare systems, and leadership. The University of Utah offers a DNP program with the following specialty tracks: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwifery.

Ph.D. in Nursing programs prepare nurses for careers in research and academia. The Ph.D. program at the University of Utah offers a distance-learning program using live video-conferencing technology and on-campus intensives that allow students to complete the program from outside the Salt Lake City area.

Learn more about Utah DNP Programs