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Nursing Schools in Las Vegas: Top Online & Campus Programs

Explore the best accredited Las Vegas nursing schools that can help you take advantage of the area’s high demand for nurses.

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With job growth for registered nurses in Las Vegas expected to be over double the national average from 2018 to 2028, the need for nurses in Vegas is extremely high right now. And demand for nurse practitioners in the area is even stronger. Fortunately, nursing schools in and around Las Vegas are ready to meet those demands through an array of programs for beginning and experienced nurses alike. Explore the best Las Vegas nursing schools in this comprehensive guideboook, and find accredited online and campus programs that can help you take the first or next step in your RN nursing career.

Best Nursing Schools and Programs in Las Vegas for 2022

The best Las Vegas nursing schools provide an accredited education approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. Formats include traditional in-person education, hybrid learning, and online options. The schools highlighted below stand out for 2022 because of their high NCLEX-RN pass rates, learning flexibility, and affordability.

Best Overall Nursing Schools in Las Vegas

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas hosts numerous programs for both undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Both the Traditional BSN and Accelerated Second Degree BSN require three semesters of prerequisite courses before taking nursing courses. The Traditional BSN program takes 16 months while the Accelerated Second Degree program for those with a bachelor’s in another area takes 12 months and is available online except for clinicals.

Graduate students can earn a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as nurse educator, family nurse practitioner, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Those seeking terminal degrees can opt for a DNP or PhD in Nursing. There are also several advanced graduate certificates, including those in nurse educator and psychiatric mental health specializations. UNLV also helps nurses meet their continuing education requirements.

Nevada State College

Nevada State College hosts three nursing programs. The traditional BSN track can be taken as either a full-time or a part-time program, and the post-licensure program is designed for working registered nurses who want to earn their bachelor’s degrees while continuing their current jobs. The full-time BSN track can be completed in as little as five semesters, including summers, while the part-time program takes 10 semesters with classes offered just three days per week, including weekends. The RN to BSN track is entirely online, and the time to completion varies depending upon the pace students choose.

Clinical labs and simulations happen on campus, and students work with peers and supervisors at medical facilities across the Las Vegas region. Coursework covers holistic health, bioethics and health informatics, evidence-based practice and research, pharmacology, nursing care of children, and more.

Touro University Nevada

The nursing programs at Touro University Nevada are designed for those who are already RNs and want to enhance their career prospects. The RN to BSN is a one-year program with online courses and is designed for working nurses with ADNs. Through affiliation with Valley Health System, tuition discounts and reimbursement programs are available for eligible students.

The MSN program assumes students hold both BSNs and RN licenses and prepares them for work in advanced medical care. There’s also a post-graduate certificate with most courses online for those wanting to work as family nurse practitioners and a 100% online Doctor of Nursing Practice, which takes a year to complete, for nurses interested in the highest levels of clinical work.

Best Online Nursing Programs in Las Vegas

Roseman University

With start dates four times each year and plenty of online courses, Roseman University is home to an Accelerated BSN designed for those with 54 credits or more from an accredited school and GPAs of at least 2.75. Students can complete their degrees on campus/hybrid or fully online. For those in the military, there’s a special pathway to entry that considers experience already earned. This program takes 18 months to complete and includes on-campus labs and clinical rotations at area hospitals.

After graduation from the BSN program, students can continue into the 23-month, asynchronous online Accelerated MSN/FNP program. With its focus on comprehensive healthcare for individuals of all ages, students learn to deliver a range of healthcare services. The block curriculum allows students to work and study full time.

Chamberlain University

Online education is the norm at Chamberlain University, including for its RN to BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner programs. Each nursing program is at least partially online with several being fully online. Students complete hands-on requirements at area medical facilities or on campus. They also enjoy the same resources and support that on-campus students do.

Chamberlain’s BSN takes three years of full-time study with the option of exchanging summer breaks to accelerate the program. Its 97% NCLEX pass rate for 2020 exceeded the national average for those taking the test for the first time. Available at 23 locations across the country, this hands-on BSN program provides a unique approach to becoming an RN.

Touro University Nevada

All programs offered for registered nurses at Touro University Nevada are at least partially online. The RN to BSN takes about one year as does the DNP, and both are available entirely online. The MSN program has three start dates per year and is mostly online with three campus-based intensives taken during the program. Most courses for the Post-MSN Graduate Certificate-FNP are also online.

For all programs, the university helps students find clinical placements in their local areas. They’ll also allow students to find their own placements and assist them with the proper documentation. All programs are CCNE accredited and have three start dates per year. They equip students to excel in research, education, and community service with a focus on evidence-based practice.

