Online registered nursing program

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. While online APRN coursework is convenient and flexible, students should be aware that programs will typically require a certain number of in-person clinical hours, to be arranged at a hospital or other medical facility. Luckily, most online programs allow this preceptorship to be arranged in the student's local area.

Most online courses require participation points. This is the equivalent of showing up for class in the traditional setting. The method for earning these points may vary depending on the program, but typically logging in to a discussion board and posting a few questions and answers to a topic of discussion a few times a week is required.

This usually takes about 15 minutes to complete. In addition to participation points, various assignments are required. These are usually projects or papers and may be required every week. As the course progresses and the projects or papers get more demanding, many schools make these items worth more points for class credit.

These assignments support the required reading from the textbook. During the RN to BSN program, nurses may be required to remain employed throughout the program to satisfy a practicum requirement.

Working a hour shift three days a week, which is the most common schedule of bedside nurses, and fitting in assignments, reading, and participation points are usually manageable for most students. While the cost of classes and programs varies greatly by school, many students discover that online programs are less expensive than traditional programs after considering the time and money saved on commuting and incidentals.

The convenience of completing classes from the living room often outweighs the downsides. Many schools will require electronic books to be purchased as well as uniforms, stethoscopes, and white nursing shoes or other items needed for clinicals, if required. Online courses require each student to have access to a computer which is fast enough and has enough memory to support the program. Purchasing a new computer may be required if the standard is not met.

See our guide discussing the cost of RN programs. Accreditation is very, very important. These are issued by regulatory bodies that monitor education quality and maintain high standards for schools.

Completing a nursing degree from an accredited school is especially important when hoping to advance education at a different school, as many schools will only accept degrees or credits from schools with certain accreditation.

The government regulatory body of accreditation commissions is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation CHEA and they recognize 6 agencies when considering schools for regional accreditation. The best approach for an undergraduate is to research graduate schools and find out which accreditation they accept. Leaving this option open for the future is very wise. For more on this see nursing school accreditation.

Clinicals, preceptorships, or internships are required for all nursing degrees with the exception of the RN to BSN degree. WGU provides hospital placement for students, and we are proud to partner with many respected hospitals, such as:. Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Evansville area. Program dates vary. Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Springfield area.

Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Vincennes area. Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Fort Wayne area.

Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the St. Louis area. WGU has clinical affiliations with many smaller and rural WGU has clinical affiliations with many smaller and rural hospitals throughout the state.

An Enrollment Counselor will be able to advise you of potential facilities in your area. Hospital placement for students is handled by WGU, and we are proud to partner with many reputable hospitals, such as:. Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Abilene area.

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Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Salt Lake Valley area. Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Mesquite, Nevada, area. Enrollment Counselors have more information for those interested in the prelicensure nursing program in the Reno, Nevada, area. If you don't live in one of the states listed above, there is an alternative route for patient care through our Bachelor's of Science in Health Services Coordination degree.

This degree allows you to still be involved with patients by working to help with insurance, payments, and other details of healthcare that can be confusing and frustrating. If you want to work with patients, but our nursing degree isn't feasible, consider the Health Services Coordination degree instead.

It's also unique among WGU online degree programs—with some things to consider as you think about applying for admission. To be considered for enrollment, students must have completed the following prerequisite courses or transfer equivalents. These courses must be completed before enrolling at WGU:. If you are missing any of the prerequisite courses required for admission into this program, you can complete them at any of a number of third-party institutions or providers.

The link below offers a list of options and other information about transfer credits. Nursing Prelicensure Program. Enrollment into the First Term is competitive. Students must first be accepted and enrolled into the First Term before they have the opportunity to progress into Term 2. You must be at least 18 years of age before beginning the application process or participating in clinical experiences. Applicants must have a combined minimum of a 2.

Enrollment in the university and in the First Term does not guarantee acceptance into the clinical nursing program. Note: Preference will be given to those individuals with a prior college degree. All prerequisites must be complete before an application for enrollment can be considered.

Applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to take appropriate tests of language proficiency. As admission is competitive, the GPA of the applicants admitted is usually significantly higher than the minimum 2.

The higher your TEAS scores, the more competitive your file will be. WGU allows two attempts in a month period. TEAS scores are valid for five years. There are costs outside of tuition and fees involved with creating your compliance account early in your first term and purchasing uniforms and supplies by the end of the term. Students who are successful in Term 1 will be eligible for progression into Term 2. The following must be completed in order to be considered for progression into Term Students in Term 1 will be required to submit evidence of all of the below to be considered for progression into Term 2: Immunization Requirements.

If you have any questions about these required immunizations and physical requirements, please speak with an Enrollment Counselor. You will work with your WGU Program Mentor and Instructors to prepare for rigorous assessments, virtual-reality simulations, and high-fidelity simulations.

