What Online Nursing Courses Are Like
Once you've set your sights on becoming a nurse or enriching your nursing career with an advanced degree, it's time to choose a program that will best suit your needs. While online nursing schools have similar curriculum requirements, specific online nursing courses can vary according to the type of degree you intend to earn.
Online Nursing Classes Let You Learn According to Your Schedule
The beauty of enrolling in online nursing courses is that they offer far greater flexibility than campus-based courses. Although they do have firm start and finish dates, like their traditional counterparts, their infrastructure offers greater convenience in completing your course work. With online classes, there is little to be surprised about. Instructors generally post all assignments, due dates, lecture outlines and other requirements at the beginning of the course, so you will know precisely what's expected of you, and when.
This structure allows nursing students to plan their personal, family and work schedules around important due dates. Students don't have to wait to schedule an appointment with a professor to solve problems; they can post questions and comments or start discussions on a virtual bulletin board at any time. Students are also generally encouraged to complete their work at any time throughout the program. Most classes revolve around essays and other written course work, as opposed to traditional exams and pop quizzes. Assignments are then emailed to instructors on predetermined due dates.
The Requirements: Core Online Nursing Courses
Whether you're working toward a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or a two- to three-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you will be expected to successfully pass several core courses in biology, social science and physiology. Online nursing classes might include the following courses:
- Human Anatomy
- Medical and Surgical Care
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Pathophysiology
- Nutrition
Other classes will prep you on how to communicate with patients and their diverse needs, work professionally with doctors and medical staff, operate medical equipment, and decipher medical coding systems. Common curricula might include these classes:
- Introduction to Professional Nursing
- Nursing Practice
- Maternal, Child and Neonatal Care
- Research Methods
- Contemporary Issues and Health Policy
These courses are designed to help you successfully complete the mandatory national licensing examination, which you must pass before you can become a Registered Nurse (RN).
ADN vs. BSN: A Two-Year Degree vs. Better Career Options
Earning an online ADN, which you can complete in as little as two years, is generally the quickest path to starting your nursing career. However, individuals who have earned their BSN, which takes four years, generally experience better job opportunities, more career variety and a greater capacity for career growth. A BSN is also a prerequisite to earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). For these reasons, many nurses who have earned their ADN eventually enroll in an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, or an RN-to-MSN program.1
Online Nursing Courses and the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree
If you've already earned your BSN and wish to continue your education by earning a MSN, your curriculum will include courses in a wide array of subjects, including advanced nursing theory, dynamics of nursing administration, and nursing leadership and management in health care. These and many other classes will greatly expand your career options at a time when the health care industry is expected to generate 587,000 new jobs for RNs through 2016, one of the largest growth spurts among all occupations.1
With an MSN, the sky's practically the limit. This degree gives you the option to become highly specialized as a nurse anesthetist, a clinical nurse specialist, a nurse-midwife or a nurse practitioner. You'll also be qualified to become a senior-level health care manager or health policy consultant, as well as an academic teacher or a medical researcher.1
Bringing Clinical Experience to Online Nursing Students
No matter which degree you're working toward, there is one element all good online nursing schools have in common: clinical experience. A good nursing program, whether it's online or campus based, recognizes that there's no substitute for hands-on experience. The online nursing program you choose should have clinical internship requirements for graduation, and it should also help you set up an internship at a medical facility in your area.2 Generally the internships include 45 hours of clinical experience—although this amount can vary based on degree type and program.
Find the Right Online Nursing Program for You
There are many online nursing degree programs out there offering a variety of online nursing courses, with fewer costs and greater conveniences than campus-based programs. Explore your options now to find out what online nursing degree program will suit your needs and help you meet your goals.
