Selecting the best nursing schools in Maine can be difficult. To make the process easier first look for a school that supports students toward licensure and beyond.
Nurse burnout and high turnover are some of the culprits behind the high number of vacant nurse job postings in healthcare facilities in America, and several pieces of legislation are currently before the state legislature that addresses the issue of unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios. Rural areas are where the shortages are most likely to be felt.
New graduates of the best nursing schools in Maine may be wise to get experience working with medically underserved populations even if their long-term career goals lie elsewhere.
So continue reading to know about the best nursing schools in Maine.
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10 Of The Best Nursing Schools In Maine
If you’re looking for a list of the best nursing schools in Maine, look no further. Click on a school to learn more about it and see the address to know how to get there.
Husson University
Husson University is a private university in Bangor, Maine. It offers undergraduate and graduates degrees and as of Fall 2020 had a total enrollment of 3,476 students, including 799 graduate students in master’s and doctoral programs.
The Husson University/Eastern Maine Medical Center Nursing Program brings together two institutions that share a commitment to excellence in teaching and the relevance of practical experience. It offers a 3-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter a wide variety of practice settings as beginning professional nurses.
Potential settings for practice include all areas of hospital nursing, ranging from critical care to newborn nurseries, as well as community health, clinic, psychiatric, and long-term care settings. Baccalaureate degree graduates also are prepared to pursue specialized nursing study at the master’s degree level. Husson University offers one of the best nursing programs in Maine.
A state-of-the-art learning resource laboratory located on the University campus allows students to have extensive practice in developing and refining critical-thinking and psychomotor skills. High-fidelity and hybrid simulation opportunities provide valuable active learning in a safe practice environment for all students throughout the program. The goal of all learning experiences is to prepare professional nurses who, upon graduation, are theoretically knowledgeable, clinically competent, and compassionate care providers.
The baccalaureate degree in nursing and master’s degree in nursing at Husson University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: 1 College Cir, Bangor, ME 04401, United States
Phone: +1 207-941-7000
The University of Maine at Fort Kent
Another one of the best nursing schools in Maine, the University of Maine at Fort Kent is a public college in Fort Kent, Maine. It is the northernmost campus of the University of Maine System. It is an academic center for Acadian and French American culture and heritage, and French-speaking Mainers from throughout the state. It currently has an enrollment of 1,557 students. The Saint John Valley region is a center of French American culture, and the majority of adults in the region are bilingual in French and English.
The University of Maine at Fort Kent offers one of the best nursing programs in Maine. It offers an accredited professional baccalaureate nursing program founded upon the liberal arts and sciences. The program is offered at both the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Presque Isle campuses.
Over their course of study, students gain knowledge and skill in the social, behavioral, biological, and nursing sciences. Graduates are employed in a variety of practice settings to assist individuals, families, and communities to maintain, promoting, and optimizing their health and well-being.
This program of study fosters the personal and professional growth of students and enhances the creative and intellectual abilities of those who wish to pursue advanced clinical and academic studies.
The nursing program at UMFK is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing, 161 Capitol St., Augusta, Maine, 04333-0158. The nursing program at UMFK is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: 23 University Dr, Fort Kent, ME 04743, United States
Phone: +1 207-834-7500
Also Read: 10 Best Nursing homes in Missouri
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a public university with campuses in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston in the U.S. state of Maine. It is the southernmost of the University of Maine System. It was founded as two separate state universities, Gorham Normal School and Portland University. USM offers one of the best nursing programs in Maine.
The nursing programs at USM are designed to meet you where you are and take you where you want to go. It offers a bachelor’s degree as well as a certificate and a minor focusing on holistic health.
Along with studying nursing science, students explore the liberal arts, physical sciences, and social sciences. With a broad educational foundation, students develop an understanding of how systems affect the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities across lifespans.
The bachelor’s program offers three curricular pathways, each of which is designed for a select student type, they include Traditional BS in Nursing Program, Accelerated BS in Nursing Program, and RN to BS in Nursing Program.
