Spring 2015 - College Of Nursing: Fill & Download for Free

Top 50 nursing school in Southeast United States…as per QS RANKING…are mentioned below:#1: Duke University | Durham, NCThe National League for Nursing (NLN) has twice designated Duke University a Center of Excellence (COE): in 2013 for promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty, and in 2015 for enhancing student learning and professional development. The School of Nursing consistently ranks among the highest in the nation among U.S. News & World Report’s top master of science in nursing (MSN) programs, and it was the first school in North Carolina to offer the doctor of nursing practice degree. Duke also graduates 130-150 students each year from its accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program, who have passed the NCLEX exam at a stellar rate of 98% since 2010.#2: Emory University | Atlanta, GAThe Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University is home to approximately 600 students enrolled in BSN, ABSN, MSN, PhD, and DNP programs. The university is consistently ranked among the top ten graduate nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report, including a number of highly rated specialty programs. At the undergraduate level, Emory produces approximately 200 BSN graduates annually who have passed the NCLEX-RN examination at a 90% rate since 2008. The nursing school has an impressive 82% employment rate immediately after graduation, and students have landed positions at more than 500 diverse clinical sites nationwide.#3: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center | New Orleans, LAThe LSU Health School of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence for promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty. Undergraduate students can select from a traditional four-year BSN, an RN-to-BSN degree completion program, and the Career Alternative RN Education (CARE) pathway. The CARE BSN is designed for individuals who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The university’s prelicensure BSN students have averaged a 96% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, including an astonishing nine consecutive years at a 95% pass rate or higher. At the graduate level, LSU Health offers two MSN specializations (clinical nurse leader, nurse educator), an impressive 11 distinct DNP concentrations, and the unique Doctor of Nursing Science degree program.#4: Samford University | Birmingham, ALThe Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing at Samford University is home to more than 700 nursing students. The undergraduate BSN program offers four education pathways, including a traditional four-year degree, standard and accelerated versions of the second-degree program, and a unique Veterans’ BSN. In total, Samford graduates over 100 newly minted RNs annually. These BSN students have passed the NCLEX exam at a 94% first-try rate over the past eight years, including an incredible 99% pass rate for the class of 2015. Samford’s graduate nursing curriculum includes specialty programs for family nursing practice, health systems and administration, nursing anesthesia, and nurse education.#5: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NCThe UNC School of Nursing was the first in the state to offer a four-year BSN, an MSN degree, a nurse practitioner (NP) program, and a doctor of philosophy (PhD) in nursing. The school, which also offers RN-to-BSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificate programs, ranks near the top 20 in the nation on two separate U.S. News & World Report lists (best MSN programs, best DNP programs). The traditional BSN program graduates a class of approximately 175 students annually, who have passed the NCLEX licensure exam at a rate of 96% since 2010.#6: East Carolina University | Greenville, NCEast Carolina University has garnered multiple designations as an NLN COE over the last few years. The ECU College of Nursing offers traditional BSN, accelerated BSN (ABSN), and RN-to-BSN pathways, plus the innovative Eastern North Carolina Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses program. This initiative dually admits students to ECU and one of six local community colleges that partner with the university. The College of Nursing’s 250 annual BSN graduates consistently pass the NCLEX exam at a rate of 96% or better, including a phenomenal 98% pass rate during 2015. ECU also offers a breadth of graduate nursing options including MSN, DNP, and PhD programs.#7: Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SCMUSC College of Nursing is ranked #3 in the nation among online graduate nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers MSN, DNP, and nursing science PhD programs, all of which can be completed predominantly online with just a few required visits to campus. MUSC also offers an online RN-to-BSN degree completion program and an on-campus, 16-month accelerated BSN. Nearly 600 students attend MUSC College of Nursing in total, and approximately 100-150 students graduate from the ABSN program in two cohorts annually. These graduates have enjoyed a stellar NCLEX exam pass rate of 94% over the past decade.#8: University of Miami | Coral Gables, FLThe University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) will soon host one of the nation’s first education-based simulation hospitals. The school historically ranks in the top 25 nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among nursing schools. A member of the respected UHealth family, SONHS offers BSN, ABSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD degrees in many specializations. Post-master’s certificates are also on the menu. SONHS graduates 160-200 students annually from its flagship prelicensure BSN program. During the 2010-16 time period, more than 94% of these students passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam on their first try.#9: University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NCThe UNCG School of Nursing has earned multiple COE designations from the National League for Nursing in recent years. The school offers three undergraduate pathways: traditional four-year BSN, RN-to-BSN, and BSN as a second degree. UNCG graduates close to 100 prelicensure BSN students annually, who have achieved a strong NCLEX exam pass rate of 91% since 2010. The school’s online MSN program is ranked near the top 50 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report. UNCG also offers a dual MSN / master of business administration (MBA) degree and very selective DNP and PhD programs.#10: University of Florida | Gainesville, FLUF College of Nursing is the oldest baccalaureate and graduate nursing school in Florida. The university launched the state’s first NP program and its first BSN-to-PhD track. Currently, UF offers BSN, ABSN, and RN-to-BSN programs to approximately 700 undergraduate students. Graduates of the BSN program have passed the NCLEX-RN exam at a remarkable rate of 93% from 2010-2016. The College of Nursing also educates 370 graduate nursing students, offering BSN and MSN entry points to both its DNP and PhD programs. Specialization certificates can be earned in nurse education and five nurse practitioner fields.#11: Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TNVanderbilt University School of Nursing focuses solely on graduate nursing study. The university offers traditional and direct-entry MSN programs, 11 distinct post-master’s certificates for aspiring advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and two doctoral options (DNP and PhD). The direct-entry MSN program graduates approximately 150 new nurses annually who have passed the NCLEX exam at a 93% first-try rate over the past decade. Vanderbilt’s APRN specialties run the gamut from family nurse practitioner to nurse-midwifery to nursing informatics. The MSN program also partners with Vanderbilt Divinity School to offer two innovative dual degrees.