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Start in a Nursing Career


Do you like to help others? Inspired by the possibility of saving and improving lives? For many people entering the nursing field, there’s a feeling that they didn’t choose nursing—it chose them. But even if you are sure that you want to become a nurse, you’ll need to plan ahead for your education, training, and on-the-job experience.

Nursing Career

Fortunately, there are several ways to get started as a nurse. By choosing a path that fits your current lifestyle, you can begin working toward your new career, and even start working while you complete your education. Here are three options worth considering.

  • Volunteer
  • Start working as an orderly attendant or nurse aid
  • Pursue a LPN or vocational nurse degree
  • Earn your BSN and start working as a registered nurse

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for RNs is projected to grow at least 9 percent over the next decade. The average annual wage for registered nurse (RN) in the United States in 2023 is $ 80,010.

Sounds like a career path that fits you? Check out Sumner College’s BSN or PN programs.

RN to BSN – Career Upgrade!

Here at Sumner College we offer a program for current Registered Nurses, to further their education in a flexible schooling style and get a Bachelors

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Sumner College Student of the Month | August 2024

Congratulations Hanna, for being the August 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner College! Hanna was inspired to pursue a career as a Practical Nursing

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Sumner College Student of the Month | September 2024

Congratulations Kristina, for being the September 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Kristina completed the LPN program from Sumner College and recently returned to

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Niche Award!

Exciting news! Sumner Nursing College was recently ranked by Niche, listed as #1 in Best Value Colleges in Oregon, #1 in Best Value Colleges in

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Check Out Our New Campus!

Welcome to our new campus in Bend, Oregon! We are excited to be welcoming the first BSN cohort February 24th, 2025. Stay tuned as we

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Upcoming Info Sessions

On the fence or have questions about starting your education at Sumner College? Check out our upcoming BSN Info Sessions! Available for on-campus in Portland

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All About TEAS

If you're considering enrolling at Sumner College (or other nursing schools!) you will be required to take the TEAS Exam. This stands for Test of

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Nursing School Study Tips

Nursing school is known to be extremely difficult, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself! NursingWorld.org suggests a few different things to

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$5,000 Education Award Available!

Exciting news! DiversityNursing.com is offering a $5,000 education award, with easy entry and no essays, why not enter for a chance to win $5,000 to

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New Member Bend Chamber of Commerce

Sumner College is proud to share we are new members of the Bend Area Chamber of Commerce. Coming soon our official ribbon cutting and social

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Spirit Week!

Happy Spirit Week! Stop by the Lobby or Front Desk throughout the week to say hi and show some school spirit! Monday: Meal Prep and

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SUMNER COLLEGE STUDENT OF THE MONTH: JULY 2024

Congratulations Kinsey, for being the July 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Kinsey is pursuing her BSN degree and has wanted to be a

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Virtual Tour: SIM Lab 202

Welcome to Sumner College! Before you head in to our Portland Campus take a virtual tour where you can see our Simulation Lab, Hospital Simulator,

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SUMNER COLLEGE STUDENT OF THE MONTH: JUNE 2024

Congratulations to LPN student, Logan, for June 2024! Logan is able to pursue his degree thanks to his great support system, and school life balance,

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New Campus Alert!

We are extremely excited to announce the opening of our new additional campus location in Bend, Oregon! Conveniently located just around the corner from Bend's

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The Heart of Healthcare

Nursing can be described as both an art and science; a heart and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity

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Labor Day Weekend

Happy Labor Day! We will be closed Monday to enjoy a long weekend!

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Upcoming Class Start Dates

Join us on one of our upcoming start dates for RN's looking to achieve a BSN completion!

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What is an RN-BSN Program?

RN to BSN Degree- What is it? The RN-BSN degree is designed for nurses that earned their Registered Nurse licensure and would like to continue

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There’s Still Time!

There's still time to enroll for the September 3 class start date! All three programs are starting fresh this fall; BSN, RN to BSN, and

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Tips for Great Admission Essays

Writing an admission essay may feel like a daunting task to accomplish, much less three, as we require here at Sumner. While they are short

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Is Nursing for Me?

Have you ever wondered whether nursing is the right profession for you? Take our personality exam to see if you have the characteristics of a

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Join the Nursing Workforce

When deciding what career to go into, one often will research the career to find out information like: average income, durability in the economy, and

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Celebrating 50 years!! Everyday NW’s Ally Osborne visits with Joanna Russell

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Sumner College in Northeast Portland is celebrating 50 years of helping people level up and reach for their career goals in

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Why choose to complete a BSN?

Sumner College is proud to offer multiple different nursing programs, suitable for all stages of life. However, completing the Bachelors of Science in Nursing is

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Our Application Process

As you find yourself getting ready to make the jump for the new term here at Sumner College, you may have questions about our application

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BSN Info Sessions – August

This month's BSN group information meetings are scheduled for August 1, 6, 8, 15 at 12p.m on campus, 8338 NE Alderwood Road, Portland, OR 97220

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BSN Info Sessions – July

In preparation for the September classes, please plan to attend either of these informative hour long presentations to learn more about the program, the requirements

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Meet The RN Advocating For Disabled Candidates

Applying for a new job can be overwhelming and stressful. For candidates with disabilities, the hiring process can be a disheartening experience. According to the CDC,

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NCLEX Study Strategies

Expert Test-Taking Strategies One of the first things you should do when you begin preparing for the NCLEX is to determine your learning style to

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