Online Nursing Degrees

Why consider online nursing degrees? Is a career in nursing for you?

You can begin answering these questions by researching top nursing degrees online offered by accredited colleges and universities which offer nursing programs at different levels of study. Although this is a personal decision, the most successful nurses are those who have a compassionate, nurturing nature. The goal of online nursing degrees is to promote health and to provide physical and mental care to people of all ages. A nursing career can offer you opportunity to make a significant impact in your community while enjoying one of the most financially and psychologically rewarding careers. Start by requesting for information. For example, Chamberlain College of Nursing programs focus on personal growth, career mobility and health care leadership. Also get additional free information from these accredited colleges and universities.

Online Nursing Degrees

University of Phoenix

• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• MS in Nursing
• MS in Nursing/Health Care Education
• MS in Nursing/Informatics
• MS in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
• MS in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
• MS in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner
• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

Walden University

• B.S. in Nursing (BSN)
• M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track
  • Education
• Leadership and Management
• Nursing Informatics
• M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - RN Track
• Post-Master's Certificates in Nursing
  • Nursing Education
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Nursing Leadership and Management

Liberty University

• BS in Nursing
• MS Nursing-Acute Care
• MSN: Community Track
• MSN: Nurse Educator Track

Kaplan University

• RN to BS in Nursing
• MS in Nursing / Nurse Administrator
• MS in Nursing / Nurse Educator
• RN to MS in Nursing

Capella University - Online

• BSN - RN - to - BSN Degree Completion
• MSN - Nurse Educator
• MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge
• PhD Degree in Nursing Education

South University

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
• Accelerated RN - MSN
• Master of Science in Nursing

Western Governors University

• B.S. in Nursing
• M.S. in Nursing - - Education (RN to MSN Option)
• M.S. in Nursing - - Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option)
• M.S. in Nursing - Education
• M.S. in Nursing - Leadership and Management

Grand Canyon University

• RN to BS in Nursing
• Bridge to M.S. in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems
• Bridge to M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Education
• MBA and MS in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems
• MS in Nursing: Leadership in Health Care Systems
• MS in Nursing: Nursing Education

Chamberlain College of Nursing

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Fast Track RN to BSN Online Degree Completion
• Associate Level of Nursing
• LPN to RN Bridge Program
• Associate Level of Nursing Program

American Sentinel University

• MS Nursing - Case Management
• MS Nursing - Infection Prevention and Control
• MS Nursing - Informatics
• MS Nursing - Management and Organizational Leadership
• RN to MSN

Norwich University

• MS in Nursing

Herzing University

• MS in Nursing with a Concentration in Nursing Education
• MS in Nursing with a Concentration in Nursing Management

Independence University

• BS - Nursing
• MS - Nursing
• MS - Nursing Administration
• MS - Nursing Community Health
• MS - Nursing Gerontology
• MS - Nursing Wellness

Stevens-Henager College

• BS in Nursing Administration
• MS in Nursing Administration

Colorado Technical University Online

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN completion)

American Sentinel University

• RN to BSN

Jacksonville University

• RN to BSN (licensed RNs only)

Benedictine University

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program

Locate Nursing Programs in your area

Search for Online Nursing Education Programs

Nurse Education and Training

The accelerated nursing degree program is designed to deal with the ongoing nursing shortage. The goal is to train nurses at nursing schools quicker than traditional nursing school to increase the number of nurses to serve in the health care industry. Online nursing schools help address this issue.

To address this challenge, many nursing schools are developing high-quality online nursing degrees and programs. For that reason more online nursing schools are offering bachelor level online nursing degrees, as well as online nursing masters degree programs.

In most programs, students in online nursing degrees are able to complete the non-clinical portion of your course work via online classes and then complete the clinical portions at medical facilities close to your home. Some online nursing degrees may require students to spend a few days or weeks on campus, but many may not have a residency requirement. The most commonly offered online degrees are:

• RN to BSN
• RN to MSN
• Nurse Practitioner
• Doctoral

What Does it Take to Get into a Nursing Program?

While some colleges offer a variety of advanced degree and certificate options for students seeking online education, most schools limit their Online nursing degrees to a handful of programs. Be sure to check with the schools you are interested in to learn about the specific entrance requirements of your degree program. In general, BSN programs look for the following criteria:

• SAT or ACT score although the minimum scores vary by school or program
• Minimum GPA ranging from 2.0 to 3.25
• Three years of high school math, including geometry and algebra II
• Three years of high school science, including biology and chemistry
• Four years of high school English
• Two years of high school foreign language

The RN-to-BSN, RN-to-MSN and MSN programs generally look for the following criteria:

• Graduation from a National League of Nursing (NLN) accredited nursing school
• A current valid RN nursing license
• A 2.5-3.0 GPA

Nursing courses may vary by program, but in many cases some of the same kinds of courses are required. These might include:

• Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology
• Human Physiology and Anatomy
• Health Assessment
• Community Health
• Health Policy
• Maternal and Child Health
• Nursing Ethics
• Clinical Nursing
• Nursing Research
• Health Promotion

To practice as nurse, graduates of online nursing degrees are also required to take the NCLEX exam. The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse) is a computer-adaptive test (CAT) of entry-level nursing competence. Passing the exam is required of candidates for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the US. The NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® examinations are developed and owned by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.

Careers in Nursing

Graduate of online nursing degrees at the masters level can work in many settings, and there are programs specifically designed for e-learners. Examples of areas where graduates of online nursing programs nurses are in high demand are ambulatory care, burn care, emergency and intensive care, geriatrics, home care, mother/baby care, pediatrics, psychiatric settings, travel nursing, and rehabilitation.

Nurses work in many areas beyond hospitals for example doctors’ offices, research, non-profit organizations, schools and universities. In these areas they can be involved in management and administration.

Trends in the Medical Profession

In the United States of America, the medical professions have been experiencing a shortage of qualified Registered Nurses (RNs), making nursing one of the most in demand jobs for the last 10 years. This has increased the demand for online nursing degrees. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the field will continue to expand. The nursing shortage means that the need to provide programs of preparation and continuing education for nurses will continually grow, yet many nursing schools do not have enough space or qualified instructors to teach in online nursing continuing education programs.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that registered nurses across all specialties earned a median annual salary of about $48,000. Further, as the largest healthcare field, registered nurses (RNs) held around 2.6 million jobs in 2008, reports the BLS. Also, the employment of RNs is expected to grow by 22% between 2008 and 2018.

In 2008, the median annual income for RNs was $62,450, with a range of $51,640 to $76,570 for the middle 50%. The lowest 10% earned below $43,410, while the highest 10% earned over $92,240. Experienced nurses can earn more or more per year in base salary, in addition to bonuses, shift differential, and overtime.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) earn between $100,000 to $200,000 annually. Online nursing degree are becoming increasingly important for addressing the nursing shortage and the Career prospects for nurses remain very favorable.