Nursing Schools in Nashville, TN: Best Online & Campus Programs

Belmont University has a robust nursing school that provides a wealth of graduate and undergraduate degrees, including a Bachelor of Nursing degree, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. In addition to traditional entry into the BSN program, Belmont also offers direct entry BSN pathway that allows admittance into the nursing program and school at the same time. The MSN leads to advanced practice as a family nurse practitioner while also creating a foundation for the DNP program, which takes a hybrid approach to allow students to further their education and hone their skills and knowledge while continuing to work full time.

With five simulation labs, including the daily living laboratory that allows nurses to observe and discover the issues facing the elderly when they are living on their own, the Gordon E. Inman Center is the heartbeat of Belmont’s nursing school. The school’s NCLEX-RN pass rates (93%) and the FNP Certification Pass Rate (100%) are also impressive and reflect the rigorous and comprehensive learning you can expect from this institution.

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing offers students the distinct advantage of its connection to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As top-notch healthcare facility, it attracts doctors, nurses, and patients from across the globe. Vanderbilt’s comprehensive nursing programs include a Master of Science in Nursing with two tracks, a PhD in Nursing Science, and a DNP. The school also offers post-master’s certificates, a two-year post-doctoral program, and more than a dozen specializations for its graduate programs. Especially ambitious students can opt for the MSN/MDiv and MSN/MTS dual degree programs.

Entry into Vanderbilt’s programs is available to those with bachelor’s degrees in a field other than nursing and to BSNs. New college students interested in pursuing nursing at Vanderbilt first earn their BA or BS and complete certain prerequisites before moving into the advanced programs offered in the School of Nursing.

The School of Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University offers a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree nursing program that results in eligibility to sit for the NCLEX. The program includes 41 hours of general education courses and 72 hours of major nursing requirements. The school also offers an MSN with concentrations in family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. For those who already have an MSN degree, there’s the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program as well.

The NCLEX-RN pass rate for graduates of Middle Tennessee’s nursing programs is an impressive 96%, and the certification rate for FNPs is just over 96% for first-time test takers. Resources available to students include peer-to-peer tutoring, simulation labs, student organizations, scholarships, academic advising, and more. The application process for MTSU’s nursing programs is now online.

Galen College of Nursing offers many online options in addition to its traditional on-campus programs. Its online RN to BSN helps students obtain their bachelor’s degrees while working full-time. The mobile-friendly program can be completed in a year and to better accommodate student schedules, it offers six start dates per year with classes that are 8-weeks long. The online MSN is designed for students who need the freedom and flexibility of online learning to meet their career goals and continue working while in school.

Galen College of Nursing uses the Transfer Evaluation System, so students can figure out exactly how many of their credits will transfer before they enroll. The school also has an Associate Degree in Nursing, a three-year Bachelor of Nursing, an LPN to ADN bridge program, and a post-master’s Nurse Educator Certificate that are in-person.

South College hosts numerous nursing programs, including several offered either partially or fully online. While the BSN, the RN to BSN, and the accelerated BSN are all available at the Nashville campus, the RN to BSN as well as an MSN are available entirely online. The RN to BSN program focuses on critical thinking, evidence-based care, research, and leadership and offers specialized training in fields like informatics and community nursing. Its clinical component takes place virtually and at community facilities convenient for students. The coursework is offered asynchronously online, meaning students can take classes not only from anywhere, but at any time that fits their schedule.

The MSN’s five concentrations – psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care, and nurse executive – are all offered online. The DNP with Nurse Executive concentration is also available fully online. Grants are available specifically for those who take online courses, and online students also receive technical support, tutoring, and career services.

Utilizing a clinical partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas, Marian University provides students with the opportunity for blended learning through an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This program combines classwork that can be completed online with hands-on clinicals on campus or at a designated medical facility. Classes focus on areas like obstetrics and pediatrics, acute and long-term care, and mental and behavioral health. With site locations in five states and diverse clinical placements, the program has a high enrollment capacity.

Designed for non-nurses with bachelor’s degrees in another area, this accelerated BSN program takes as little as 16 months to complete. It’s taught from a faith-based perspective and has three start dates per year. It also boasts an NCLEX-RN pass rate that’s consistently above the national average.