The pre-licensure programs are approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing. The bachelor’s and master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This school is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: 96 Falmouth St, Portland, ME 04103, United States
Phone: +1 800-800-4876
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Another one of the best nursing schools in Maine, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is a private Catholic college in Standish, Maine. It is the only Catholic college in Maine.
Saint Joseph’s was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1912 as an institution for women. The college, run by a lay and religious Board of Trustees, was located on the convent grounds in nearby Portland until 1956 when it moved to its lakeside location in Standish.
This Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a demanding, selective, and highly respected program that provides a solid foundation in nursing care in a variety of settings.
This nursing major builds upon the College’s liberal arts foundation, basic and applied sciences, and behavioral and social sciences. The program produces professional nurses who can provide care to individuals, families, and communities, in a wide diversity of environments.
Graduates qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination in the state of their choice after graduation, and each graduate has a firm foundation for continuing education and graduate study.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Saint Joseph’s College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The pre-licensure baccalaureate program is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing.
Address: 278 Whites Bridge Rd, Standish, ME 04084, United States
Phone: +1 207-892-6766
Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global, Inc (PG), formerly Kaplan University, is a public online university that operates as a public-benefit corporation. It is part of the Purdue University system and returns 12.5% of operating revenue to its prior for-profit owner Graham Holdings Company.
Purdue University Global’s programs focus on career-oriented fields of study at the credential, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The university also has three physical classroom locations and Concord Law School.
Usually, global campuses don’t offer on-campus programs. However, Purdue University Global has two locations in Maine, and nursing students can enroll in the ASN program. The ASN offers accelerated, 10-week courses and has a good NCLEX pass rate for grads.
If your goal is to earn a BSN, Purdue Global counts some of the ASN credits toward an online or on-campus RN-BSN. All undergraduate programs in New Hampshire have the same per-credit tuition rate ($315), so students can easily budget for whichever degree they plan on earning. It is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: State Farm Insurance Company, 2550 Northwestern Ave Suite 1100, West Lafayette, IN 47906, United States
Related: 10 Best Nursing Schools in Florida
The University of Maine at Orono
The University of Maine (c or UM) is a public land-grant research university in Orono, Maine. It was established in 1865 as the land-grant college of Maine and is the flagship university of the University of Maine System. It is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities Very high research activity”.
With an enrollment of approximately 11,500 students, UMaine is the state’s largest college or university. The University of Maine’s athletic teams, nicknamed the Black Bears, are Maine’s only Division I athletics program. Maine’s men’s ice hockey team has won two national championships. The University of Maine offers one of the best nursing programs in Maine.
The University of Maine established the nursing program in 1939, creating the first baccalaureate program for nurses in Maine. The nursing program later became a School of Nursing in 1958. The graduate program leading to a Master of Science degree in Nursing was first offered in 1992. Originally developed as a family nurse practitioner program, the graduate options now include individualized programs of study (I-MSN).
The Baccalaureate and Master’s programs in nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The BSN and MSN programs also are approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing. The School of Nursing is philosophically linked with the University of Maine’s mission to be the state’s center for learning, discovery, and service to the public. It is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: 168 College Ave, Orono, ME 04469, United States
Phone: +1 207-581-2592
University of New England – Biddeford Campus
Another one of the best nursing schools in Maine, the University of New England (UNE) is the largest private university in the state of Maine and the largest educator of healthcare professionals for Maine. It is organized into five colleges that combine to offer more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, online, and professional degrees.
Known predominantly for its programs in the sciences and health sciences, UNE also offers degrees in the marine sciences, data science, environmental science, mathematics, business, education, the humanities, and many other subjects.
Its College of Osteopathic Medicine is the only medical school in Maine and its College of Dental Medicine is the only dental college in northern New England. It is classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”.
