The Pro’s

Programs such as online nursing classes provide huge perks for both students and professors alike. Schedule flexibility is one;  distance learning emphasizes an asynchronous method of learning, meaning two people do not have to be available at the same time to be able to interact with each other. Nursing students which couldn’t make it to the web cast that day can easily watch its recorded version or read the professor’s documentation about it later.

Another benefit would be transport issues. Due to the fact that lessons take place in the virtual world, students can just simply stay at home and learn without going to have to go to the college’s campus especially if it’s a state or two away. The students are also provided with easier access to information. Being online, a student can easily get research information on homework or coursework activities through wikis, blogs, e-books and forums. Online Nursing School Programs also provide the benefit of clinical activities when you’ve reached that part of the program. Usually the online institution will find a medical facility near your home where there they’ll send staff to teach and assist you on your clinical requirements.

The Con’s

Although the advantages mentioned above are quite enticing, there are those who remain skeptical with this kind of approach to learning especially with hands-on, in-the-field degrees like Nursing. One disadvantage of online nursing school programs would be the student’s interest. Many complain that they have a hard time comprehending such long and dry lectures made by professors with complementing documents which are just as dreary. Clarification usually takes time to be made unlike in the campus were professors are easily available for the student and can quickly provide an answer to any of the student’s inquiries about the topic.

Another disadvantage of online school nursing programs would be the student’s ability when it comes to the clinical requirements. Research made by the U.S. Department of Education show that although students of online nursing school programs tend to excel in lectures, on the field performance sometimes leave more to be desired.

In all of this, it really depends on the individual as to which method to utilize in order to obtain his Nursing Degree. If you believe that you’re a self starter and can work without easily being distracted, then you should enroll in an online nursing school program. Some schools who offer this kind of service are the Indiana State University, The College Network and Ashford University. Otherwise, stick to the traditional on-campus learning, the vast temptations on the internet might get in the way of your learning.

Online nursing classes are offered by Chamberlain College of Nursing, Kaplan University, Saint Xavier University, and Loyola University. These four colleges comprise the top four online colleges in the nation for providing nursing school education in the United States. There is a current shortage of registered nurses so you may want to start out by getting an entry-level nursing degree. There are three different types of entry-level nursing degrees, and each one is offered by a different nursing school. There is the 4-year BSN, 2-year Associate Degree, and diploma. They are listed in order from highest demand to lowest in priority, and having the one at the top of the list can ensure you the highest job placement.You can also consider one of the various accelerated nursing degree programs.

A BSN is required for many jobs, and you can certify this by looking in your local newspaper. This is the primary entry point for professional nursing practice in the United States. The 2-year Associate Degree, on the other hand, concentrates more technical skills than theory, and this will allow students to earn money more quickly than they could otherwise. This is the entry-level nursing program for technical nursing practice. The diploma was the more common entry-level nursing program prior to the 1970s, and there were hundreds of diploma schools in existence at that time. There are now less than 100 such schools because demand has gone down sharply. A nursing diploma can prepare students for work in a hospital or other inpatient facility. Depending on whether you have certain career aspirations or not, this can seem limiting to you.

Different types of nursing school programs take place in different settings. The diploma is usually a 3-year program, the associates degree is usually a 2-year program, and the Bachelor of Science is usually a 4-5 year program. The diploma is oftentimes located in a hospital that often works with a community college. An associate’s degree is usually located in a community college, and a Bachelor of Science (BSN) is usually located in a college or university.

Choosing an entry-level nursing program is a very personal choice, and it can take some time to make up your mind. It is often best to simply look through the job listings before applying for a nursing school program so that you can take part in a nursing program that is more amenable to your needs as a job seeker.

Nursing school programs are nothing without the jobs that will follow them so make your decision about applying for a nursing school program based on the job that you expect to get. Otherwise, you might have a degree that gives you a sub-par job. Or, you might get a job that you might not have a good chance of being successful in.

