Online nursing schools present numerous advantages over traditional nursing schools, but one of their prime advantages is time. Unlike traditional programs which progress at a set rate; students can go through and complete online coursework at their convenience. This allows students greater freedom in completing their nursing degree.
- Online nursing schools have all of the traditional varieties of education including:
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
- Bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN)
- Diploma
- Master’s degree in nursing (MSN)
Accelerated BSN and MSN programs are available online as well. An accelerated program completed online allows students with other time commitments to receive a nursing degree without ever leaving their home. An accelerated BSN should take 12 to 18 months to finish while an accelerated MSN takes 3 to 4 years for a student to finish. Students who have at least a bachelor’s degree in another field can take an alternative accelerated MSN that only takes 2 years to complete.
Some possible obstacles that may keep a nursing student from enrolling in a traditional program include:
- Children
- Lack of reliable transportation
- Living in a rural location
- Serving as a spouse or parent caretaker
Such obstacles may prevent a nursing student from being able to leave their home for the long periods of time often required by an educational program. Online coursework can often be completed at a student’s pace. This allows them to pause the course or leave the computer if life interrupts. Their progress can be saved and returned to hours or even days later.
Online coursework is best for students who are able to read at a high level and who can type quickly. Although online programs are introducing more video and multimedia components, most still use a considerable amount of text. Some students may have difficulty with working through significant amounts of text on a regular basis. A webcam may be necessary in some courses to facilitate communication between the professor and the student.
In addition online nursing students must take care to schedule internships. Although some online programs may include hands-on experience and internships in their schedules, others do not. Students may only receive classroom course material. Because so much of nursing revolves around the relationship between nurse and patient, hands-on experience is crucial to success.
However this does allow students to pick an internship that fits them. A traditional program may select a student’s internship for them and make it difficult to change. Students can also negotiate with the workplace more so than with the college about their internship or experience.
Although online nursing schools may not fit every student, they can present an excellent alternative to traditional nursing schools. Students can take the coursework at a more relaxed pace or they can work through it as quickly as they are able. Online programs can fit any nursing student’s schedule. For nursing students still attempting to decide between online and traditional programs, consider taking a mixed schedule of both types for one semester and try it out.