Distance Learning: Nursing Few would argue that some of the world’s best people are nurses. They give so much of themselves, and the combination of everything they know about the healing arts, along with their unique compassion, allows patients to feel soothed in their presence. The world of nursing is huge. The range of possible degrees and types of jobs those degrees qualify the holders to do is almost mind boggling. Licensed practical nurses and registered nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry. Without them, doctor’s offices, clinics, and even hospitals simply could not function.
It should be obvious that for the right kind of student, distance learning nursing degrees might be the answer to a prayer. For example, if you’re working as an LPN and really can’t afford to give up the paycheck to return to school for a higher degree, online studies permit you to keep the job and still get the degree. You can work at your own pace, studying on your days off or in the evening after the kids are in bed. It might take a little longer to get the degree this way, but it’s far better to gradually learn your way to a much higher salary, better job, most responsibility, and greater satisfaction at work, than to spend that time parked in front of the television watching people who think they can sing or are willing to marry a stranger. Everyone has a certain amount of free time, and how you chose to use it will determine how easy your life will be in the future. Distance learning isn’t right for everyone. If you learn best in a community of students working with a teacher who is right in front of you, a distance learning program probably isn’t right for you. If you are easily distracted and lose interest unless someone keeps your nose to the grindstone, you won’t succeed with online classes. But if you’re motivated, mature enough to keep your eye on the prize, and organized enough to keep yourself on track, distance learning could be a smart way to educate yourself into a more satisfying job. You can devote the hours you would spend commuting to class, looking for parking, and listening to instructors answering questions from other students to your own studies. Some students who are already working in the nursing field actually find that distance learning degrees can be easier and faster to earn than those gained through traditional programs. You might be wondering how distance learning nursing programs square with the important experience of working with patients in a hands-on environment. This is an important question, because there really are a lot of things that can’t be taught through reading or watching videos. Nothing can stand in for direct experience. You should look for a nursing program that includes hands-on clinic or hospital experience, or you might supplement your own education by volunteering if you aren’t already working in the field of nursing. If you’re working in healthcare but haven’t yet earned a nursing degree, you might consider pursuing a licensed practical nursing degree (LPN). This can generally be completed within a single year, and you’ll study basic science, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition. Upon completion of the degree, you’ll sit for the NCLEX-PN, which is the licensing exam. With this degree, you will work under the guidance of a registered nurse. An associate’s degree in nursing may be earned in two to three years. Spending the extra time allows you to specialize in one aspect of nursing, such as prenatal, pediatric, or geriatric care. A bachelor’s degree can be earned in about four years of focused study and really opens doors, both in terms of opportunity and salary. This degree is required in order to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and the state examination to become a registered nurse (RN). As an RN, you’ll be allowed to work with considerably less oversight and can pursue jobs in schools, nursing homes, clinics, private practice, hospitals, and anywhere an RN is needed. In order to sit for the state licensing board, nurses must have first completed an accredited nursing program, whether it was earned on a campus, online, or a combination of the two. According to the American Association of Colleges and Nursing (AACN), nursing programs that are offered through distance learning must demonstrate an equivalent level of educational excellence and be accredited in the same manner as traditional programs. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes nursing programs evaluated and acknowledged by the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education (CCNE). Their standards for distance learning programs match standards for brick-and-mortar schools. |
Whether you are interested in becoming a nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), an emergency room nurse, or work alongside surgical doctors in the operating room, earning some of your degree through distance learning courses is not only possible, but becoming increasingly common. A hybrid nursing program means you’ll do some of the studies for a class or some of the courses for the degree away from a brick-and-mortar school. For example, you might take a hybrid class that meets once every other week on campus. Additional coursework is assigned for you to complete online, by a set date. Another possibility is that your class work might be entirely completed online, but you must report to the campus for testing. Some programs permit all coursework and testing to be accomplished off campus, but may not offer all the required classes in a distance learning model.