Types of Nursing Programs Available in or Near Las Vegas

Working as a registered nurse can begin with an associate degree, but those who want to expand their career horizons and potential income need more education. Las Vegas has nursing programs at all levels, including associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees as well as PhD, DNP, and graduate certificate programs. The various options are overviewed below along with links to schools offering them.

Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs in Las Vegas

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Usually found at community colleges, an ADN is the minimum requirement for becoming an RN. AND programs focus on the hands-on and didactic training needed to provide the best patient care. Given their hands-on nature, most require in-person courses, though some are hybrid. ADNs take two years or less to complete.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (Traditional BSN)

These four-year programs combine general education courses with clinical training and are either in-person or hybrid with lectures online and hands-on training in person. Some programs take three years if courses are also taken during the summer.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Accelerated BSN Programs

Accelerated BSNs are for those who have bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields, so they target the patient-care courses and hands-on skills needed to work as nurses. Since general education courses are already completed, these programs can take 18 months or less.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Direct-Entry MSN Programs (Master of Science in Nursing)

Those with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing can earn an MSN through direct-entry programs where they complete the hands-on clinicals and classroom training in 2-3 years depending on if they’re studying full time or part time. These programs prepare students to sit for the NCLEX and a particular specialty and are often hybrid.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Nursing Bridge Programs in Las Vegas for Current Nurses

LPN to RN and LPN to BSN Programs

Those currently working as LVNs or LPNs can earn a BSN by pulling from their past training, experience, and education. These bridge programs can be completed in about two years and lead to RN licensure.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

RN to BSN Programs

Registered nurses who hold associate degrees can take an RN to BSN program and use transfer credits to earn their BSNs quickly. Most students graduate from these programs in 18 months or less and are prepared for work in higher-level nursing positions in management and administration.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

RN to MSN Programs

Current registered nurses can earn their master’s degrees through an RN to MSN program. Past clinical work experience often counts for the hands-on portion of the degree with any additional training completed where they currently work. Many RN to MSN programs are fully online and take about two years to complete.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Advanced Nursing Programs in Las Vegas

Traditional MSN Programs (Master of Science in Nursing)

Traditional MSN programs are for nurses who want to move into advanced areas like nursing education, leadership, and informatics. Expect a fully-online program that takes two to three years, depending upon whether you’re part-time or full-time.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD Doctoral Programs

The PhD is focused on research and theory and is for those wanting to become nurse educators. The Doctor of Nursing Practice focuses on clinical work and improving the nursing practice. These programs are usually entirely online and take up to seven years to complete.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates

Those with MSNs can pursue graduate nursing certificates to prepare them for specialized areas like pediatrics, oncology, gerontology, and administration. Working professionals can take the courses at their own pace, almost always online, and complete their certificates in one to two years.

Examples of Las Vegas Nursing Schools with this Program

Financial Aid Opportunities for Nursing Students in Las Vegas

Nursing schools in Las Vegas can be expensive. Scholarships and grants, like those provided by the Nevada Nurses Foundation, don’t need to be paid back and can help offset the cost. Loans can also offer advantageous ways to erase the debt, especially those with forgiveness when working in low-income or high-need areas. Also look to schools offering fellowships or work-study opportunities. To learn more about financial aid options, visit our nursing scholarship guide, financial aid guide, and nursing student loan forgiveness guide.

How to Become an RN in Las Vegas: Licensing Requirements

The licensing requirements for becoming an RN in Las Vegas and surrounding areas are determined by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. These requirements include obtaining licensure by examination. To sit for the NCLEX-RN, students must fill out an application, provide their official transcripts, pay a fee to the state board of nursing, pay to take the test through Pearson VUE, and present their fingerprints for a background check. Visit our guide to nursing schools in Nevada, where you can find more information on licensing requirements.

Job Market and Earnings for RNs and APRNs in Las Vegas

The demand for registered nurses in Nevada is quite high and expected to grow 22% from 2018 through 2028. Nurse practitioners are in even higher demand with job growth of almost 37%. In the Las Vegas area, registered nurses can expect jobs to grow even more than at the state level, improving by almost 28%, and nurse practitioners will see their job prospects grow by 36%.

Nurse professionals in Las Vegas often work in outpatient and assisted living facilities, but the highest employment consistently appears in medical centers and hospital systems. These include MountainView Hospital and Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas as well as St. Rose Dominican Hospitals in nearby Henderson.

How Much You Could Make as a Nurse in Las Vegas

Median Hourly WageAvg. Hourly WageAvg. Annual Wage
Registered Nurses$44$45$92,720
Nurse Practitioners$56$56$115,520

Source:Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2020