Love Nursing? Get Your Degree The Smart Way - Online!

Nursing has fast become one of the most sought after programs of study offered online. With the increasing need for registered nurses in hospitals and clinics across North America, the opportunity to earn an online associate or masters nursing degree is more significant then ever before. Hospital employees generally cannot afford to work less, let alone take off time to go back to school. An online nursing degree provides the chance to go back to school, earn an advanced degree in the preferred area of expertise and still maintain a full time job.

A nursing degree does require a clinical portion as well, and that must be completed in a medical facility approved by the program leader. Any responsible school would not allow the in-clinic element to be conducted online as the entire purpose is to acquire hands-on experience. However the class segment is taught via the internet.

If you have decided to enroll in an online nursing program, you will most likely work closely with an academic advisor and follow a 6-8 week course plan per semester. While some online education services encourage a “work at your own pace” approach, many are prearranged as a traditional class curriculum and projects and assignments have deadlines as time management is an extremely important skill for a nursing student to encompass.

The prerequisites for a nursing degree may vary slightly from school to school, but generally the following apply:

- SAT or ACT exam, minimums vary widely by school

- GPA range from 2.0-3.25, depending on the school

- 3 years of high school math, including geometry and algebra II

- 3 years of high school science, including biology and chemistry

- 4 years of high school English

- 2 years of high school foreign language

You will need to check with the school of your choosing for specific entrance requirements. The above is simply a general guideline.

Many online universities and colleges offer a nursing degree program, as it is such a desired and necessary profession. The following is a list of just some of the educational institutions offering an online nursing program:

- Kaplan University Online – School of Nursing

- Mount Carmel College of Nursing Online

- Grand Canyon University Online – College of Nursing

- South University – School of Health Professionals

- Vanderbilt University – Online – Health Systems Management

Virtually every online school offers an RN to BSN program intended for registered nurses who already have possession of an associate’s degree or diploma in the field. The course is designed to maximize the skills and aptitude a registered nurse already has. An important characteristic to look for in an RN to BSN program is accreditation – make sure it is a feature as it adds a credibility and validity to your schooling.

RN to BSN, RN to MSN and MSN programs generally require the following prerequisites, although as stated before, these vary from school to school, so please check with your desired institution:

- Graduation from a National League of Nursing (NLN) accredited nursing school

- A current RN nursing license

- A 2.5 – 3.0 GPA