#12: University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VAThe University of Virginia School of Nursing was recently ranked among the top four percent of nursing schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers an impressive breadth of program options, including prelicensure BSN, RN-to-BSN, seven distinct MSN tracks, two DNP entry points, and a PhD in nursing science. UVA graduates two BSN classes each spring: one of approximately 90 students on the main Charlottesville campus, and one of 15-25 students from the College at Wise. Both cohorts have maintained approximately a 90% NCLEX pass rate over the past five years. UVA’s direct-entry clinical nurse leader students have performed even better on the licensure exam, with a 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past five years and a perfect pass rate in 2017.#13: Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VAThe VCU School of Nursing boasts a state-of-the-art Clinical Learning Center with a skills lab and two intensive care simulation suites. The center was recognized in 2010 as a Laerdal Center of Educational Excellence. VCU also provides nursing students with 45,000 square feet of classrooms, auditoriums, and research laboratories. The university offers three BSN pathways (traditional, accelerated, RN completion), five MSN concentrations, and both doctoral nursing degrees (DNP and PhD). VCU graduates approximately 150 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have passed the NCLEX exam at an impressive 93% first-try rate over the past decade.#14: University of Kentucky | Lexington, KYThe University of Kentucky College of Nursing created the nation’s first DNP program and Kentucky’s first nursing PhD program. UK was also the first nurse researcher in the U.S. to be awarded a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant. Home to more than 1,400 students, the college provides four BSN pathways: traditional, second degree, MedVet-to-BSN, and RN-to-BSN. Over the last decade, UK’s 160-180 annual BSN graduates have enjoyed an astonishing 97% NCLEX pass rate, including three consecutive years of 99% or higher. The college also offers graduate certificate programs in four nurse practitioner specialties, clinical nurse specialist, and populations and organizational systems leadership.#15: University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, ALUAB School of Nursing is nationally ranked among the top three percent of nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report. The school provides several unique opportunities for veterans, Peace Corps volunteers, and nurse practitioner students who plan to provide primary care in one of Alabama’s rural counties upon graduation. UAB offers two BSN entry points (traditional, ADN) and two MSN entry points (BSN, second degree), as well as DNP and PhD programs. The school’s traditional BSN program has more than 250 graduates annually, and they are well prepared for their licensure exams, tallying a 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past eight years.#16: University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NCThe UNC Charlotte School of Nursing achieved a 92% NCLEX pass rate among its 2016 BSN graduates. Just as impressively, August 2015 graduates of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AG-ACNP) MSN track achieved a 100% pass rate on their certification exam. In addition to traditional BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees, UNC Charlotte leads an interdisciplinary, collaborative PhD program in the College of Health and Human Services. The school also offers an online RN-to-BSN completion program, an RIBN option in partnership with local community colleges, and several post-master’s and graduate certificates.#17: Mercer University | Atlanta, GAGeorgia Baptist College of Nursing is part of Mercer University. The school consists of two campuses: an Atlanta campus where the main nursing college is located, and a Macon campus where students take pre-nursing coursework. Georgia Baptist offers two BSN pathways (traditional, RN-to-BSN), two MSN tracks (adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner), and two doctoral degrees with a hybrid online format (DNP, PhD). The college is the second-largest Baptist-affiliated institution in the world, with access to more than 30 clinical sites for valuable hands-on experience. Georgia Baptist graduates 120-140 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have achieved a superior 94% NCLEX exam pass rate over the past decade.#18: Marymount University | Arlington, VAThe Malek School of Health Professions houses the Marymount University nursing department. Each year, approximately 50 students graduate from the school’s traditional BSN program, and roughly 100 students complete the accelerated BSN program. Across these two pathways, graduates have passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam at a strong 90% rate over the past decade. Marymount University also offers a hybrid online RN-to-BSN program, an MSN degree with a family nurse practitioner focus, and an online DNP program that requires just one on-campus component per semester. Clinical experiences and internships take place at some of Virginia’s leading healthcare organizations.#19: Belmont University | Nashville, TNBelmont University’s School of Nursing has program options for students new to nursing, RNs looking to complete their baccalaureate education, and seasoned nurses seeking career advancement. Undergraduate offerings include a traditional four-year BSN, an accelerated BSN, and an RN-to-BSN program. Belmont graduates 100-150 prelicensure BSN students each spring, who have posted an impressive first-time NCLEX pass rate of 91% over the past decade. Graduate options include MSN, post-bachelor’s DNP, and post-master’s DNP programs. The School of Nursing provides several innovative opportunities in its curriculum, include the Cambodia Study Abroad Program and the Nursing Christian Fellowship.#20: James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VAThe School of Nursing at James Madison University has a number of unique offerings for nursing students, including international study abroad opportunities in Costa Rica, Spain, Tanzania, and Malta. JMU offers a broad range of nursing programs, from traditional BSN and RN-to-BSN pathways to MSN and DNP degrees. A chronic illness minor is also on the menu. Undergraduates have posted a stellar 92% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN national licensure exam over the past decade. JMU’s graduate nursing students can pursue concentrations in clinical nurse leader, nurse administrator, nurse midwifery, and three nurse practitioner roles (adult / gerontology primary care, family, psychiatric mental health).#21: University of South Carolina | Columbia, SCThe USC College of Nursing has the #5 online graduate nursing program in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. USC’s graduate nursing curriculum includes several MSN, post-master’s certificate, and DNP specializations – all delivered online – as well as an on-campus PhD program with flexible scheduling and tuition support. At the undergraduate level, the College of Nursing offers a traditional four-year nursing degree and an online RN-to-BSN pathway. USC produces the largest number of prelicensure BSN graduates in the state with approximately 200 annually, or roughly 20% of the statewide total. These newly minted nurses have passed the NCLEX exam at a rate of 92% or higher in each of the past seven years, including a stellar 98% pass rate in 2017.#22: George Mason University | Fairfax, VAGeorge Mason’s College of Health and Human Services houses the 40-year-old School of Nursing. The school has produced so many successful graduates that one in three nurses practicing in the DC metropolitan area is a GMU alumnus. Baccalaureate pathways include traditional BSN, accelerated second-degree BSN, RN-to-BSN, and two co-enrollment programs. The ABSN program has maintained an impressive 95% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam since its recent launch. GMU also offers MSN concentrations for nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and nursing administrators; an RN-to-MSN bridge program; post-master’s certificates in nursing education and family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner; and both types of nursing doctoral programs (DNP and PhD).