You need to do some homework on the online school of your choice, and understand the nursing prerequisites .  It must be an accredited online school or it may not qualify you for the degree that you want.  Also, if it is not accredited you may not be eligible to take the state nursing board exam to get certified in the state you want to work in.  There are a number of online institutions offering online nursing degrees but verify their accreditation before you enroll and make any payments for classes.

Another good alternative  is that if you already have an associate’s degree and want to up grade to a bachelor’s degree and your place of employment offers tuition reimbursement then you can go to the human resources department and get a list of institutions that they will offer reimbursement for.  That way your choice can be made much more simply.  Just go through their list of online nursing degree schools and find the one that fits your needs the best.

If you already have a registered nursing degree you may want to pursue certification in nursing management.  One of the online nursing degrees offered by Excelsior College is a Nursing Graduate Certificate in Nursing Management.  This distance learning graduate level certificate consists of twelve graduate level credits with four required classes.  The rest can be taken as electives depending on what concentration in nursing management you want to pursue.  These classes are available only to those nurses who already hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing.  With this certificate you will be able to gain leadership roles or perhaps a position in executive management or even in nursing administration.

Once you have finished the program at Excelsior College registered nurses can take the necessary examinations to be certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Nurse Executive Board Certificate) and the American Organization of Nursing Executives (Certified Nurse Manager and Leader or Certified in Executive Nursing Practice).  To achieve the necessary course work you can transfer credits from other accredited programs and universities; set your own schedule based on work and personal time constraints; and earn credits in your own home, at your own pace without regard to the normal academic calendar.

Getting online nursing degrees to improve your education and ability for moving up within your health organization is a great way to spend your spare time at your own pace.

Distance Learning

Distance or online learning is available for most degrees that are available in traditional educational facilities and nursing is no different. The college or university must be accredited with the US Department of Education or any of the 6 regional or 52 national bodies funded by this department – accreditation is the key word here!

The beauty of distance learning is that it allows many more students access to training and education that may not have been available to them normally. It also allows students to complete their courses in their time, so they may work and be educated at the same time, a very necessary evil in this day and age of economic strife. As long as an online teaching facility is accredited it is also allows for eligibility for the same scholarships and financial aid as students enrolled in traditional facilities.

The Online Nursing Degree

Just as the class-based nursing degree is a popular course, so too is the online course; if not more so. There has always been a shortage of nurses and this is still the case. Because distance education is so flexible, it has boosted the popularity of the nursing degree and made it more accessible. Students are able to learn through some of the best universities and colleges in the US regardless of their location.

Practical Application

Practical lab work needed to complete course modules can be undertaken in a local area, and so can other practical classes. The university or college will arrange for this on behalf of the student as it is important for student to be able to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired online. A licensed professional will be able to verify that the practical work was undertaken and this is not an obstacle to learning.

In the initial phases of an online education process, finding employment in the nursing field may be a little more difficult than with a traditional degree, but times are changing fast. Employers are seeing the benefit of employees taking online courses as they are still able to work and no leave of absence is required. Recent research also shows that hospitals and other employers are more eager to provide financial assistance to staff who undertake online degree courses in nursing, because of this fact.

Conclusion

Online nursing degrees are rapidly gaining more credibility in the eyes of more traditional institutions. It is vital not to support online scams in this important service industry, and this can be done by only attending an accredited nursing school. It is a simple matter to verify these credentials with the US Department of Education.

Distance Learning

Distance or online learning is available for most degrees that are available in traditional educational facilities and nursing is no different. The college or university must be accredited with the US Department of Education or any of the 6 regional or 52 national bodies funded by this department – accreditation is the key word here!

The beauty of distance learning is that it allows many more students access to training and education that may not have been available to them normally. It also allows students to complete their courses in their time, so they may work and be educated at the same time, a very necessary evil in this day and age of economic strife. As long as an online teaching facility is accredited it is also allows for eligibility for the same scholarships and financial aid as students enrolled in traditional facilities.

The Online Nursing Degree

Just as the class-based nursing degree is a popular course, so too is the online course; if not more so. There has always been a shortage of nurses and this is still the case. Because distance education is so flexible, it has boosted the popularity of the nursing degree and made it more accessible. Students are able to learn through some of the best universities and colleges in the US regardless of their location.

