RN Programs in Nevada
There are several accredited universities in Nevada for registered nurses who want enrich their career by enrolling in an RN or BSN program. These programs generally build on prior nursing and liberal arts education. They are designed to enhance educational mobility and strengthen health and leadership abilities. Programs are built under the assumption that registered nurses have a solid nursing foundation. Students can complete this program online or on campus. There are both part-time and full-time options available. It is recommended that nurses research all options available to ensure that they find the program that best fits their needs.
In our Nevada RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key Nevada RN Program information to help you compare program metrics and to apply to best RN program for your career in nursing.
In the State of Nevada, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.
BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Nevada RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 5 | 6 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 93.14% | 90.49% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 89.45% to 95.73% | 78.72% to 96.56% |
| Average Net Price | $8,688.25 | $12,032.00 |
| Average Net Price Range | $7,428.00 to $9,922.00 | $8,911.00 to $15,422.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $8,411.50 | $12,200.50 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $7,000.00 to $9,500.00 | $8,896.00 to $15,224.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for Nevada State | BSN Rankings for Nevada State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in Nevada
To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both Nevada and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 5 ADN degree programs and 5 BSN degree programs in Nevada. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in Nevada to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
RANKED 1
Great Basin College
- 1500 College Parkway, Elko, NV - 89801
- (775) 738-8493
Great Basin College is located in various locations in Nevada, with its nursing programs being located in Elko, Pahrump and Winnemucca. Nursing programs are offered beginning in the fall semester and students are awarded an associate’s degree upon completion. At this time, they do not offer an LPN to RN. They do,however, offer an online RN to BSN program
School Information
Location: Elko, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 98.57%- State Rank: 1
- US Rank: 15
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 2
Western Nevada College
- 2201 West College Parkway, Carson City, NV - 89703-7399
- (775) 445-3000
Western Nevada College is located in Carson City, Nevada. They offer an ADN degree program. Their program does offer a limited number of admittance of first semester students into their nursing program. At this time, they do not offer an LPN to RN option.
School Information
Location: Carson City, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 94.30%- State Rank: 2
- US Rank: 128
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 3
Truckee Meadows Community College
- 7000 Dandini Blvd, Reno, NV - 89512-3999
- (775) 673-7000
Truckee Meadows Community College is located in Reno, Nevada. The Maxine S. Jacobs Nursing Program is an ADN program. Their program is full-time program. It is also unique in that it requires its students to complete a certified nursing assistant (CNA) program prior to applying.
School Information
Location: Reno, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 90.71%- State Rank: 3
- US Rank: 270
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 4
College of Southern Nevada
- 6375 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV - 89146-1164
- (702) 651-5000
College of Southern Nevada is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. CSN offers a practical nursing program, an associate’s degree program and an LPN to RN program. The LPN to RN program is designed as a full-time program, but can also be modified to be a part-time program if needed, making it more flexible for the working nurse.
School Information
Location: Las Vegas, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 90.26%- State Rank: 4
- US Rank: 287
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 5
Carrington College-Reno
- 5580 Kietzke Ln, Reno, NV - 89511
- (775) 335-2900
Carrington College has multiple campuses across eight states, one of which is in Reno, Nevada. They offer a practical nursing program, an RN program and a bridge program, for LPNs seeking a degree as an RN. Carrington College is a network of campuses that focus on educating healthcare professionals, using “hands-on” training.
School Information
Location: Reno, NV- Type: Private For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 86.33%- State Rank: 5
- US Rank: 434
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
ADN Programs In Nevada
While there are a variety of ADN programs in Nevada, not all offer an RN option. Interestingly, some schools require that their RN students obtain a certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification prior to enrollment, which means that there are some subjects (such as the taking of vital signs) that do not need to be taught to students.
NCLEX Passing Rates for Nevada ADN Programs
Great Basin College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in Nevada of 95.73%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $8,911.00 a year.
- ADN Programs Offered in Nevada: 5
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 93.14%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 89.45% to 95.73%
How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Nevada?
We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Nevada so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.
When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.
The lowest cost ADN program in Nevada is offered by College of Southern Nevada at about $7,428.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 90.84%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by Western Nevada College and it will cost about $9,922.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 94.05%.
- Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inNevada: $8,688.25
- Net-Price Range for Nevada ADN Programs: $7,428.00 to $9,922.00
Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for Nevada Schools: $8,411.50
- Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Nevada: $7,000.00 to $9,500.00
RANKED 1
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
- 4505 S Maryland Pky, Las Vegas, NV - 89154
- (702) 895-3011
University of Nevada – Las Vegas is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV offers a BSN program as well as various graduate level nursing programs and post-graduate certificates. They also offer an RN to BSN pathway; if elected, they may take three courses within the MSN program, which would ultimately shorten the graduate pathway by six to nine credits.
School Information
Location: Las Vegas, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 96.54%- State Rank: 1
- US Rank: 48
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: APRN Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, MSN to DNP, Post Master's NP Certificate
- Program Accreditors: ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 2
Nevada State College
- 1125 Nevada State Drive, Henderson, NV - 89002
- (702) 992-2000
Nevada State College is located in Henderson, Nevada. Their nursing program has multiple options; they offer a regular track, which is a BSN program for the “typical” student. They offer a part-time track, which allows a pre-licensure student to attend school for their BSN on a part-time basis. They also offer an RN to BSN program, which is completed online. They accent 48 new students each spring and fall, and 32 students each summer.
School Information
Location: Henderson, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 93.20%- State Rank: 2
- US Rank: 157
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: CCNE
RANKED 3
University of Nevada-Reno
- North Virginia Street, Reno, NV - 89557
- (775) 784-1110
University of Nevada – Reno is located in Reno, Nevada. The Orvis School of Nursing offers a BSN program and an RN to BSN program, along with multiple graduate level options. The RN to BSN program can be completed online.