#23: University of North Carolina at Wilmington | Wilmington, NCThe UNC Wilmington School of Nursing has 1,000 current students and more than 2,100 alumni in North Carolina alone. Undergraduates can pursue a traditional prelicensure BSN, an online RN-to-BSN program, or a unique Bachelor of Science in Clinical Research degree – one of just four such programs in the United States. UNC Wilmington’s prelicensure BSN students have enjoyed a 94% NCLEX pass rate since 2010, with a stellar 98% pass rate in 2015. The school’s graduate offerings include an MSN with FNP focus, a Master of Science in Clinical Research degree, post-master’s FNP and NED certificates, and a newly launched DNP program.#24: Clemson University | Clemson, SCThe College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences is home to Clemson University’s School of Nursing, which has twice earned the prestigious designation as an NLN Center of Excellence. Clemson offers three pathways at the undergraduate level: a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN, and an RN-to-BSN completion program. Approximately 100 prelicensure students graduate annually, and they have consistently scored an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 90-96% for at least ten consecutive years. The graduate nursing department offers four MSN tracks: family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education. Clemson recently launched an online post-master’s DNP program, and it also teaches an innovative PhD in healthcare genetics.#25: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock, ARThe UAMS College of Nursing provides education to more than 600 nursing students. It is the only Arkansas university with four distinct programs – BSN, MSN, APRN certificates, and DNP – all maximally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The college also offers two degree completion tracks (RN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN-to-MSN) and the state’s only nursing PhD program. Each spring, UAMS graduates 100-175 BSN students who perform very strongly on the licensure exam, including an NCLEX pass rate of 91% over the past ten years.#26: University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, ALThe University of Alabama is home to the Capstone College of Nursing (CCN), which educates nearly 1,800 students in total. More than 1,240 students are enrolled in CCN’s traditional BSN program. Graduates of this program have performed extremely well on the NCLEX-RN exam, posting a 95% pass rate over the past eight years. Another 170 CCN students take advantage of the school’s unique RN mobility program, which includes RN-to-BSN and RN-to-BSN-to-MSN options. The rest are enrolled in MSN, DNP, and doctorate in nursing education (EdD) programs. CCN’s MSN programs prepare nurses for APRN, CNL, and case management roles.#27: Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NCThe School of Nursing at Western Carolina University offers a breadth of nursing pathways. Options include four BSN programs (traditional, accelerated, online RN-to-BSN, and RIBN), an MSN degree, post-MSN certificates, and a DNP program in nurse anesthesia. Graduates of the traditional and accelerated BSN programs have achieved a phenomenal 98% first-time NCLEX pass rate since 2010. The RIBN program provides students with a seamless four-year, associate-to-baccalaureate nursing education. Unlike in a traditional BSN program, RIBN students have the opportunity to begin working as an RN at the start of their fourth year. The MSN program has specialty tracks in family nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and nursing leadership, with the final two options offered online.#28: Georgia State University | Atlanta, GAGeorgia State University is home to the Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions. The school offers its nursing students more than 200 clinical practice sites, including trauma / intensive care wards, long-term care facilities, and home care services. Georgia State has traditional, accelerated, and degree completion pathways to the BSN degree. The BSN program’s 120-140 annual prelicensure graduates have posted a strong NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91% over the past decade. Graduate nursing students can pursue four NP specialties (adult health, pediatrics, family, psychiatric-mental health), an adult-gerontology CNS degree, or a focus on nursing leadership in healthcare innovations.#29: Bellarmine University | Louisville, KYThe Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Sciences offers both a traditional four-year BSN and an accelerated second degree pathway. The school graduates 130-150 BSN students each year, who have scored an impressive 94% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam over the past decade. The graduate nursing department offers an MSN with tracks in education, administration, and family nursing practice; an MSN/MBA dual degree; and a DNP with focuses in advanced nursing practice and executive leadership. Bellarmine offers study abroad programs in Australia and Sweden, service learning experiences in Appalachia and Guatemala, and overseas volunteer missions.#30: Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FLNova Southeastern University’s College of Nursing enrolls more than 1,300 students from coast to coast. Nursing programs are offered at the university’s primary campus in Fort Lauderdale, through satellite campuses in Miami and Fort Myers, and online. The prelicensure BSN program graduates 150-250 new nurses each year, who have passed the NCLEX exam at rates as high as 91% in recent years. NSU also offers RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs through its undergraduate nursing department. Graduate nursing students can pursue three nonclinical MSN tracks, two clinical MSN tracks for aspiring nurse practitioners, an online DNP, or a PhD focused on nursing education.#31: Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VAThe School of Nursing is the largest of five professional schools in ODU’s College of Health Sciences. In addition to BSN, MSN, DNP, and graduate certificate programs, the school offers a unique concurrent enrollment option. This pathway enables qualified students to complete associate in applied science (AAS) requirements, take the NCLEX-RN exam, and then earn the BSN degree with just one or two additional semesters of study. ODU’s annual graduating class of 60-90 BSN students has consistently earned high marks on the NCLEX licensure examination, with 90% passing on the first attempt over the last decade.#32: Georgia College | Milledgeville, GAGeorgia College graduates approximately 100 students from its prelicensure BSN program each year. These students have posted consistently excellent scores on the NCLEX licensure exam, with a cumulative 96% pass rate since 2008. The School of Nursing also offers an RN-to-BSN degree completion program, two MSN majors (FNP and NED), a post-master’s FNP certificate, and a post-master’s DNP that can be completed in just five semesters of fulltime study. The DNP program is offered in an online, executive-style format with minimal campus requirements.#33: University of Central Florida | Orlando, FLThe UCF College of Nursing is a recognized leader in online education. The school’s online MSN program recently ranked among the top three in Florida and the top 50 in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. UCF offers six distinct MSN tracks: three NP specialties, nursing leadership, healthcare simulation, and nurse education. Several of these tracks are also offered to DNP students. For undergraduates, UCF provides five BSN pathways including a Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP) for active-duty military students. BSN graduates routinely perform well on the licensure exam, with a phenomenal 96% NCLEX pass rate from 2010-2016.