Top Online Nursing Schools
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Online Nursing Programs
Nursing school is a goal of many college students. However, some students may not have the time to attend traditional colleges. Many of these students do not realize that they can attend online nursing programs that provide two-year associate’s degrees, four-year bachelor’s degrees and graduate level master’s degrees. These online schools offer bridge programs, which allow the credits you earned for an associate’s degree to transfer to your bachelor’s program. All of the online programs are available through some of the top online universities, where you will be able to complete all of your coursework in an online format that is convenient for you. You then enter into a required hands-on training program facilitated by a healthcare agency or hospital in your area to complete the degree program.
Associate of Science in Nursing
One of the most popular online nursing programs is that of the online ASN degree, or the Associate of Science in Nursing. This two-year online degree program prepares aspiring nurses for the required state examinations that earn them the title of Registered Nurse. The associate’s degree that you earn from an accredited online university will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications that you need to gain entry into the fast paced field of nursing.
As you go through the online nursing programs, you will also be required to participate in hands-on training that will provide you with additional skills. The length of your clinical trainings will vary depending on the requirements of your school and state. During the time in your clinical trainings, you will be required to rotate through all of the departments that the facility offers, giving you the opportunity to witness each specialty. This allows you to garner experience and decide which department or specialty you will eventually want to gain employment. You can also become a float nurse, which is a nurse that floats throughout the facility, working in departments that have employee shortages.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The BSN program, or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is a four-year program that provides the soon-to-be nurse with additional knowledge and education not covered in the associate’s program. Similar to that of the ASN degree, you will have the opportunity to complete all coursework online and then go through the required on the job or clinical training in a local facility, where you pick the days and times that you go in to ensure the least possible disruption in your everyday schedule. While the minimum requirement of most healthcare facilities for entry level employment is that of an associate’s degree, you will find that with your BSN, you will have more employment possibilities throughout your career. In addition, if you have already earned your ASN, but you want the additional opportunities and higher salary that comes with the BSN, you can choose to go back to college and participate in the bridge program offered by some of the best online universities. In these online nursing programs, you will be able to use all of the credits you earned in your ASN and put them towards your BSN. With the transferred credits, you will be eligible to earn your Bachelor’s degree in about 18 months, instead of the typical four years it would take should you start your degree program from scratch.
Master’s Level Online Nursing Programs
Once you have completed your BSN program, you become eligible to apply for the master’s degree in nursing. Your online master’s degree typically takes about two years to complete. If you qualify, you can enter into one of the accelerated online nursing programs. With these accelerated programs, you will be able to earn your graduate level degree in 12-18 months, as opposed to the full two years it generally takes to earn the graduate level degree. The master’s degree can come in many forms and numerous specialties. With this degree, you can enter into management positions or nurse practitioner positions, where you work alongside a licensed physician.
Online nursing programs provide students with the opportunity to earn their nursing degree in a convenient online format, which provides the same quality of material as you would find in the campus based universities. An online format creates a more convenient method of learning that allows nursing students to work and attend school at the same time.
