Nursing Careers: Take Your Education to the Next Level Online
by Greg Cryns

 
           Once you have an Associate Degree in Nursing and are a Registered Nurse, you may decide to expand your education to include a bachelor’s or master’s degree.  There are many online programs that will help you take your education to the next level. Some schools offer programs for ADNs who are already RNs to 

earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).  Other programs give the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) if you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree.

            Schools such as the University of Phoenix, Walden University, Jacksonville University, Kaplan University, and Drexel University Online provide programs that allow you to work and take courses 100% online. 

            While at one time online education was considered less rigorous that traditional classroom education that is not so today.  Many colleges and universities offer online programs that are just as challenging but make allowances for a hectic work and family schedule.

            You may also find programs that offer RN to BSN or RN to MSN programs that have portions of their coursework online.  Check with local colleges and universities to find out if these programs are offered in your area.

            Taking online courses can be very economical for people interested in furthering their education.  First of all, they allow you to continue working full-time so that you don’t have to lose income while you go to school.  In addition, taking online courses can help reduce the fees you may have to pay at a traditional college such as student government fees.  

            Getting a bachelor’s degree or a more advanced degree will open up career opportunities as well as opportunities to make a higher salary.  You’ll also be eligible to add certifications that help you to specialize in specific areas of medicine.

            An online education may be just the thing for you if you’re interested in earning more money while you continue to work at your current employment.  While you’ll still be sacrificing your free time to read, listen to lectures, and complete assignments you won’t have to worry about being in class at a specific time. 

            In addition, some online courses are self-paced allowing you to complete them faster if you want to or take more time if you need it.  If you’re interested in getting a more advanced degree online, contact one of the schools listed above for information about their programs.  You can also check with your local colleges and universities to see what kind of programs they can offer online.