#34: Union University | Jackson, TNThe Union University School of Nursing offers well more than 15 different nursing programs. Undergraduates can pursue five pathways to a BSN degree: traditional, accelerated, LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, and a unique First Step to BSN program which helps adult students with few college credits earn their degree. The school graduates 130-140 prelicensure BSN students annually who have passed the NCLEX exam at a 93% rate since 2010, well above state and national averages. Union’s graduate nursing students can pursue one of six MSN tracks, six DNP tracks, or seven graduate certificates in nursing.#35: Jefferson College of Health Sciences | Roanoke, VAJefferson College of Health Sciences is the oldest hospital-based college in Virginia and an academic pillar of Carilion Clinic. Undergraduate students can select from two prelicensure programs (traditional and accelerated) and an online RN-to-BSN program. The traditional program follows a four-year curriculum, while the accelerated program is a 16-month track for students who hold a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing discipline. Traditional BSN students have achieved a solid 87% NCLEX pass rate since the program’s launch, while accelerated BSN students have posted an excellent 93% NCLEX pass rate. The School of Graduate and Professional Studies offers an MSN degree with family nurse practitioner and nursing administration tracks.#36: Radford University | Radford, VARadford University School of Nursing has an average enrollment of over 600 students. Approximately 300 are in the lower division, 280 are in the upper division, and more than 50 are in the doctoral program. The school offers a traditional BSN degree at two campus locations (Radford and Roanoke), a 100% online RN-to-BSN program, and DNP concentrations in family nurse practitioner, nurse executive leadership, and psychiatric mental health. BSN graduates perform exceedingly well on the licensure exam: the main Radford campus has posted a 95% NCLEX pass rate since 2013, while Roanoke students have passed the exam at a 94% rate. The university’s DNP program is specifically tailored towards rural care scenarios.#37: Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TNLMU’s Caylor School of Nursing offers programs across seven physical sites and a robust online platform. The school’s main campus in Harrogate offers ASN, BSN, and MSN programs. Three satellite locations offer ASN programs only: Alcoa, TN; Corbin, KY; and Physicians Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. The Cedar Bluff site in Knoxville offers LMU’s BSN and MSN programs, while the Kingsport Center for Higher Education offers just the MSN program. A partnership with Florida Hospital provides accelerated ASN and BSN programs in Tampa, while the online platform delivers the school’s RN-to-BSN and DNP programs. LMU students from all campuses perform well on their licensure exams. Over the past five years, 92% of BSN students and 91% of ASN students have passed the NCLEX-RN exam on their first attempt.#38: Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TNSouthern Adventist University’s School of Nursing is housed in Florida Hospital Hall, a state-of-the-art center for nursing education. The school’s prelicensure pathways are a traditional ASN degree and an LPN-to-RN bridge program. Over the past decade, graduates of these associate’s degree programs have maintained an 88% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam. Registered nurses seeking further education can pursue an RN-to-BSN or RN-to-MSN completion program. The graduate nursing department leads MSN and DNP programs with numerous emphasis areas, including several NP roles. The School of Nursing offers a unique option in alternating years that allows students to begin clinical nursing classes during the summer months.#39: Florida State University | Tallahassee, FLThe FSU College of Nursing launched Florida’s first nationally accredited baccalaureate nursing degree program. Today, the college offers the latest BSN options, including an accelerated second-degree program and a Veterans BSN that started in January 2016. The College of Nursing produces over 80 BSN graduates each year, and these students passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam at a strong 92% rate from 2010 to 2016. FSU graduate students can pursue an MSN, DNP, or graduate certificate in popular specializations like nurse educator, nurse leader, and psychiatric mental health. The vast majority of graduate instruction is delivered online.#40: Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, LAThe School of Nursing at Loyola University New Orleans is home to more than 650 students. Loyola offers its BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs entirely online. The BSN offering, launched in 2010, is an RN completion program that requires just 121 credit hours to earn a baccalaureate degree. Loyola’s MSN program focuses on healthcare systems management; it includes a Bridge to Leadership Education for Nurses at a Distance (BLEND) option for RNs with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees. The DNP curriculum has nurse practitioner and executive nurse leader tracks, with entry points for both BSN-educated and MSN-educated nurses.#41: University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Knoxville, TNThe UT College of Nursing enrolls approximately 750 students across its academic programs. Seventy percent of these students pursue a BSN degree through one of three pathways: a traditional four-year program, an accelerated 12-month option, or an RN-to-BSN completion program. UT’s 100-plus BSN graduates are well-prepared for the NCLEX exam, achieving a 93% pass rate over the past decade. The remaining thirty percent of nursing students pursue an MSN, DNP, or PhD degree. UT’s graduate nursing department offers concentrations for aspiring nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and nursing administrators. Students have the opportunity to participate in the school’s International Outreach Program, which includes an immersive service mission to Costa Rica.#42: AdventHealth University | Orlando, FLAdventHealth University (AHU) works closely with AdventHealth Orlando, one of Central Florida’s largest hospitals, to give students the clinical experience and world-class facilities that only a major medical center can provide. In fact, AdventHealth Orlando is the largest of more than 590 healthcare facilities operated worldwide by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. AHU’s nursing programs include a GBSN (generic bachelor of science) with a blended learning format, an online RN-to-BSN, MSN degrees in nursing education and administration / leadership, and a doctor of nurse anesthesia practice (DNAP). Since the inception of the GBSN program, graduates have scored a 90% pass rate on the NCLEX national licensure examination.#43: Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | Baton Rouge, LAThe School of Nursing at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) offers two BSN tracks: a traditional prelicensure program and a postlicensure RN-to-BSN pathway offered 100% online. Prelicensure students have passed the NCLEX exam at an 84% first-time pass rate since the program’s inception. Clinical sites include acute care hospitals, clinics, community care centers, and schools. FranU also has skills laboratories that employ high-fidelity human simulation manikins and static manikins in a realistic setting designed to mirror the actual clinical arena. The university’s graduate nursing curriculum includes three MSN specializations (family nurse practitioner, nurse administrator, nurse educator) and a DNP nurse anesthesia program.#44: Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FLFlorida Gulf Coast University’s School of Nursing sits within the Elaine Nicpon Marieb College of Health & Human Services. FGCU’s nursing students can earn degrees ranging from a BSN to a DNP. The School of Nursing graduates 50-80 BSN students annually, and they have posted an exceptional NCLEX-RN pass rate of 94% since 2010. The MSN degree program offers specializations in nurse anesthesia, nurse educator, and primary healthcare nurse practitioner. FGCU also offers post-BSN and post-MSN pathways to a DNP degree. The MSN-to-DNP program can be completed in just five semesters of full-time study or eight semesters of part-time study.