If you are ready to become a registered nurse, online RN programs can help make your dream happen.
Accredited online RN programs offer the same education you’ll get in a traditional university setting, but because the majority of your training will be over the Internet, you’ll be in control of your own schedule and can work through material at your own pace. Even better, you can keep your current full-time job while earning your RN degree, which means you have the ability to change careers without having to either inform your current boss or lose your income and benefits in the meantime.
More advantages of online RN programs include that you can save money on tuition, books, and transportation and also complete your degree in less time than it would take in a traditional setting.
Whether you’re just getting started in nursing or you’re already an LPN (licensed practical nurse) or CNA (certified nursing assistant), online RN programs can help you take that next step to realizing your goal of becoming an RN. Not only will earning your RN degree help you increase your job prospects and salary potential, you can also have the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of health care that interests you.
Read on to find out more about online RN programs and how you can get started down the RN path.
Is nursing a smart choice of profession?
Nursing is one of the few professions known as “recession proof” because good, qualified nurses are always in demand whether the economy is thriving or struggling. Indeed, now more than ever, there is a strong need for registered nurses as baby boomers retire from the profession and the health care system is becoming increasingly specialized.
With 59 million jobs, registered nurses already make up the largest group of employees in the health care profession, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “registered nurses are projected to generate 587,000 new jobs, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation” through 2016; when choosing between online RN programs, keep in mind that registered nurses who hold BSN degrees will have the best employment prospects according to the BLS.
What do registered nurses do?
Nurses provide medical care, perform diagnostic tests, record medical histories and symptoms, and counsel both patients and their families on medical procedures and treatments. Specific duties, of course, vary by position.
Although a majority of registered nurses work in hospitals, there are also many other environments that need qualified nurses such as health care clinics, physicians’ offices, nursing and rehabilitation centers, and psychiatric facilities. Travel nursing, through which nurses carry out temporary assignments often some distance from their homes, is also gaining popularity.
What types of online RN programs are available?
Online RN programs available include:
- ADN or ASN, Associate Degree in Nursing or Associate of Science Degree in Nursing: Earning an associate degree in nursing usually takes two to three years, after which graduates are ready to take the NCLEX-RN registered nursing exam.
- BSN, Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing: Earning a BSN usually takes four years and also prepares a candidate for the RN exam.
- Associate to BSN: These special programs make it faster for those already holding associate nursing degrees to earn a BSN.
- RN to BSN: These programs are designed for registered nurses (with either a diploma or associate degree in nursing) to accelerate the earning of a BSN.
For those who are interested in management or careers in the advanced practical nursing professions of clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, and nurse midwife, online master’s in nursing degrees are also available.
Check out the nursing schools directory.
Specializations in particular areas of nursing are also possible through online RN programs. If you have an interest in one of the following areas, be sure to look for programs that offer coursework in them:
- Addictions
- Cardiology
- Critical Care
- Emergency
- Forensic Nursing
- Geriatrics
- Home Health Care
- Infusion
- Oncology
- Medical-Surgical
- Pain Management
- Pediatrics
- Perioperative
- Psychiatric
- Radiology
- Research
Am I qualified for online RN programs?
If you are a high school graduate (or hold a G.E.D.) and have completed four years of high school English and three years each of high school math and science, you are probably eligible for admission to many online RN programs. You will also be expected to provide standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), and, of course, will need to meet any other qualifications of the schools to which you’re applying.
What are the courses in online RN programs like?
Typical courses in online RN programs include:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Behavioral Sciences
- Chemistry
- Epidemiology
- Medical-Surgical Care
- Microbiology
- Nursing Leadership
- Nursing Theory
- Nutrition
- Psychology
- Research
- Science and Technology of Nursing
Will I be required to complete a clinical component?
Yes. Hands-on nursing training is a requirement in many, if not all, online RN programs, which should not be surprising since nursing is such a hands-on, physically demanding profession. If you are currently in the medical profession, you may be able to satisfy the requirement at your current job.
Will I have to spend time on campus for online RN programs?
Possibly, so read program requirements carefully.