Kirsten is a Content Writer at Collegis Education where she enjoys researching and writing on behalf of Rasmussen University. She understands the difference that education can make and hopes to inspire readers at every stage of their education journey. Posted in Professional Nursing. Hannah Meinke Anjali Stenquist Brianna Flavin This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen University to support its educational programs. Rasmussen University may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content.
Please visit www. External links provided on rasmussen. Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U. Department of Education. Request More Information. However, the program's rapid pace can be challenging, and the admissions process can be rigorous. Only licensed RNs can practice in healthcare settings. RNs who meet the educational, clinical, and exam qualifications can get licensed to work.
Certifications—while not required for employment—acknowledge a registered nurse's expertise in specialized areas, such as pediatric acute critical care or cardiac medicine. It can also boost a registered nurse's career in terms of pay and responsibility. Earning licensure serves as the last step to becoming a registered nurse. Prospective nurses can get licensed by their state board of nursing after they complete their degree, clinical hours, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Each state board sets different standards and may require additional training courses to qualify for a license. Some states allow unlicensed RNs to practice if they get a permit. RNs must typically renew their license every years. Nursing does not require certifications, but getting these optional credentials provides greater opportunities for professional development.
Qualifying RNs must complete a specific number of clinical hours and pass an exam. Having the credential validates a registered nurse's skills in a specialized area. The AACN offers certifications in acute care, cardiac medicine, and progressive care. Nursing students find positions through their schools or other popular job boards.
Nursing organizations, such as the American Nurses Association also offer career centers where members can find open positions. Many earn more when they find jobs in the top nursing industries, such as business support services, the federal government, and pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing.
See the top paying careers for RNs on this page. In hospitals, RNs work in the operating room, intensive care unit, and neonatal units. They administer medication, do assessments, establish patient care priorities, and intervene in emergencies to save lives. When choosing an online program, pay attention to how it works, because no good online nursing program is ever fully online — good programs are actually hybrid.
Especially for students who want to become nurses and need to get their ADN first, most online programs still require in-person learning and clinical labs, even though most of the didactic instruction happens online. The reasoning is because there are many skills that can only be learned by caring for patients through hands-on experience. While online courses can deliver the concepts of nursing, they are lacking the sights, sounds, and immersive experience of being in a hospital or other health care facility.
We highly advise that learners who need the flexibility of an online program choose a hybrid program, and not a fully online alternative.
Another thing you should consider when starting your nursing education online is the level of experience the school has with online learning. While the pandemic pressured many schools into readjusting their programs to make them online-friendly, switching from in-classroom to virtual teaching is not always an easy transition. At Nightingale College, we have been offering nursing programs specially devised for online study for years, and each semester we continue to improve our own curriculum.
In virtual teaching, just like in life, practice makes perfect, and we had time to practice long before the pandemic disrupted universities and other academic institutions. Online ADN programs can more accurately be regarded as hybrid programs. They offer online didactic instruction, which means you can complete most of your coursework in an online environment.
State nursing boards require a fixed number of in-person clinical hours in order to become an RN, which may vary from one state to another. Hands-on learning prepares you for the actual life of a nurse, which implies working with real patients, real equipment. Plus, it helps you build a deep foundation with future patients and have a better understanding of clinical experience. These are accelerated bridge programs that are aimed specifically at working professionals who want to advance their studies, further their nursing expertise and, as a result, improve the future of the healthcare industry.
RN-to-BSN programs allow learners to earn course credit based on their experience as an RN , hence nurses who already work in the field can complete the degree fairly quickly. Depending on the school, traditional BSN programs, as well as accelerated BSN programs, can offer the option for online study. You do have the option of pursuing an online MSN degree, should you decide you want to advance your education even further and join the ranks of the highest trained nursing professionals.
Some of the programs are fully online, while others combine theory-based education online with clinical training at approved medical settings. Find out more about how to become a nurse educator. Thinking about becoming a Nurse Educator? Enroll in our MSNEd online program and help educate future generations of nurses. Thanks to online nursing programs, aspiring nurses can pursue a career as a Registered Nurse or advance their education safely and effectively even in the uncertain times we are living at the moment.
From paperless admissions to video interviews all the way to completing prerequisites, learning class materials, taking exams — all of that virtually — online nursing programs are specially designed for the convenience and security of learners. Because of the pandemic, many online nursing programs have also replaced on-ground clinicals with simulations, virtual reality, and telehealth. Before enrolling, it helps to have a very clear picture of what online nursing school is like, from start to finish:.
Schools can individualize their admission process but generally, it goes along the same lines: you find a program that interests you, apply, submit a personal essay, and other required documents such as transcripts, recommendation letters, different certificates, like CPR training if available. In some cases, an interview with an admissions advisor might follow. Some schools will also have entrance exams so, be sure to research carefully every requirement of the admissions process beforehand.
During the pandemic, lots of universities have moved or are considering moving towards cloud-based processes in admissions. Clinical hours are "real world" experiences for students to gain hands-on knowledge in the healthcare setting with an instructor or preceptor. Accelerated Bachelor's programs are available to RNs as well as entry-level students and those who hold a Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing major. Some programs offer an accelerated BSN in as little as 11 months.
The cost of these programs may be a bit higher than non-accelerated programs because students will complete it faster. Over schools nationwide currently offer an accelerated BSN. For those students not interested in online learning, traditional programs are available in most areas. Many students seek evening classes or a school which has some classes available online to make it convenient to continue working as an RN. Traditional in-classroom programs allow for more networking and face-to-face interaction with others in the field.
Most commonly, registered nurses pursue this degree to change their roles in nursing, earn more money, or plan to advance to a post-Master's degree, such as a DNP or Ph. Employment during these programs is not usually encouraged and some programs simply do not allow it. The demands of the program, especially those specialties which require a preceptorship, are too great to maintain both work and school.
The online RN to MSN program is usually reserved for specialties which do not provide direct patient care, such as:. The cost of these programs varies by school and financial aid is usually available.
Many can be completed in as little as 9 months for students with a Bachelor's degree. The programs will satisfy all state requirements and usually accomplish a faster pace by omitting breaks. Accelerated nursing programs have grown in popularity over the years. Most attractive to many students is the streamlined approach to education allowing for the fast completion of nursing degrees. Some accelerated bachelor's degree programs can be completed in as little as 11 months.
This degree is available to students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree as well. Because all the prerequisite English, math, and science classes have been completed, the student can simply focus on nursing courses and graduate quickly! Learn more about accelerated MSN programs. Graduate degree programs that require clinical hours or preceptorships, such as Family Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist , often offer traditional in-classroom formats. Some schools may have certain classes available online, such as statistics or nursing ethics.
These programs are usually priced competitively, as there are many available, and the student should consider the salary increase which comes along with earning the MSN. RNs looking to specialize further and advance their careers seek APRN roles and specialties for the increased autonomy and salaries they provide.
With increasingly busy lifestyles, online APRN programs have become a lifesaver for RNs who want to fit an advanced nursing degree into their schedules. Most online nurse practitioner NP programs allow students to choose a specialization or population focus, including:.
In many cases, "hybrid" programs are available, allowing students to complete some coursework online, but also incorporating classroom and in-person experiences throughout the course of the degree. In most cases, students pursuing a degree as an APRN will need to hold at least a BSN and have an active, unrestricted RN license in order to be eligible for an accredited online program.
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