#45: Liberty University | Lynchburg, VAThe Liberty University School of Nursing offers degree programs at all levels. Undergraduate options include a residential BSN for individuals with no nursing experience and two online pathways for working nurses (RN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN-to-MSN). Approximately 150 students graduate annually from the residential BSN program, and they have achieved an excellent 93% NCLEX pass rate since 2012. Graduate students can pursue three MSN specializations (nursing administration, nurse educator, nursing informatics), two dual degree options (MBA, MSHA), and two nurse practitioner roles in the DNP program (family, psychiatric mental health). Liberty University also leads a summer nurse camp for high school students where attendees learn basic nursing skills, obtain CPR certification, and participate in team-building activities.#46: Anderson University | Anderson, SCThe School of Nursing at Anderson University offers a flexible breadth of options across its BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs. At the undergraduate level, the traditional BSN is available for first-time college students, while the accelerated BSN is designed for students with college credit or a degree in a non-nursing field. These prelicensure tracks have scored an 89% cumulative NCLEX pass rate since their recent launch, including a phenomenal 98% pass rate in 2017. At the graduate level, AU offers MSN concentrations in executive leadership, family nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. The DNP program also offers specializations in three of these areas (leadership, FNP, and PMHNP) plus advanced practice.#47: University of South Alabama | Mobile, ALThe College of Nursing at University of South Alabama offers numerous BSN and MSN pathways. Options include traditional BSN and MSN programs, early acceptance for high school seniors and college freshmen, an accelerated BSN/MSN program for baccalaureate-educated non-nurses, and RN completion programs (e.g., RN-to-BSN, RN-to-MSN, or RN-to-BSN/MSN). South Alabama’s graduating BSN class is large (250-300 students annually) and well-prepared for the NCLEX exam, with an 88% pass rate over the past eight years. The MSN program offers specialties that run the gamut from adult-gerontology acute care to family practice to neonatal nursing, with in-demand subspecialties like cardiovascular care, oncology, and palliative care.#48: Frontier Nursing University | Hyden, KYFrontier Nursing University is home to the nation’s first family nurse practitioner (FNP) program, as well as the largest and oldest continually operating nurse-midwifery program. In fact, FNU’s nurse-midwifery curriculum is consistently ranked among the top 25 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The university also offers specialization as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner or a women’s healthcare nurse practitioner. FNU’s MSN program offers an ADN bridge entry option, and its innovative DNP program enables seamless transition from an MSN or post-graduate certificate program. The DNP curriculum features online coursework conducted in small cohorts, typically just 20-25 students apiece.#49: University of West Georgia | Carrollton, GeorgiaTanner Health System School of Nursing (THSSON) at the University of West Georgia offers a prelicensure BSN program, an RN-to-BSN pathway, an MSN degree, and a doctorate (EdD) in nursing education. The MSN has role options in education and health systems leadership; post-master’s certification is also available in both areas. The THSSON doctorate degree, master’s program, and RN-to-BSN pathway can each be completed 100% online. By contrast, the four-year BSN program is campus-based and graduates approximately 100 newly minted nurses each spring. Over the past decade, these students have achieved a solid 90% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.#50: Lander University | Greenwood, SCLander University is home to the William Preston Turner School of Nursing, one of the first institutions in South Carolina to deploy an online RN-to-BSN program. The university also offers a traditional prelicensure BSN pathway as well as an MSN degree with a clinical nurse leader specialization. The traditional BSN program is open to high school graduates, transfer students, and individuals who already hold a degree in another field. Approximately 35-50 prelicensure BSN students complete the program annually; they have achieved an excellent 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, including a perfect 100% pass rate in 2017. The MSN program prepares students to sit for the CNL certification exam administered by the Commission on Nurse Certification.

I used to be like you. Now I know why I study. And it’s made all the difference.(I sit on the floor a lot)Here’s a timeline of my college history to illustrate.2010, March: Graduated with the 2nd best high school diploma. No idea what to do with my life, but since I was good at school, more school seemed to make sense. Wanted to make lots of money and study “something with business.”(the school principal handing me one of the prizes)Asked my uncle, who’s a partner at a big consulting company, what to do, he said: Get a degree in Industrial Engineering & Management. So I did.2010, October: Started school at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Realized within 3 months that the workload was insane and that the glory days of breezing through school were over.2011, March: After working 50+ hrs a week the entire semester, I passed 8 exams with an average grade of B. Decided attending classes was useless (not mandatory in Germany).(the nights at the library were long)2011, October: Same workload, just learned everything through self-study. End result? All B’s. Decided I’d now find the right mix.2012, March: After going only to the classes where it made sense (and postponing the 2 most difficult exams of the degree), I had the perfect hybrid system. End result: all B’s - AGAIN. WTF?!2012, October: I escape to the US for an exchange semester at UMASS Dartmouth, 1 hour south of Boston. I manage to arrange taking 2 math and 2 statistics classes, which would let me replace the 2 exams I was afraid of in Germany.2012, November: In spite of doing all the homework, keeping up with classes, and getting mostly As so far, I somehow have a TON of time on my hands to travel with other exchange students, go to parties, etc. Starting to wonder if the German system is messed up.2012, December: I start waking up at 5 AM, reading lots of blogs and books and working on my habits. Read The Alchemist. Pretty convinced consulting is NOT the right gig for me at this point.(those 5 AM sunrises were magnificent)2013, January: I extend my stay through the Spring term, decide to travel more and find myself.2013, May: After returning home, I have been to 20 US states, Canada and Mexico. I throw out all of my stuff. I think college is BS and want to start a business, but have no idea how.2014, February: Having barely made it through my last exams, I still have my thesis ahead of me. Naturally, I decide to procrastinate with a 6-month internship and end up at BMW M in Munich.(not the worst day at work)2014, September: A taste of the corporate world has shown me how comfortably you can breeze along and make money, but also that it’d bore me to death. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and write my entire thesis in 4 days.2014, October: Degree done! I decide to take a 1-year break to do my own thing. I start a blog, translating service and coaching people right away.2015, June: Freelancing is hard, but writing is fun. I know I want to work for myself long-term, but that I’ll have to build it on the side, because I’m not that great at being an entrepreneur. I apply to business school for a graduate degree in Mannheim, but get turned down.2016, June: After another year of freelancing and starting to see first results with an online business, I get accepted at Technical University of Munich for a Master’s degree in Management & Technology.