Should I Choose an Online or On-Campus Program?
April 2022

Should I Choose an Online or On-Campus Program?

Should I Choose an Online or On-Campus Program?

Online or On-Campus

When choosing an online or on-campus program for nursing school, the right path is the one that fits your needs as a nursing student. When you’re thinking about pursuing a degree in nursing, the first decision you’ll have to make is whether you want to begin a fully online program, an on-campus program, or a hybrid program.


Benefits of Online Programs

Fully online programs are excellent for busy professionals who have children. Students can easily fit in reading and study whenever they have time. Whether it is on the subway on the way to work or at 5 am before getting the kids ready for school, students love the flexibility. Many online programs also incorporate opportunities for internships and mentorship programs to give students the most well-rounded, beneficial nursing degree experience possible.

Fully online nursing programs are ideal for parents and working professionals. However, they are desirable for many others who can’t fully take a break from their day-to-day duties but still want to advance their career goals in the nursing field. There are fully online associate nursing programs (ADN) and bachelor of science in nursing programs (BSN). Both prepare students to take the NCLEX program to become licensed Registered Nurses (RN). In addition, students can select the best online associate nursing programs and bachelor’s nursing programs on TopRNto BSN.


Finding An Online Nursing Program

The challenging part will be deciding which online program to pursue – there are many options to choose from according to each student’s schedule, time commitments, interests, and priorities. After securing an ADN degree online and successfully passing the NCLEX exam, RNs can look for a job. There is a wide range of entry-level positions in the nursing field. Students can earn a bachelor’s degree n as little time as 18 months to 2 years, so students won’t have to wait long to start working in the nursing field and make money. Are you looking for online nursing programs near me? Click the link above to see a comprehensive list of well-respected online nursing programs near me.


Financial Benefits Of An Online Program

Many people also appreciate the financial benefits of studying nursing online because they won’t have to deal with commuting times and expenses associated with going to a nursing school in-person. In fact, there are some free online nursing courses and certificates that people can complete to advance their careers. These free online nursing courses are available to encourage students to pursue a degree in nursing and eventually sign up for paid systems work. In addition, signing up for and completing free online courses are excellent ways for nurses to stay abreast of new developments in the field without forking out a considerable financial investment.


Online Program Accreditation

Before selecting an online nursing program, it’s essential that prospective students verify that it’s accredited. Programs can be regionally or nationally accredited. The most respected accreditation organizations are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The ACEN accredits all kinds of online and on-campus nursing schools, whereas the CCNE only accredits programs that offer doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees. You can access a database of the best online nursing programs as well as excellent on-campus nursing schools by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and using the database here.


Benefits of On-Campus Programs

Fully on-campus programs are excellent for people who want the ultimate hands-on experience of a nursing program. They afford students many opportunities for internships and mentorship programs on-campus. Many people find on-campus programs to be worthwhile. However, they require more of an intensive time investment, but that focused, hard work pays off in the long run. Nursing students find that interrupting their lives and entirely focusing on a nursing degree allows them to finish their studies and start a nursing career in a much shorter period than those who pursue online nursing degrees on a part-time basis.


A Career Change To Nursing

What if you started a different career but have now decided that nursing is for you? That’s when you can benefit from an online BSN nursing program for non-nurses. Online nursing programs for non-nurses abound online. There are plenty of accredited, unique, fascinating online nursing BSN programs for non nurses that people can take to advance their careers without considerably interrupting their daily lives. Now that the United States has a national nursing shortage, it’s the perfect time to pursue a nursing degree. Even if you currently work in a different field, nursing is a great choice. Expanding your skill set is an astute decision in today’s highly competitive workplace.


Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)

Not ready to commit to an ADN or BSN program? That’s perfectly okay. You can still gain the skills needed to enter the nursing field by pursuing a degree in an online LPN nursing programs. LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurses. These professionals take care of the sick or disabled under doctors and Registered Nurses (RNs). You can find a bunch of online LPN nursing programs to choose from here.


BSN Program Formats

Many kinds of people who have an interest in joining the healthcare field could benefit from pursing online BSN nursing programs. BSN programs are excellent ways to prepare to take the NCLEX exam to become a licensed RN in your state. Online BSN programs for non-nurses are available in traditional formats and accelerated and executive programs (12). Accelerated and executive programs allow students to jump into the healthcare field in the shortest amount of time possible, often less than one year. Online BSN nursing programs combine theoretical learning with in-person clinical practice, giving soon-to-be RNs the skills they need to thrive in many healthcare settings. A selection of 20 top online BSN programs for non nurses, currently available in the US, can be accessed here.


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