Many different degree programs exist, including online LPN nursing classes. This provides the opportunity to achieve a 4 year degree in as little as 2 years.

Practical Application

Practical lab work needed to complete course modules can be undertaken in a local area, and so can other practical classes. The university or college will arrange for this on behalf of the student as it is important for student to be able to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired online. A licensed professional will be able to verify that the practical work was undertaken and this is not an obstacle to learning.

In the initial phases of an online education process, finding employment in the nursing field may be a little more difficult than with a traditional degree, but times are changing fast. Employers are seeing the benefit of employees taking online courses as they are still able to work and no leave of absence is required. Recent research also shows that hospitals and other employers are more eager to provide financial assistance to staff who undertake online degree courses in nursing, because of this fact.

Conclusion

Online nursing degrees are rapidly gaining more credibility in the eyes of more traditional institutions. It is vital not to support online scams in this important service industry, and this can be done by only attending an accredited nursing school. It is a simple matter to verify these credentials with the US Department of Education.

You need to do some homework and research which are the best nursing schools that offer online LPN nursing classes. You’ll want to make sure it’s an accredited online school or it may not qualify you for the degree that you want. Also, if it is not accredited you may not be eligible to take the state nursing board exam to get certified in the state you want to work in. There are a number of online institutions offering online nursing degrees but verify their accreditation before you enroll and make any payments for classes.

Another good thing to do is that if you already have an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) and want to up grade to a bachelor’s degree (BSN) and your place of employment offers tuition reimbursement then you can go to the human resources department and get a list of institutions that they will offer reimbursement for. That way your choice can be made much more simply. Just go through their list of online nursing degree schools and find the one that fits your needs the best.

If you already have a registered nursing degree you may want to pursue certification in nursing management. One of the online nursing degrees offered by Excelsior College is a Nursing Graduate Certificate in Nursing Management. This distance learning graduate level certificate consists of twelve graduate level credits with four required classes. The rest can be taken as electives depending on what concentration in nursing management you want to pursue. These classes are available only to those nurses who already hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. With this certificate you will be able to gain leadership roles or perhaps a position in executive management or even in nursing administration.

Once you have finished the program at Excelsior College registered nurses can take the necessary examinations to be certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Nurse Executive Board Certificate) and the American Organization of Nursing Executives (Certified Nurse Manager and Leader or Certified in Executive Nursing Practice). To achieve the necessary course work you can transfer credits from other accredited programs and universities; set your own schedule based on work and personal time constraints; and earn credits in your own home, at your own pace without regard to the normal academic calendar.

Taking classes to get an online nursing degree, improve your education, and ability for moving up within your health organization is a great way to spend your spare time at your own pace.

In the nursing profession a registered nurse is at the top of the pyramid. There are certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. Registered nurses are often in charge of assigning tasks in a hospital or medical situation. Being a registered nurse can be a rewarding and challenging career. Registered nurses can work midnight shifts, head up emergency room trauma teams, and be on call for 24 hours or more at a time. This responsibility comes with a commensurate pay scale. Many well trained registered nurses can pull down salaries approaching six figures with overtime and specialty training.

If you have a care taker nature and enjoy helping other people improve their quality of life a career as a registered nurse would be an excellent choice. Finding the right registered nursing program would be the next logical step for you. There are several different career paths to get to the registered nurse level.

If you wanted to get started in your career more quickly then the associate’s degree in registered nursing is the program to choose. This program takes between two and three years to complete and it will allow you to secure a job that will often allow you to continue taking classes towards your bachelors degree in registered nursing with the added benefit of tuition reimbursement.

Starting in a regular college and continuing to graduation with a nursing degree will take about four years as long as you are able to get all of the advanced classes and nursing prerequisites in the order you need them by your senior year. And a nursing diploma is acquired after attending a nursing school for three to five years. Once you have achieved any of these degrees you must take the national nursing exam called the NCLEX-RN. Requirements for licensing in each state are slightly different and you may be required to take the local NCLEX-RN to practice in that state. Before moving to another state inquire with the state board of nursing as to what kind of certification you need before starting work in your new state.