(let’s start over - again)2017, February: I work a lot. I spend most of my waking minutes on either school, writing, or making money on my own. I could not have more fun. My first semester’s gone well. I’ve taken more exams on the side than most of my fellow, full-time students and gotten better grades. Now that I know what I’m up to, it’s easy.Here’s why I study:The degree is free, yet I will make 50% more money for the same amount of work after I complete it.Thanks to the work I’ve done over the past 2 years, I can now pay my own way through it, and don’t have to rely on my parents to pay for me. I still have more time to write than with a full-time job. It’s a fun challenge to study and work at the same time.As long as I’m a student, I pay less taxes, less health insurance, less money for transportation, etc. It’s practical.My college degree is a small puzzle piece that will feed into my dream: becoming a full-time writer.It’s one part challenge, one part paranoia about money and one part practicality, and I’m okay with that. It took me 5 years to figure all this out. But now that I know, doing whatever it takes has become easy.Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. These things take time. Just never stop digging. Eventually, you’ll hit the treasure chest with your hidden why inside.Once you do, the right actions will naturally follow. And if the right action is studying, it will be the easiest thing in the world.I write more here.

It depends…live in a box, don’t spend any money, and it’s cheap. Instead of trying to guess how you’ll spend yourself, here are some pros and cons, good and bad points, and general info about living in Las Vegas from someone who has lived here a little while and lived throughout the world (Germany, Italy, Korea, Belgium), the US (Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, Nebraska, Mississippi) and the desert southwest (Arizona).EmploymentI’m on my third employer since moving to the Las Vegas valley. With the idea that the lower cost of living as compared to California comes lower corporate cost of living indexes as compared to the rest of the US, so national employers don’t always have the best compensation packages here. I’m fortunate, my current employer is based on the east coast (NoVA) and doesn’t adjust wages for out-of-market locations as there are so few of us there, so I’m pretty happy with that, but the other two companies did not have market adjustments based on “ground truth” but only large-scale economic factors such as housing costs (see below) and some basic generic living expenses. It’s easy to find work if you’ve got either the education or the experience in what companies out here look for. Check the job boards for what’s hot here before moving out thinking you’ll work a gaming table and make $500K a year off of tips because you’re a great comedian or your bust should be in the Louvre.HousingHome prices are reasonable, but the market is volatile. Depending on the part of town, cost per square foot can fluctuate wildly, and even within similar parts of the town, being in a planned community can significantly increase the costs - but also leads to (hopefully) more stable resale values. There are substantial portions of town that are gated, master planned communities. This restricts your ability to drive around and see the neighborhoods without a realtor or coordinating with an individual seller. There are many areas with custom multi-million dollar homes, especially on the west side/north west inside the CC-215 beltway, where this is not a problem, but variable zoned land, lack of HOA rules, and utility and drainage issues lead to some interesting home clusters. There are quite a few horse ranches as well, and while Las Vegas doesn’t have a huge problem with flies and mosquitoes, the more livestock, waste, and standing water, the more of a problem you’ll have.Figuring out what houses really cost can be a problem. There are still more foreclosures in Las Vegas than the national average and there is still a lot of foreclosed inventory that banks are releasing slowly in order to keep the market from getting thrown out of whack. (Finally, the banks do something smart.) So when you see housing cost averages, make sure they don’t include foreclosed or short-sale properties as those could radically lower the average home price and lead to sticker shock when you first show up.The foreclosures and housing bubble were real here in Las Vegas. Pull up the history of a home on Zillow and for new construction between 2003 and 2008, you’ll see the vast majority had at least one “sale to bank” between 2010 and 2012. Homes in my area sold new in 2005 for around $500K. They’re just now hitting the low-to-mid $300K’s in recovery; most were under $200K as foreclosures in 2011. The good news is the dry weather keeps the homes in excellent condition. Bonus: there’s not really a termite problem to speak of unlike many desert locations - even termites have trouble surviving here. Anecdotally, homes are going for $10K-$15K minimum over the “Zestimate” on the Zillow site - it just can’t keep up with the market here.Schools (K-12)They suck. Look it up. Bloated administration, apathy running deep with administrators, teachers, and students. Sports > academics. Heck, everything > academics. If you can, put your kids in a private school. If not, work hard to show them that there’s a payoff to independent study, reading, and developing a strong work ethic.Schools (vocational/community college)There are some good nursing schools, The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) has several conveniently located campuses, and there are vocational and service industry academies. The situation with this level of learning isn’t too bad.UNLVThe local high school students have nicknamed it “U Never Leave Vegas”. They’re opening up a medical school and are one of two accredited 4-year institutions that offer degrees in hotel and restaurant management (Northern Arizona University is the other) and this may be dated information, but last I heard it was only these 2.CrimeWell, if the students aren’t motivated, the criminals are. I think all but one ZIP code (Summerlin?) had crime rates above the national average for 2015. We were on track early this year for 11 homicides per 100,000, but that’s leveled off to a more respectable 6/100,000 or so, helped by our record-setting 16 days this July/August without a homicide. Drugs are right there if you need them, opiod abuse is rampant, and there are enough random acts of violence that you just never know what’s going to happen in specific parts of town. Here’s a tip: if you see a street sign that says “Maryland”, you’re where you shouldn’t be. (It’s almost a joke to side bet on the over/under when there’s a homicide to see how many blocks it is from Maryland Parkway between I-515 and the Airport.)The good news is the Las Vegas Metro PD keeps The Strip and Fremont Street areas very, very safe. They also have a very high solve rate on homicides and violent crime. So yeah, you might get killed, but odds are they’ll figure out who did it. So you’ll have that going for you.PotThe good news is that all of this crime will magically disappear because you can now buy recreational marijuana if you’re 21. (There have been 29 attempted burglaries, burglaries, robberies, or assaults on marijuana “dispensaries” in the last 12 months.) If you live here, cool, you can mellow out in your domicile. But you won’t, most likely, because the prices are higher than on the street (or so I’m told) and they’re in the crap areas of town. But you could, you know, if you wanted to. And if your employer let you. And if your wife didn’t give you that look when you mention it.SportsThe NHL decided one failing franchise in the desert (Phoenix Coyotes) wasn’t enough and thus the Las Vegas Golden Knights were born. They have the dumb name because the owner is a former US Army alumnus who wanted to name them after the Army’s parachute team, the Black Knights, but thank God the US Army said, “No, thank you, we own the copyright on that.” I love ice hockey, so