School Information
Location: Reno, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Hybrid
NCLEX
Overall Score: 91.97%- State Rank: 3
- US Rank: 202
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: APRN Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, MSN to DNP, Post Master's NP Certificate
- Program Accreditors: ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 4
Roseman University of Health Sciences
- 11 Sunset Way, Henderson, NV - 89014
- (702) 990-4433
Roseman University of Health Sciences is located in Henderson, Nevada. The school began as a school of pharmacy in 1999, and has evolved into a university for health professionals. They offer a BSN program, an accelerated BSN program and an RN to BSN program. The accelerated program is designed for students either with a prior bachelor’s degree or at least 65 college credits.
School Information
Location: Henderson, NV- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 90.02%- State Rank: 4
- US Rank: 256
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
NOT RANKED
Great Basin College
- 1500 College Parkway, Elko, NV - 89801
- (775) 738-8493
Great Basin College is located in various locations in Nevada, with its nursing programs being located in Elko, Pahrump and Winnemucca. Nursing programs are offered beginning in the fall semester and students are awarded an associate’s degree upon completion. At this time, they do not offer an LPN to RN. They do,however, offer an online RN to BSN program
School Information
Location: Elko, NV- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
- State Rank: N/A
- US Rank: N/A
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
NOT RANKED
Touro University Nevada
- 874 American Pacific Drive, Henderson, NV - 89014
- (702) 777-8687
School Information
Location: Henderson, NV- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
- State Rank: N/A
- US Rank: N/A
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: CCNE
BSN Programs In Nevada
Registered nurses who wish to grow as a professional can advance in their career and open new opportunities by pursing a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Admission to most programs requires that nurses have completed the prerequisites, obtained a Nevada RN license, and had a 3.0 GPA in most of the prerequisite courses. Some courses that may b required include:
- Concepts and Theories of Professional Nursing Practice
- Nursing Research Methods
- Community and Population Health
- Advanced Leadership and Management Principles
- Synthesis of Professional Issues in Nursing
- Dimensions of Health & Wellness
- Nursing Leadership
- Biology of Aging
NCLEX Passing Rates for Nevada BSN Programs
University of Nevada-Las Vegas wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in Nevada with a score of 96.56%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $12,184.00 a year.
- BSN Programs Offered in Nevada: 6
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 90.49%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 78.72% to 96.56%
How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Nevada?
We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Nevada to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.
The lowest cost BSN degree program in Nevada is offered by Great Basin College and will cost you about $8,911.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of N/A%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by University of Nevada-Reno and will cost you about $15,422.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 93.24%.
- Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Nevada: $12,032.00
- Net-Price Range for Nevada BSN Programs: $8,911.00 to $15,422.00
Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for Nevada Schools: $12,200.50
- Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Nevada: $8,896.00 to $15,224.00
Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Nevada
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.
Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Nevada
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Nevada offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.
Nevada RN Licensing Requirements
Nevada State Board of Nursing
License Certification and Education
4220 S. Maryland Parkway
Suite B300
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Website: http://nevadanursingboard.org/
Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $100
License renewal (every two years), RN: $100
Continuing Education Requirements:
RNs and LPNs: 30 contact hours every renewal period
RN Licensure by Endorsement
Before a candidate can obtain permanent licensure in the state of Nevada, there are a few requirements that must be completed. A criminal background check through a fingerprint card is one requirement. When this has been completed, the nursing candidate must register to take the NCLEX exam through the Pearson VUE website, pay the fee, and schedule the test when authorization to test has been obtained. Registered Nurses who apply for licensure by examination will be required to pay $100 to the Nevada Board of Nurses. Candidates who fail the first attempt at the NCLEX will be invalidated. Registered nurses are encouraged to join the Nevada Nurses Association but membership is not directly correlated to licensure.
RN Licensure by Endorsement
A registered nurse who obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states may be eligible for a reciprocal license. The nurse must submit license verification and pay $105 for the endorsement fee. An endorsement candidate may work under a temporary permit while waiting for the background check to be processed. Processing can take a great length of time so fingerprinting should be done early. Candidates who put in a request for an application from the Board will be granted a fingerprint card that will be taken to a fingerprinting agency in the current state. There is an additional $51.25 fee for processing.
RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
Nurses who obtained completed a program abroad will be required to go through the CGFNS evaluation process before being authorized to take the NCLEX exam. Internationally educated nurses often need to demonstrate English proficiency. This can be completed through TOEFL. Candidates educated in an English speaking country will be exempt.
RN Salaries in Nevada
Nevada has more than 17,000 registered nurses working in various settings. By the year 2020, it is anticipated that there will be almost 3,000 new nursing positions available. Now is a better time than ever to seek out high education in the nursing field. Nurses who obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing open opportunities that would not have been previously available. Registered nurses in the state of Nevada earn an annual income of $77,600. Salary is often determined by education and experience.
Nevada Registered Nursing Salaries
It is worth noting that the Las Vegas- Paradise metropolitan area has the largest employment rate of registered nurses along with the highest hourly mean wage and annual median wage.
| Area name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | 670 | $37.51 | $78,150 |
| Las Vegas-Paradise, NV | 13,260 | $39.82 | $82,180 |
| Reno-Sparks, NV | 3,710 | $36.23 | $74,530 |
| Western Central Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 400 | $27.77 | $55,820 |
| Other Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 380 | $31.37 | $63,670 |
Sources: The State Board of Nursing from Each State, U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education – OPE, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics
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