Getting Your Online RN Degree
When you enroll in an online RN degree program, you're taking the first step toward a stable job in a growing industry. Nursing is currently the fastest-growing profession in the health care industry with 3,092,000 nursing positions projected by the year 2016, an impressive 23 percent jump in growth over a period of ten years.1 And as the nation's large baby boomer generation transitions into retirement and develops health issues commonly associated with old age, the demand for registered nurses (RNs) will continue to increase in every professional setting.
RNs make up the backbone of the health care industry and represent the first line of health care defense for patients. Earning your RN degree online will help you start on the right foot in this rewarding and challenging career path.
Earn Your Online RN Degree, and Take Your Pick of Nursing Careers
Regardless of their work environment, registered nurses are responsible for a wide variety of duties, from treating patients to educating people about public health and safety. RNs who work in hospital or clinic settings record patients' medical symptoms, perform diagnostic tests, outline medical options, administer treatment and medications, and provide emotional support to patients and their family members. They are compassionate, supportive professionals that benefit society in countless ways every day.
While 59 percent of RNs work in hospital settings, they are found in just about every health care setting imaginable: geriatric care facilities, outpatient care centers, blood drive facilities, home health care services and medical flight helicopters.1
Three Ways to Become a Licensed RN
There are three online RN nursing degree programs to choose from:
- LPN-to-RN degree
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Each route has its strengths, but more importantly, they are all available online. Accredited online RN nursing programs allow you to work at your own pace, in your free time, to earn your RN nursing degree.
This means you won't have to sacrifice your current job or time with friends and family to complete your program and start your new career. Often the only prerequisite for these programs is having a high school diploma or GED (although some schools require SAT or ACT exams scores).2
Online LPN-to-RN Nursing Degree
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are individuals who have graduated from an accredited LPN program, where students earn hands-on nursing skills through roughly one year of job shadowing, classroom learning and supervised clinical experience. As entry-level health care workers, LPNs often enroll in online LPN-to-RN "bridge programs" in order to bulk up their nursing skills and expand their career options.
Online Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Community colleges offer two- to three-year associate degree in nursing programs, which are popular because they quickly and efficiently prepare students for entry-level positions in nursing by combining educational courses with clinical internships. Many ADN-holding registered nurses eventually enroll in an RN-to-BSN program to broaden their professional horizons, using their two-year degree as a stepping stone to a more advanced nursing career.
Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Four-year bachelor degree programs better prepare students to succeed in the nursing profession than ADN programs. These professionals experience better job growth and may qualify for superior positions over time. They are also equipped to enroll in RN-to-MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) programs in order to specialize in their field. Bachelor degrees, however, do require more time and resources to complete than the other shorter programs.
Boost Your Employability in an Online RN Program
Regardless of which online RN nursing program you choose, all nursing students must pass the National Counsel Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) before they are qualified to work as registered nurses. Once they pass the licensing exam, RNs will enjoy very favorable employment prospects for the foreseeable future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that our nation will suffer a shortage of 1.7 million registered nurses by the year 2020. Now is the perfect time to enter into this exciting career and make a difference where it counts.
