If you want to work in healthcare in a growing state, South Carolina is a great place to launch your career. From July 2022 to July 2023, South Carolina experienced the highest percentage of population growth among all U.S. states, according to a report from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
As the population of the Palmetto State grows, demand for healthcare in the state will continue to rise. This will make it even more important to address the ongoing nursing shortage that exists across the country and especially in South Carolina. In 2024, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) included South Carolina among the 10 U.S. states with the largest projected shortages of nurses by 2036. Specifically, South Carolina will need more than 13,500 additional nurses by 2036 to meet the estimated demand for this vital position in healthcare.
Individuals who may be interested in attending a registered nursing (RN) program in South Carolina can benefit from learning more about what nursing school entails and why South Carolina is a good location to receive a nursing education.
Nursing School Overview
Completion of nursing school can be a good goal for anyone with a desire to work in a rewarding profession that offers the opportunity to improve the lives of others. Combining traditional classroom instruction, laboratory simulations, and experience providing hands-on clinical care, nursing school prepares students to carry out responsibilities such as:
Offering individualized patient healthcare in a safe and compassionate manner
Making sound clinical decisions
Communicating well with patients and their families
Communicating well with members of a healthcare team
Promoting health and educating patients about maintaining their health
Collaborating with other healthcare professionals
Nursing school curriculum spans both foundational courses and courses in specific types of health care, such as newborn nursing and community nursing. For example, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs offer courses in subjects such as:
Anatomy, physiology, and biology
Pharmacology
Health assessment
Medical-surgical nursing
Maternal-newborn nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community nursing
Human development
Human nutrition
The hands-on clinical care component of nursing school gives students the opportunity to practice their skills at actual healthcare providers while working under supervision. Conducting clinical rotations also enables aspiring nurses to learn about the types of healthcare settings where they would like to work and the types of nursing specialties they might want to pursue in the future.
Why Pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing?
Earning an ADN offers several advantages.
Become a registered nurse. You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to become an RN. Completing an ADN program prepares students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and become licensed as an RN.
Complete your education in two years. Full-time students can usually complete an ADN in as little as two academic years. This can enable them to join the workforce sooner and incur lower education costs compared with pursuing a four-year degree.
Work in a range of environments. RNs can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, nursing homes, schools, and government agencies.
Join an in-demand profession. The U.S. healthcare system will have openings for 193,100 RNs each year through 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Pursue further education. After working as an RN, individuals who hold an ADN may want to continue their education. If so, they can take advantage of RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs that are tailored to their needs.
Nursing School Requirements in South Carolina
To enroll in most nursing schools, an individual needs to be a high school graduate or the equivalent and at least 18 years old. Aspiring nursing students also need to complete a personal information form, score a minimum on an aptitude test, take a tour of the campus facilities, and participate in an interview with admissions staff. In addition, applicants to nursing school will need to pass a criminal background check and a drug screening test.
To enroll in the Fortis nursing school in South Carolina, applicants must have a high school diploma and hold a minimum threshold score in the Wonderlic SLE test to qualify. Depending on their prior nursing education or experience, students may also need to meet other requirements.
Benefits of Attending a Nursing School in Columbia, South Carolina
For several reasons, aspiring nurses would be wise to explore the benefits of going to nursing school in Columbia, South Carolina. Consider the following:
Healthcare is the top employer in the Columbia area. As of the fourth quarter of 2023, the healthcare and social assistance sector was the top employer in the Columbia metropolitan statistical area, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW).
Columbia is recognized as a great place to live. In 2023, Travel + Leisure identified Columbia as one of the best places to live in South Carolina. In particular, Columbia’s relatively low cost of living, central location, climate, and recreational options make it a good place to live.
Nurses in South Carolina are nearing retirement. As the capital of South Carolina, Columbia is home to numerous state agencies that employ nurses. According to a 2023 report by the South Carolina Department of Administration (SCDA), the percentages of nurses who were nearing retirement ranged from 27% to almost 48% at each of those agencies. As those nurses retire, the agencies will need to hire new nurses to fill their positions.
Other important considerations make South Carolina a good place to attend nursing school.
South Carolina participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Because South Carolina participates in the NLC, this means that nurses who obtain their nursing licenses in South Carolina can apply for multistate licenses to provide healthcare to patients in other states that participate in the NLC (and they don’t need to obtain individual nursing licenses from each of those other states).
Nurses in South Carolina can apply for incentives. The South Carolina Nurse Retention Initiative (SCNRI) provides nurses with financial incentives if they work in particular counties in the state.
Attend an RN Program in South Carolina to Pursue a Meaningful Career
Choosing a nursing school in South Carolina is a great way to set forth on your nursing career path. South Carolina is not only a great place to live but also has a significant need for new nurses to help patients achieve positive health outcomes.
Those who are interested in getting a nursing education in South Carolina can explore the Fortis ADN program in Columbia to learn how the program can help them achieve their career goals. Offering a mix of on-campus and online courses, the program provides aspiring nurses with quality academic and clinical instruction. Start working toward your career in nursing today.
Recommended Readings
How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse?
Nursing Graduates Share Their Stories: Why I Became a Nurse
6 Essential Communication Skills in Nursing