I’ll go, but only for single games so I can deconflict with other major events on the strip as they will play in the T Mobile area smashed between I-15 and The Strip (Las Vegas Blvd).The NFL, not wanting to be left out, voted to let the Oakland Raiders move to Las Vegas. We’re crazy enough to be Raiders fans, but I don’t know that there’s going to be enough of the 2 million or so people who will be crazy enough to pay for season tickets. My gut feeling is 1/2 the stands will be full of the visiting team’s drunk/hungover fans who are combining a Vegas trip with a road game experience. More Backpage ads between September and January, I suppose. Traffic will be just short of apocalyptic on NFL game days.There’s NASCAR and NHRA tracks, the NBA Summer League, boxing, MMA, and there’s talk of bringing Formula 1 to the valley as a road circuit. That I would pay to see…like book a room in a resort hotel on the Strip, do the parties, spend the week just soaking it in. Fingers crossed.UtilitiesResidential natural gas for cooking and home heating is cheap; gas for your car is not. And while natural gas and (oddly enough) residential water prices are low, electricity rates are high unless your only other comparison is California or an overseas country, which is bizarre given that solar and hydroelectric power comprise the majority of of residential power sources. There are some that attribute this to the opening up of power utilities and the large casino corporations have been paying “exit fees” to the state-run utility in order to purchase power on the open market, thus reducing the subsidies for residential power costs. (When I first lived here it wasn’t unusual for your kWH price to drop every quarter or so. Nothing like that over the past few years.)TaxesThere isn’t an income tax, but there are two annual taxes that come as a surprise to some folks: the GST and the Supplemental GST. The GST, or General Services Tax, and it’s supplemental cousin, are assessed annually when you register or renew a vehicle registration. The assessment is based off of the (depreciated) MSRP of your vehicle and the depreciated value itself. For a 2015 BMW 3 series, with an MSRP of around $44K when new, this was $711 the first year, still in the mid $600’s last year. Some people see this as a vehicle registration fee, but vehicle registration is only $32…but you can’t register without the GST/S-GST, unless…Veteran’s Benefits/CareThe Southern Nevada VA Health Care system is pretty good. There are 6 or 7 primary care clinics in the Las Vegas/Henderson area, a brand-new VA hospital was built in northern North Las Vegas, very accessible from the highway, and the SNVA works with Veteran’s Choice in the event they can’t provide the care in a timely manner.For veterans with individual ratings that mathematically add up to 100% - not using the VA’s combined rating chart - Nevada offers a tax credit towards either property or the GST/S-GST that is collected when vehicles are registered or renewed. For the current fiscal year (the fiscal year starts on 1 July in NV) this was $1,365. You have the option of applying towards one or the other tax, but not both. I applied the entire amount to the GST/S-GST and so paid less than $100 to register 3 late model vehicles.For veterans with a combined rating of 100%, you are entitled to two (2) Disabled Veteran license plates that permit parking in disabled/handicapped parking spaces, the tax credit, and free parking at all paid public parking locations - including McCarran Airport.Dining & FoodThe vast majority of the non-strip restaurants are national chains and even the mom & pop places can be total crap. (I have yet to find good Italian food off the strip, if you know where to find it, please message me. Same for excellent legit Asian massage - if you know, message.) There’s chain restaurant after chain restaurant with 1 or 2 diamonds in the rough. One high point is that all of the Nevada-Style Taverns (read: local gambling spots with video poker and slots, a restaurant, and bar) are open 24/7, so you can always get food, and it’s not bad food, it’s just more “American” style or comfort food. Now, for Asian food? Jackpot. Las Vegas’ Chinatown and concentrations/clusters of Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai restaurants, supermarkets (fresh giant prawns even!), and shops are a Godsend. It’s no Koreatown or Chinatown in LA or SFO, but it’s pretty damn good, and very reasonably priced. There are also some smaller markets and butcher shops, but given the volume of what’s brought into Las Vegas and the way the city is arranged most of the food will be at higher-volume retailers. (Yes, there’s good Mexican food, it’s Nevada.) Strip restaurants can be hit or miss depending on whether they’re serious (Wolfgang Puck) or kitsch (Guy Fieri). It’s hard to trust the reviews because so much of it comes “baked in” with the overall experience most tourists are having. Myself, I now just pick one, order what I like, and hope for the best…and it’s usually excellent. (I’ve lived in Seoul, Korea; Germany, Italy, & Belgium; Monterey, CA, and other places with pretty good dining, Las Vegas holds up - on the strip and for Asian food.) Russian and Balkan food can be more difficult to pin down. There’s an excellent no-kidding German-run German bakery with 2 1/2 locations (one is pickup only).ShoppingWhat you can’t get locally you can order and odds are it’ll be shipped from a local fulfillment center. The lack of decent indoor malls is odd given the weather, but the open-layout centers are quite nice. If you do need the “mall” experience, the one on the strip has just about everything and many stores have local discounts. Even the “premium” outlet malls now have Local’s Night with gifts, free valet parking, and coupon books. There are really nice high end and ultra high end shops in the major hotel resort casinos. The Shops at the Forum (Caesar’s Palace) and The Shops at the Venetian (The Venetian) are superb.Yeah, there are brothels outside of Clark Count on the other side of the Spring Mountains. Google it, I’m not going into it here as that kind of shopping’s not my thing.TrafficThere’s an almost-beltway for Las Vegas. The Air Force base and some mountains in the north east prevent extending a loop from I-515 to the new CC-215 highway, but it’s close enough with US 95 and the Summerlin Parkway that you can avoid the downtown and strip traffic if you don’t mind a few extra miles at regular speed as opposed to a shorter trip with some stop-and-go and slowdown. (It takes the same amount of time in most cases, so you’re balancing frustration vs. distance.)Right now, I think just about every single major highway or intersection is under construction. Maybe it just feels like it, but it’s a bit of a mess as things are re-routed to help the flow of traffic. It’s supposed to be much better when they finish…just in time for the NFL’s Raiders to get here and they’ll start all over.When there is traffic, it sucks. Las Vegas has some of the most aggressive drivers I’ve ever encountered, police presence on the highways is minimal, and almost every accident is litigated, which, as my insurance company explained to me, is why my rates doubled when I moved here.Oh, and with the high winds that are a part of the NV weather, there’s usually a fair bit of debris all over the roads. What doesn’t crack your windshield will puncture your tire.WeatherIt’s really not that bad. Okay, there are 4 months, June - September, that can just be incredibly miserable if you need to be outside, aren’t used to the heat, don’t have shade, and don’t have water. If that happens, you’ll not have to worry about it too long, because you’ll die.The reason it’s only 4 months of near-blast furnace temps and wind is because of both the elevation (most of Las Vegas is at or above 2,000 ft altitude) and the mountain range to the west. (I could be full of crap on the reasons, ask a meteorologist friend. What you don’t have one? Well, neither did I.) As the days grow shorter, the more time the city spends in the shadow of Mt. Charleston (11,916 ft) and the Spring Mountains. Oh, and the mountains, for the most part, appear to have been stripped of all soil, so there’s very little to hold the heat in once summer’s over, however, Las Vegas doesn’t experience the high diurnal temperature fluctuations that the northern part of the state does.One surprise for new residents is how cold the cold feels in the winter. While the lows may only be in the high 30’s or low 40’s, the cold, combined with the winds, lack of heat retention, and darkness will have you breaking out your old winter gear your 2nd or 3rd winter here. It’s not Scottsdale, Arizona. You’re not going to swim in November without a heated pool and it’s not a shorts-and-a-t shirt at 7 AM kind of place. There’s usually snow on Mt. Charleston from late October through late June, and this year, given the snow totals, into July.