It hasn’t been a long time since online nursing schools started getting viewed as a viable alternative to traditional nursing schools, but things have changed very fast over the last few years. Online nursing classes are better and more immersive than ever, largely because of advances in technology. Faculties also had time to refine their approach and improve their product. This is why we would recommend them to any nurse who wants to advance their career or any new student who wants to enter the field. Here are some of the reasons why going for an online nursing degree could be a good idea.
Advance Your Career While Working
One of the biggest benefits of online nursing programs is that they allow you to get higher credentials as a working nurse without having to leave your position and lose your seniority. Some nurses simply can’t afford to leave their job but are still strapped for cash, which puts them in a catch-22 situation.
With online classes, they can follow their school lectures at any time that is most convenient to them. Not only that, but you have online bridge programs that will allow them to get their credentials even faster than usual.
You could get an RN to nurse practitioner program, for instance, and get your master’s faster. Getting an online RN to nurse practitioner instead of in-person will make balancing school and work much easier too and you could get your degree in as little as 30 months.
Nothing is stopping you from taking a part-time course either. It would take you more time to complete your degree, but you’ll feel much more comfortable while doing it. Following classes in the evenings part-time or on the weekends will allow you to get your credentials without feeling too much stress. This could also be a perfect option if you happen to be a parent with lots of responsibilities.
Greater Choice of Schools
If you’re in a state or city where it’s difficult to get into nursing school either because of competition or because there isn’t enough faculty, then going for an online degree could open the door to more possibilities. Or maybe you always wanted to go to a particular school but felt limited by geography? In this case, online classes could allow you to attend an out-of-state program but know that you will still have to travel for clinical assignments.
More Convenient
Online classes are so much more convenient than traditional classes. You have programs that allow you to follow courses whenever you want, for instance, as long as you respect the overarching course schedule.
This means that you could follow classes in the early morning before you have to go to work or take children to school. You could also study during your morning commute or breaks. If you have a hectic schedule or just want to be able to study on your own time, then online programs are perfect.
Lower Costs
Another reason why online programs are so great is because of the lower costs. The tuition will be roughly the same for most programs, but some fees associated with on-campus learning will be waived. You won’t have to spend as much on learning material either since most of it will be in digital form. You also won’t have to spend as much on gas if you’re a driver, which is something that can’t be overlooked right now.
You’ll Acquire Tech Skills
One underrated benefit of online nursing degrees and online degrees, in general, are the tech skills that they give you. More work will be done remotely in the next few years, and healthcare will be no different.
Things like telehealth are starting to become more common, and we can expect the majority of facilities to allow patients to connect with various professionals remotely shortly. Someone who has lots of experience with remote communication and collaboration will be much more comfortable in that type of setting. This is just one of the ways getting your degree online will benefit you.
Conclusion
If you were wondering if going for an online degree was worth it, we hope we were able to help you gain some clarity. Most people could benefit from online classes, but you still have to know how they work and some of their limitations to know if they’re for you, so don’t hesitate to contact a few schools and enquire about their curriculum and teaching methods.
Photo by Joshua Mcknight
