Online Nursing Degree Programs
Our directory contains all the nationally accredited distance learning / online nursing degree programs (at least as many as we could find, after looking through the websites of over 1,700 schools). Since many of the people looking for nursing degree programs are currently employed, either as Registered Nurses or in some other field, the flexibility offered by online programs can be very attractive.
According to a recent study done for the US Department of Education, students who do part or all of their coursework online perform slightly better than students who do all their work in a face to face classroom setting.
Online Degree Programs for Nurses:
- Online RN to BSN Programs
- Online LPN/LVN to RN Programs
- Online Masters in Nursing Programs
- Online Doctorate in Nursing (DNP and PhD) Programs
Online Degree Programs for Becoming a Nurse
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), there are virtually no entry level nursing programs that are offered entirely (or even mostly) online. Real live nursing, needless to say, is a little different from that game "Operation" that some of us used to play. For entry level nursing education, a large amount of face-to-face instruction is required. There are a couple of second degree BSN programs that offer parts of their curriculum online (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh), but even these programs still require students to live somewhere near the school.
If you want to work in the healthcare field, and an online program seems like the only thing that will work with your schedule, you might want to check out Health Administration Programs or Human Services Programs (nonprofit management, counseling, social work, etc.)
Choosing an Online Nursing Program
As a rule, you should try to contact multiple schools when you’re looking for a degree program. Like with many other things, the way to find the best nursing degree program is to spend some time shopping around. There are very meaningful differences between the programs in terms of cost, admissions requirements, and other characteristics.
What Does an "Online" Nursing Program Really Mean?
All online degree programs are certainly not created equal. When you speak to the schools, make sure to get very specific information on how many times you will be required to come to campus, each month/semester/etc. Most programs described as "online" will in fact require you to come to campus at a few specific points during the year. However, some are truly online, and you can earn your degree without ever showing up in person. Typically, the clinical piece of your education will take place in your home community. If you are employed as a nurse, you can often complete your clinicals at the facility where you work, provided you can find somebody to oversee you - often called a "preceptor." If you’re pursuing an online nursing program within a specific specialty (say, a Community Health focused MSN program), you may be required to do your clinicals at a specific kind of site (a community health center, etc.).