The average salary of a registered nurse in the United States is a little over $57,000 and the middle fifty percent of salaries range from $47,710 to $69,850. Even nurses fresh out of college or nursing school will start at over $40,000. This is a great starting salary given today’s economic environment with so many other people out of work and taking lesser jobs with lower pay just to pay the bills. Because there is a shortage of registered nurses and many are expected to retire over the next few years, many health institutions are offering signing bonuses and other perks to attract new nurses.

I have yet to hear of mass layoffs of nurses any where as they are the first line of care in many medical settings. There are some hospitals that even offer full time benefits and salary to nurses who are willing to work three 12 hour work shifts a week (three on and four off). There are even online nursing classes you can take to convert your associates to a bachelor’s degree.

Accelerated nursing degree programs have become so popular because many working nurses want to continue moving up the ladder. An accelerated degree is the key to moving your career ahead without sacrificing your income, something many working nurses are not in a position to do.

Online nursing degree students pay the same tuition as on-campus students; online course credits are structured no differently than the same course taken in a classroom.  Whether a student chooses to take online nursing classes or in combination with on-campus study, their diploma, certificate, or transcript will bear no distinction from that of a traditional Duquesne on-campus student.  However, students are required to visit the campus once a year for a period of one week, which is usually the week prior to Thanksgiving.

Duquesne’s graduate distance learning allows students to complete their education with the flexibility that not all nursing schools offer, because virtually no on-campus classroom attendance is necessary.  The only prerequisites for nursing courses online are basic computer skills including:

• Send and receive email
• Attach, send and open documents from email or Internet sites
• Participate in online chats
• Research topics using the Web resources
• Use Internet library databases

How does it work?  Students complete all coursework, including nursing prerequisites courses online.  Course instructors use special Internet-based software for instruction, as well as post their lectures and reading assignments online.  Student participate in the virtual classroom by using several formats including contributing to an online thread or message board, online chats, live virtual classroom meetings, and phone conference calls with other students and their instructor.  The educational platform that Duquesne uses is the popular, Blackboard, a Course Management System (CMS) used widely among universities.  In addition to learning, students can access their grades, course calendar, course descriptions, transcripts, student loan, or tuition status.  Information about their instructor is also posted online, such as their educational background, areas of expertise, areas of research, other classes taught, office hours and location, phone contact, and email.

The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) currently offers three areas of specialization – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Forensic Nursing, and Nursing Education.  Prior to beginning core course work and clinical requirements, students must complete 21 credits of FNP nursing prerequisites courses online.  The maximum allotted time to finish the MSN program is six years.  The MSN student pursuing a career in Nursing Education must complete 14 credits in nursing education in addition to coursework required by the MSN program including clinical core courses.
All applicants into the MSN program must have fulfilled the following nursing prerequisites prior to admissions:

Undergraduate statistics course or equivalent

Undergraduate physical assessment course required for the Family Nurse Practitioner and Nursing Education programs

Computer literacy (including the ability to send and download attachments) or completed courses in word processing, spreadsheet, database management and presentation graphics

Duquesne also offers two online doctorate degrees -  a PhD, which focuses on research, and a DNP, which has a clinical focus.  The student on the PhD track must complete the following nursing prerequisites courses online or on-campus:

Graduate course in Statistics (6 credits) -

Graduate course in Nursing Theory (3 credits)

Graduate course in Nursing Research Methods (3 credits)

Computer literacy or completed courses in word processing, spreadsheet, database management, and presentation graphics

The DNP track requires that applicants have completed only two nursing prerequisite courses online or on-campus prior to admission – either an undergraduate or graduate course in Statistics (3 credits) and a graduate course in Nursing Research Methods (3 credits).

Like many other people today, you may be looking to change jobs because of poor pay and lack of advancement potential. There are plenty of folks who are tired of being underpaid and under-appreciated. Minimum wage jobs can not help you support a growing family and with the economy faltering it is harder to make ends touch.

