Choosing an Accredited Nursing Online School

Online Nursing Degree Article : The really important news for people searching for a new career with good pay, benefits, upward mobility and secure employment, is that you can train for it at home without sacrificing your present income. Now, you can forget about attending classes at a traditional campus institution, save time and transportation costs, and get the job done from an accredited nursing online school. Perhaps just as important, your cost for education will be somewhat less.

Online education is well accepted

The Internet has changed many of the ways we learn and do business. Today, more and more well-known colleges, universities and vocational schools have recognized this and now offer continuing course educationnursing online that has gained almost universal acceptance from healthcare industry employers. Your online training won't make you a stepchild; itwill be accepted exactly the same as a certification or degree earned at any traditional campus.

What to look for when choosing an accredited nursing online school

- When considering a nursing online registered school, here are some of the things to look for:

- A curriculum that combines both academic nursing science and clinical studies

- Course materials that are approved by the NLN

- A qualified faculty that includes people who are top-rated physicians whom are now in medical practice and/or nursing supervisors with long experience

- Courses that are approved by the NNEI

Think about your career path

Obviously, there are several ways to pursue a nursing career. You can begin at the bottom and train to be an LPN/LVN (Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse) and begin your career at the entry level. Or, you can select a college degree nursing online school and train to start as an RN (Registered Nurse) when you finish and receive your BSN (Bachelor of Science Nursing) degree. This latter approach will take longer, but start you on the 2nd rung of the nursing career ladder. From the RN, you can continue with college course nursing online while you are employed and receive your MSN (Master of Science Nursing) degree that will give you more money and additional medical responsibilities. The right choice depends upon your personal and family circumstances.

Right now, our economy is at the lowest ebb in years and unemployment is worsening each week. Nursing, however, is a secure field with a continuing shortage of and demand for well-trained, committed individuals. Moreover, jobs are available virtually anywhere your live. Itwill be hard to find a better career choice that you can train for at home, at your own pace, without giving up your present employment.

About the Author

For more info, you can visit this page on www.nurseblogs.org

Source: Online Nursing Degree, Online Distance Learning articles at goarticles.com

How to Determine the Quality of an Online Nursing Program

Distance Learning Nursing Degree : How to Determine the Quality of an Online Nursing Program by Grant Eckert

Accreditation

The process of accreditation is not mandatory for nursing programs, but it is desirable. Accreditation is a voluntary program that schools can use to make sure that their program is on par with other schools across the country. While there may be many fine schools that are not accredited, accreditation should give you confidence in an online nursing program. Another reason to choose a school with a valid accreditation is that many schools will not take transfers or allow continuing education from a school that is not accredited.

There are two groups that accredit nursing programs in the United States. They are the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, or NLNAC, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE. By choosing a school that has the seal of approval from one of these agencies, you should feel confident that you are enrolling in a quality program.

Styles of Learning

Once you are comfortable that your school meets national standards, you must determine whether it will work for you. Online classes are becoming increasingly popular, which is both good and bad. The rapid growth in popularity of online classes has made it difficult for some schools to turn away students. Consider it from the schools point of view. An online course normally costs the same as a regular course. However, the online student does not need a seat in the classroom, does not need to fit into a class. Many colleges do not restrict the class size for online classes. While this may not be a problem if you really understand the coursework and are able to work well independently, it can cause a problem if you need extra help or find yourself falling behind.

One way that many online classes work is by collaborative learning. It is not unusual for the instructor to divide the class into smaller groups and provide assignment for each small group to work together on. Depending on your group you may find yourself spending a good deal of time in online discussions that you had not counted on when planning your time.

Other classes provide little to no interaction between yourself and other students. You will check a class message board for assignments and receive your grades in an email and have little interaction with anything other than the text book.

While it is helpful to discuss the styles of classes before you settle on a school, most teachers within a school have their own style of teaching, and you will have to adapt to each method. The most important factor when considering an online nursing program is the availability of the teachers. In even the smallest classes, if the teacher is unavailable or less than timely in returning graded assignments it will be hard to get the most from your classes.

Hands on Training

In a nursing profession it is important to receive hands on training. You will have to count on a certain number of class hours to be clinical, or hands on. The number of hours and how they are accumulated will vary by school and degree program. Someone studying for the registered nurse, or RN, degree will spend a great deal of time doing clinical work, while a student completing their Bachelor's of Science in Nursing that already is an RN and has worked as a nurse will require few, if any, clinical hours.

Getting Your Questions Answered

An online nursing program, like any other online degree program, is only as good as the people running it. It can be more difficult to determine the quality of the teaching in an online setting, but by paying attention and doing your research you may have find some clues. When you contact the school initially, how are you treated? Are your calls and emails returned promptly? Are your questions answered in a clear manner? The treatment you receive before you are a registered student can be indicative of the treatment you will receive through your time at the school.

Does the staff seem generally knowledgeable and available to answer your questions about financial aid, transferring credits, and other factors that you must consider before committing to one school? While everyone is an individual, you may discover that a helpful and administrative staff often works in the same places as supportive teachers.

The bottom line when shopping for an online nursing program is straightforward. Check that the program is accredited, make sure that there is a system in place for you to receive your clinical hours, and consider the attitude of the staff before you enroll as a student.

About the Author
Grant Eckert is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning the nursing profession such as Nursing Uniforms

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=789130

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing - Online Nursing Associate Degree

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing - Online Nursing Associate Degree

College: Accredited Online Colleges & Universities

Description: The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing program Online Nursing Associate Deg meets the requirements for professional nursing education. This Online Nursing Associate Deg program is designed to prepare qualified students for the NCLEX Registered Nurse licensing exam.

Please note: The Online Nursing Associate Deg program indicated above is not currently offered through the eLearners.com directory. For additional information, click on the "School Info" button. To be notified by e-mail when this Online Nursing Associate Deg program is available or to be contacted by schools that do offer this program, please click on the "Request for Information" button.

Accreditation: All colleges and universities offering online degree Online Nursing Associate Deg programs through the eLearners.com website are fully accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Delivery Format: Online
Educational Level: Associate
Language: English

Online LPN-to-ASN Degree - Online Nursing Associate Degree - Accredited Online Colleges & Universities

Online LPN-to-ASN Degree - Online Nursing Associate Degree - Accredited Online Colleges & Universities

Description: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) Online Nursing Associate Degree contribute to the health and welfare of the community. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree program Online Nursing Associate Degree prepares Licensed Practical Nurses with the skills and knowledge required to become licensed as Registered Nurses.

Please note: The Online Nursing Associate Degree program indicated above is not currently offered through the eLearners.com directory. For additional information, click on the "School Info" button. To be notified by e-mail when this program is available or to be contacted by schools that do offer this Online Nursing Associate Degree program, please click on the "Request for Information" button.

Accreditation: All colleges and universities offering online degree programs Online Nursing Associate Degree through the eLearners.com website are fully accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education

Accreditation.
Delivery Format: Online
Educational Level: Associate
Language: English