At UNE, nursing instruction utilizes a variety of innovative teaching strategies, including skill-building in a state-of-the-art Simulation and Innovation Center. As a comprehensive health sciences university, it emphasizes inter-professional education, so you learn to work as part of a healthcare team.
And with the highest three-year (2016-2018) average for NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates in the state of Maine, UNE is confident that you will emerge from its program with the training and experience you need to start making a difference in patients’ lives.
The University of New England’s Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Address: 11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME 04005, United States
Phone: +1 207-283-0171
Central Maine Community College
Central Maine Community College is a public community college in Auburn, Maine. It is part of the Maine Community College System. It offers one of the best nursing programs in Maine.
Central Maine Community College offers a variety of 1-2 year degrees that lead to high-growth and high-paying jobs. As a community college, CMCC doesn’t offer any four-year degrees, so no BSN is available.
However, CMCC has an excellent ASN program that’s only gotten better over the past few years. This program takes less than two years to complete and leads to RN licensure in Maine. Also, students can always earn a BSN through an online RN-BSN through another Maine school.
The Nursing associate in science degree blends general education courses with nursing courses to provide a sound theoretical and experiential background for nursing practice. Students complete faculty-led clinical rotations at local healthcare affiliates throughout the nursing component of the program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX) for licensure as registered nurses. This is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: 1250 Turner St, Auburn, ME 04210, United States
Phone: +1 207-755-5100
Related: 6 best-accelerated nursing programs in Iowa
Southern Maine Community College
Southern Maine Community College is a public community college in South Portland, Maine. It is part of the Maine Community College System. It offers one of the best nursing programs in Maine.
The associate nursing program leads to RN licensure and offers an upgrade option for current licensed practical nurses (LPNs). SMCC estimates that the associate program takes just over four semesters to complete, but students studying full-time and year-round can complete this program in under two years.
The Nursing program prepares individuals to become registered nurses at the associate degree level. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX Registered Nurse (RN) licensure examination for entry into practice.
The curriculum blends nursing and general education courses to provide a sound theoretical base for nursing practice. Diverse clinical experiences are concurrent with didactic experiences during the four semesters.
The Nursing program is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). It is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: 2 Fort Rd, South Portland, ME 04106, United States
Phone: +1 207-741-5500
Maine College of Health Professions
The Maine College of Health Professions (MCHP) is a private college in Lewiston, Maine, affiliated with Central Maine Medical Center. It was founded in 1891 and began granting associate degrees in 1977, taking its current name in 2014.
MCHP is the only college in Maine with regional accreditation and hospital affiliation to offer both an RN to Bachelor of Science degree in addition to the Associate Degree in Nursing. Earning a bachelor’s degree can help you improve your skills, advance your career, and increase your earnings.
Students will develop and broaden clinical judgment, collaboration, and leadership skills. Continue to develop and broaden critical thinking, communication skills, and the practice of nursing. It offers one of the best nursing programs in Maine.
The program is currently a hybrid of classroom and online learning with a final clinical capstone course. The program accepts both new graduates and practicing nurses who have earned their Associate degree in Nursing. Prior credits may be transferable.
As the name implies, the Maine College of Health Professionals offers degrees that lead to high-growth healthcare positions. MCHP boasts a 100% job placement rate for all recent grads. Students interested in nursing can enroll in the associate nursing program which leads to RN licensure.
After, if students want a BSN, they can enroll in MCHP’s online RN-BSN. The path to a BSN isn’t traditional, but students can complete all their education through MCHP. MCHP is one of the best nursing schools in Maine.
Address: 70 Middle St, Lewiston, ME 04240, United States
Phone: +1 207-795-2840
Conclusion
This guide aims to help you make the best choice for the best nursing schools in Maine. Hopefully, you can make an educated decision on the best nursing program in Maine for you.
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Pharm Somtochukwu Oluka P. is a licensed pharmacist with a burning desire to explore his zeal and interest in the field of pharmacy.
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