Nursing

The online advantage

Nurse Leader Weekly, November 20, 2007

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These days, it's no secret professional nurses are in high demand. With no shortage of job opportunities in sight, individuals who can successfully transition from staff nurse to supervising and managerial roles are in particularly high demand from hospitals. And nurses with bachelor's degrees and master's degrees often find more opportunity for advancement.

Many nurses would like to pursue higher education, but don't have the time or resources to stop working full time. However, a new online solution is increasingly gaining in popularity and many more nurses are finding online education helps meet their professional development needs.

The basics

There are recognized online options for associate's, bachelor's, or master's degrees. Accreditation varies from school to school and state to state, and every online nursing program must be licensed and/or approved in the respective state of operation to be valid.

Take note that not all schools are accredited and should be thoroughly checked out before enrollment. When choosing an online nursing school and program, be sure it is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

For current nursing professionals, online nursing programs offer several advantages, such as:

  • Attending class and studying from the comfort of home
  • Students can set their own schedules, pacing themselves accordingly
  • An online nursing education is not as costly as a traditional education
  • Some online universities will customize programs to meet individual needs
  • Accelerated classes put students on the "fast track," allowing completion of studies in two or three years
  • Online classes allow students to interact with others from around the world
  • Class documents, live chat discussions, training materials, and transcripts are recorded and archived for student use
  • Online education has fewer restrictions, making acceptance into higher education institutions easier for students

Editor's Note: This excerpt was adapted from the article, "Online nursing degrees 101" featured in the Reading Room on HCPro's new online resource center, www.StrategiesForNurseManagers.com!

 



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