(Okay, the weather is really that bad, but only for those 4 months. 114 degrees F with a UV index of 9, 30+ MPH winds, and a sun that will cut through any amount of window tinting really sucks. But it’s only 1/3 of the year, and you do get used to it. Really, you do.)Non-Strip/Fremont Street Nightlife100’s of local places to hang out at, probably 1000’s. That’s not too bad…if you like your clothes smelling like 1,000 packs of cigarettes. Most places that are open late and cater to the nightlife crowd also have some slots, which means they can have indoor smoking. (All of the casinos have some indoor smoking, some have better ventilation systems than others.) I had forgotten how nice it was (even as a [now reformed, relax ma, I quit] smoker) to not have your clothes stink when you get home. Alas, if you go out here, you’re probably going to have to put up with it again.The good news is, there’s hiking, day trips, a park with stocked lakes, Mt Charleston recreation areas, and more than a few festivals, dining events, beer festivals, and same type of events other cities of 2+ million people have. Las Vegas is someplace I’ve spent more time outside as the sun’s going down (summer or not) grilling, swimming, and just plain relaxing than any other place I’ve lived.But, if you do want to dance to EDM until 5 AM, stay up bleary-eyed at a blackjack table all night, or take in pulsating neon and street performers, well, we have that, too, but you can read enough about that online. One thing The Strip and Fremont Street do is make it very easy to entertain guests, although 1/2 the time it’s the first time in a long time (or ever) that I’ve been to the same place I’m “showing” them.The town is seriously lacking in real museums, particularly art and history. Fly to NYC or drive to LA. But really, would it be so difficult to have at least one decent art museum that wasn’t in some casino shop backroom (really) or showing off old neon?TravelThe good news is that flights are cheap, plentiful, are rarely delayed, and the airport is conveniently located, both in relationship to where you want your guests to be (on The Strip) and where you live (it’s at the I-15/I-215 interchange).The bad news is, if you’re not flying there, you’re driving all damn day or several damn days, to get there. LA, Anaheim, and the beach cities are 5–7 hours away depending on traffic. You won’t go there as often as you think, mostly because the 2-lane sections of I-15 between Barstow, CA, and Primm, NV, will drive you absolutely insane with the number of slow, open-mouth breathers parked in the left lane at 10 MPH under the speed limit and the other 95% of non-truck traffic which is rental cars weaving around hungover or drunk going to or from Vegas.Phoenix is 5–6 hours away, but no one has really found a good reason to go there yet. (I’m from there with family there and the drive on US-93 alternates between sheer boredom and sheer terror.)Even Grand Canyon NP is over 4 hours away. There’s what’s left of Lake Meade (1 hour), Zion NM (2 1/2 hours), Death Valley (3 hours), Sedona (4 hours), see where I’m going with this?You wanna leave Vegas? You’re going to fly, but it’s not going to cost you much. (SFO is 10–12 hours by car, have fun.)EntertainmentShows are cool, sometimes, and there are pretty good discounts for locals for most attractions. Concerts, however, are a different story. For example, I bought two tickets for The Weeknd’s show in Las Vegas, $340/each, open seating/floor (New Year’s Eve Eve, was worth it). If I had the time it would have been cheaper to fly to Phoenix, have a rental car, stay 2 nights in a hotel, see The Weeknd there ($30 cheap seats), and still have money left over. Concerts, because they’re a Big Deal when they’re in Vegas, can be over-the-top expensive. On the positive side, the venues are typically smaller, more personal and intimate, and the performers hit the city while they’re in town, and the clubs will usually announce if they’ve got a talent scheduled to be there. But holy crap are they expensive. Most of the reason taxes are low for residents is because everything tourist-related is taxed to the edge of discouraging tourists. (I’m good with that by the way.) Again, a positive note, everyone comes here, some headline for a while, and if you combine a concert with a family or friend visit, it’s pretty cool to actually “act like a tourist” in your own city.GamblingYeah, some locals are heavy into this. I was honestly surprised at first. I would have thought that the industry wouldn’t pee in its own pool (so to speak), but they’ll take it all if they can get it. I remember my first visit to a car dealership to have routine maintenance done on a Saturday. There was a TV on in the customer area, some coffee, couches, etc. (Audi, they do things right, it’s not a McDonald’s play area atmosphere like at a Toyota dealer.) I was watching the CBS national game and a guy walked up and said, “What’s the score?” I told him I wasn’t really paying attention and he commented on the spread, how much he had on what, what prop bets he had taken, etc. Then another customer chimed in with his bets, and so on. I couldn’t believe it. Now I have local casino apps on my phone giving me the to-the-minute money line on games. I don’t bet much, less than $100 a year, but I still have the information handy.MiscellaneousA one day class, background check, and $93 will get you a concealed carry permit for your pistol. No special additional checks needed otherwise. You can open carry just about anywhere. (Screw you, Buffalo Wild Wings and Levi’s Jeans.)The Clark County shooting range is the largest municipal range in the US. They even have a .50 cal range. On quiet Sunday mornings I can just barely hear muted “pop pop pop” coming from the range while having my coffee on the patio; it’s soothing.If that’s not your scene, jack up your 4 x 4 phallus extender so your bumpers don’t protect regular car owners and your headlights blind everyone and head out into the desert for a full day of off-roading. I hear it’s nice. Dirt bikes and ATV’s and Utes are out there as well.Fishing and boating on both Lake Meade and the Colorado River are popular pastimes as are hiking, photography, camping, and hunting.Being a local has almost unfair advantages over tourists when it comes to, er, “hooking up” with tourists. If you’re single, or if it’s just your thing, male or female, you’ll love the “dating” scene. Serious, more meaningful relationships are, as I’m led to believe by my coworkers, just not worth it. When you’re ready to settle down move away, then come back after you are. Their words, not mine.After a few years, you’ll yearn to see real, natural, lush, green vegetation. You’ll kill to see rivers flowing with regular banks of grass, trees, and dirt instead of the cold, dead, lifelessness of Lake Meade and the Colorado River. You’ll start to forget about those “hot” summer days by the pond when it was almost 90 (can you believe it?!?!) and you’re just relaxing in the shade of a tree.Then you’ll go stand in line in the air conditioning at the Venetian to ride a fake gondola around a chlorinated “canal” with a bunch of fat tourists wearing Crocs and talking about how they were this close to winning big the night before. You’ll smile - smile smugly inside - sit back and enjoy the artificial breeze before heading back home.(I’d leave, but Vegas just fits.)