Once you've successfully completed those, you will qualify to attend your agency-based clinical rotations. Expect to spend at least 30 hours or more per week on your studies, and in the completion of clinical rotations and simulation labs. The WGU B. Nursing Prelicensure curriculum was designed and is regularly updated with input from the experts on our Nursing Program Council, ensuring you learn what you need to know and master the skills you need to excel as a nurse and play your part on a vital team.

Tuition and fees are as of August 1, All fees are subject to change. Please speak to an Enrollment Counselor to learn more about what is required of you.

Financial aid and scholarships available! Learn more. Caring for others in their time of need has been your lifelong passion. Healthcare and nursing employers want employees with the credentials that prove they can help improve patient care while streamlining facilities and strengthening their reputations. Those are the kind of people [who] represent graduates of Western Governors University.

Nurses earn higher salaries as they gain experience. Nurses can increase their earning potential by pursuing specialty certifications and moving into high-demand roles.

A graduate degree can also lead to more responsibilities and higher salaries. Nursing courses blend theoretical knowledge with experiential learning. Learners study best practices in nursing care. They also build clinical skills through practica, clinical rotations, and nursing labs. Students grow their nursing skills while developing critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership experience.

Online nursing programs include core courses and specialized courses. Students may take classes in medical-surgical nursing, ambulatory care, or neonatal nursing. See below for common nursing courses. Aspiring registered nurses must complete an accredited nursing program. Students can enroll in a two-year diploma or associate program to meet the minimum education requirement. A four-year BSN degree also qualifies graduates for licensure.

Online nursing programs give learners the medical knowledge and hands-on training for nursing careers. BSN programs include specialized courses and clinical rotations.

Students also complete clinical practicum hours. After earning a nursing degree from an accredited program, graduates can apply for their RN license.

Each state sets its own nursing licensure requirements. Some states require a criminal background check. Most states expect candidates to have a nursing degree from an approved program. Accredited nursing schools that incorporate practicum hours meet the education requirement for a nursing license. In addition to licensure, many nurses earn voluntary professional certifications. This allows them to show their experience in areas like pediatrics or oncology. Nurses can learn about their state's licensure requirements by visiting the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

For years, the types of nursing degrees have been expanding to meet the needs of a changing health care system. Due to shortages of nurses and a shrinking number of family physicians, nurses now have opportunities to take on a wide variety of roles. Getting the proper education and training is paramount to your success as a nurse.

Health care roles are available for a variety of nursing education and experience levels. To begin your nursing career, you could earn a licensed practical nurse LPN certificate or diploma, which usually takes 1 year of full-time study to complete.

After passing your NCLEX exam and becoming a registered nurse RN , you are prepared to pursue work in a variety of health care settings including:. Enrolling in an RN-to-BSN program prepares you for greater responsibilities and gives you the academic credentials to seek advanced nursing career paths. You can work in areas such as:. The next level of nursing education is the Master of Science in Nursing MSN , which builds on your prior learning and practical experience with leadership and independent-practice opportunities.

You can specialize in one of five pathways aligned to specific advanced nursing roles. Finally, the Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP is a terminal nursing degree that prepares nursing leaders to practice at the highest levels of the profession. As a graduate, you can pursue careers in executive leadership and a variety of advanced practice nursing roles.

APRN roles include:. Our School of Nursing also offers online postgraduate certificates for advanced-practice nurses, including adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, executive leader, and nurse educator.

Many online nursing programs today offer the same rigorous, rewarding experience as brick-and-mortar nursing schools—without the commute or inconvenient class hours.

This is why a growing number of students are choosing to study nursing online for the more flexible course experience it offers. As an online nursing school student, strong organizational and time management skills are especially important. You must be ready to participate in online seminars and communicate about the material with instructors and fellow students via email and discussion boards.

They provide enriching training opportunities to support your academic and career goals. You can complete these experiences where you work, or work with our skilled clinical placement team to help you locate an approved health facility in your community. Our blog has even more specifics on how online nursing programs work at Purdue Global. Yes, many online nursing school programs are accredited, including those offered by Purdue University Global. But you must do your due diligence and research the accreditation status of each institution you are considering.

Accreditation tells you that an impartial agency recognized by the Department of Education DOE has validated the nursing program for quality and rigor.

When evaluating accredited online nursing programs, consider which university or college is offering the program and see whether the school itself is accredited—and, if so, by which accrediting body.

Another organization that accredits online nursing schools in the U. In addition to choosing an accredited online nursing program, you should be sure your program meets the educational requirements of the Board of Nursing in the state where you want to practice.

How many years of school it will take to become a nurse depends on where you are in your educational journey and career, and the level of nursing degree you wish to pursue. Typically, students can complete the program in as few as 18 months of full-time study. Admission requires a license to practice as a registered nurse, as well as an associate's degree, diploma, or certificate in nursing.