As a registered nurse you will be set to work in any state that you wish. Finding employment will not be a problem for you any more. Employers will be begging you to come and work for them. Your advancement possibilities are numerous and the sky is truly the limit.

In fact, there is a chronic, worldwide shortage of qualified nurses (you can read here about the reasons for the nursing shortage).

online nursing programs may just be the opportunity you have been searching for. You can take the courses when you want to and do so at home. Hard working adults now have many more convenient options for furthering their education. You can make the most of this opportunity by enrolling in one of the registered nursing schools that will provide you with a lifetime career.

The excuses you have used in the past are no longer valid. With online registered nursing schools you are free to set your own schedule. You don’t have to commute and you can set your own pace for study and tests. And of course, the costs can be significantly lower. At the very least, you avoid the expenses associated with travel, parking, etc. And the reality is, the tuition costs for online classes will almost always be significantly lower than that for a campus nursing school program.

One thing to keep in mind is accreditation. There are many online programs and courses that my offer some good educational value, but aren’t accredited. Without valid accreditation, you may not be able to pass or even take your licensing certification exam, or able to work in many nursing jobs.

There are two national organizations that accredit nursing education programs. The NLNAC, or National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission provides accreditation covering accredits all types of nursing education programs including master’s programs (MSN), baccalaureate degrees (BSN), associate’s and diploma. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or CCNE accredits programs that offer only master’s and baccalaureate level nursing degrees.

There are many fully accredited RN online nursing programs that offer flexible on-line courses. You can also apply for financial aid assistance. These schools will even provide you with tutors and additional instruction as needed. You will find that there is a great deal of help and support in the online school setting.

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) also known as a vocational nurse is what some may consider the entry level area of nursing. Any one considering a career as a LPN must have a general education diploma or have successfully completed high school. Training for a position as a licensed practical nurse can usually be obtained through a community college or a vocational school, or through online LPN nursing classes. With full time study most students are able to complete training within a year. After completing a practical nursing program students must complete and pass a state licensing exam. LPNs make a decent entry level salary starting anywhere from $35,000 annually for a year’s worth of training. Licensed practical nurses are trained to provide daily living maintenance to patients, dispense medication to patients, start IVs and in some medical facilities maintain medical paperwork.

For those individuals looking for higher pay and more professional responsibility seeking licensure as a registered nurse is the ideal. A registered nurse (R.N.) completes an associate of nursing degree (A.S.N.) at a local community college. With the full time study most A.S.N. programs can be completed in two years and this includes both classroom and clinical portions of the program. Nurses with a two year degree are eligible to take the NCLEX which is the nursing certification test to obtain a license to work in their chosen state. Obtain passing the NCLEX a person is officially a registered nurse and has an unlimited amount of opportunities to work and any medical facility as a nurse. The pay for a registered nurse is higher than those of the practical nurse with starting salaries beginning as high as $50,000 a year depending on the employer. Registered nurses have the training to provide a vast amount of patient care and they can specialize in many different areas such as neonatal care, intensive care and medical surgical nursing to name just a few.

Registered nurses can further their education and receive a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (B.S.N). Many hospitals are willing to assist their registered nurses in furthering their education by offering tuition assistance and reimbursement. Likewise, there are many nursing programs that offer R.N. to B.S.N. programs to aid current nurses in obtaining their bachelors degree. For an R.N. bridging their education to a bachelor’s degree it can take anywhere from two to four years to finish the program depending on full time or part time study. For those without previous nursing experience a traditional B.S.N. program is four years in duration. A bachelor’s degree in nursing helps to expand on the clinical skills already obtained and then offers a core in nursing foundation such as the history of nursing and the application of nursing on a broader level such as in administration.

Finally, there are a number of advanced practice degrees that can be obtained by nurses with a four year degree. The Master’s of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) can be obtained in a variety of specialized fields such as nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetists. Advanced practice nurses are highly trained in their chosen areas and earn a much higher income because of the additional education and training. Most master’s degree programs can be completed in two years if attended full time.

Anyone considering becoming a nurse as a profession has a variety of pathways to pursue their career, beginning with choosing their nursing degree.