Relocating for Nursing School? Here’s Why You Should Consider Detroit

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Are you considering relocating for nursing school? Madonna’s ABSN program in Detroit might be the right place for you. Healthcare is one of the largest industries in Detroit and a perfect reason to move to get a jumpstart on your nursing journey.

Girl sitting on suitcase while riding train

Relocating for nursing school is a major life decision. Why are you looking to relocate? Perhaps you’re stuck on a nursing school waitlist in your home state. Maybe, along with a new career, you’re looking for a new place to call home. Either way, you’ve come to the right place.

Given the competitive demand for more registered nurses across the country, many prospective nursing students, like you, are choosing to relocate for nursing school. This is because most nursing schools do not have seats available for all qualified applicants. Rather than sit on a waitlist, qualified students are exploring the option of relocating for 16 months for accelerated nursing programs, like Madonna University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program near Detroit, Michigan. Below we will look at why Detroit may be the perfect nursing school destination for you.

1. Healthcare is Detroit’s Largest Industry

According to the Detroit Regional Chamber, healthcare is metro Detroit’s largest industry, and more than half of the healthcare-related businesses in Michigan are located within the southeast region. Despite the size of the industry, the demand for healthcare professionals, including registered nurses, in Detroit and the state, is higher than ever before. This is due in part to factors like the aging baby boomer generation in need of increasing medical services.

This aging population trend is also affecting current nurses who are looking to retire. More than 40% of Michigan’s registered nurses are over 55 years old and are expected to retire within the next decade, according to the 2021 Michigan Annual Nurse Survey Project.

As a registered nurse, this demand not only grants you opportunities within hospitals, but also opens up options in healthcare settings beyond the bedside, such as long-term care facilities, private home care, outpatient clinics, and more. This makes Michigan a great place to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and put your degree to work.

2. Detroit Has Nationally Ranked Hospitals

A handful of hospitals in the Detroit area are known for their cutting-edge research, exceptional patient care, and established technology. In fact, most have been locally, regionally, and nationally ranked among the 2022 Best Hospitals list by U.S. News and World Report for Adult and Children’s Specialties. One is Ascension Michigan, which is one of Madonna University’s academic practice partners.

Here, Madonna ABSN students gain hands-on clinical experience in a variety of areas, including pediatrics, mental health, maternity, and medical-surgical nursing. This experience is an integral part of the ABSN curriculum. Why? Because it gives students a chance to network with fellow staff members, physicians, registered nurses, and nurse recruiters.

Madonna nursing student using stethoscope on patient

As a student in Madonna’s Accelerated BSN program, you should look upon every nursing clinical like a job interview. While you might be tense at first, it will serve you well to put yourself out there and learn from everyone you can. There’s a good chance employers will be looking to hire you.

3. The Cost of Living in Metro Detroit is Below the National Average

The best places to live are cities where job opportunities are abundant, the pay is fruitful, and housing is affordable, much like metro Detroit. While you may know the Detroit region as the center of the American automotive industry, what you may not know is that it’s one of the most affordable big cities in the U.S.

The Detroit region’s cost of living is 3.8 percent below the national average. What does this mean for you? It means that as opposed to other major metropolitan areas throughout the nation, metro Detroit is a very affordable place to live.

4. Detroit Has Something For Everyone

Beyond the healthcare scene, Detroit has many other things to offer relocators, from world-famous art exhibits, to shopping, sports, and (maybe best of all) a nationally recognized food scene.

Art

If you’re looking for art, the Detroit Institute of Arts has more than 100 galleries spanning half a million square feet. Nearby, you can also visit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Another popular destination is the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (known as MOCAD), which famously displays the words, “Everything is going to be alright” in neon across its building.

Shopping

If you love to shop, the Detroit Metro Area is the place for you. It offers a selection of boutiques, megamalls, and outlet malls. Whether you prefer high-end brands (like those at the Somerset Collection in Troy) or the best sales at an outlet (Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills), metro Detroit can meet your shopping needs in more ways than one.

Food

Detroit’s foodscape has grown immensely over the years. From iconic favorites like fourth-meal coney dogs, to sidewalk cafés, Detroit-style pizza, and a variety of authentic ethnic eats, no matter what cuisine you decide on, you’re sure to find something delightful to enjoy in the Motor City and surrounding areas.

5. You Can Transition Into a Nursing Career Sooner

Many qualified students are relocating for nursing school because programs across the country are reducing the number of available slots due to capacity issues and a lack of faculty. This is what makes accelerated nursing programs, like Madonna University’s ABSN program, so attractive.

With three start dates each year (summer, fall, and winter), you can begin working toward your nursing degree sooner. You just need a minimum of 60 college credits with a 3.0 GPA or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA.

Madonna nursing student sitting at desk typing on laptop

Blending online coursework, hands-on simulation labs, and clinical rotations at some of Detroit’s top healthcare institutions, Madonna’s ABSN program makes it possible for you to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in as few as 16 months. This means that if you’re stuck on a nursing school waitlist, relocating to enroll in the accredited ABSN program in metro Detroit could be your fastest way to earn your BSN.

Ready to begin your nursing school journey?

As you can see, metro Detroit has much to offer, from a growing healthcare industry to an iconic food scene. If you’re still thinking about relocating for nursing school, you owe it to yourself to learn more about Madonna University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.

To get started, call one of our admissions representatives at 844-319-2107, or complete the form to have someone contact you.