If you are a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse), it’s
time for you to advance your career by earning a bachelor degree in nursing.
Today, with so many nursing degrees offers through distance learning, now you
can earn your bachelor nursing degree without the need to put your life on hold.
With so many nursing programs offers online, it sometime makes you feel
difficult to choose one from among all the best. This article will outline the
basic guidelines on how to consider an online nursing degree which will secure
you for a brighter future. Get the answers to the following questions in order
to make an informed decision: 1. Is the university accredited?
Although graduating from an accredited university does not guarantee jobs or
licensure for individuals, it reflects the quality of the educational programs
offer by the university. It speaks to a sense of public trust, as well as to
professional quality. Thus, it is important to enroll to a university which is
accredited by a recognized accreditation agency.
Regional accreditation is the highest level of accreditation a college or
university can obtain and is recognized throughout the United States. Examples
of regional accrediting bodies include the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Middle
States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. 2. Is the nursing school
accredited?
Accreditation of a nursing school is a voluntary endeavor, but it ensures the
quality and commitment of its educational program in the proper training of
nurses. If you are planning to apply for any financial aid or you plan to
advance your studies to a higher level in the future, an accredited nursing
school is a factor to consider. Online nursing programs offered by an accredited
nursing school will also increase your competitive edge in the job market
because many employers prefer to hire practitioners with degrees from accredited
institutions. 3. What are the lectures like?
Most university programs are purely reading and taking tests, but if you
enroll into an online nursing degree program which can offer streaming video and
audio lectures, along with textbooks, study guides and CDs; these visual
learning material will definite help you to understand your courses better and
faster. 4. Does proctored exams needed and can you take the test online? Some
online nursing programs require you to take proctored exams at testing centers,
which involves traveling to testing centers and paying fees. But there are
universities which you can take your proctored exams and complete your
assignment 100% online. 5. Do you need to attend physical classes?
Some nursing courses require you to attend a certain hours of physical
classes at campus. But there are universities offer the courses fully online. It
is good for you to ask and confirm with the university to avoid any crash with
your working schedule. If attending a certain hours of physical classes is not
possible for you, then 100% online classes may be your better option. 6. What
are the fees over and above the tuition and textbooks?
Many institutions charge not only tuition costs but also a host of assorted
fees that may include application, transcript evaluation, library privileges,
graduation and more. Plus, tuition may seem low at first, but then they hit you
with extra expenses when you matriculate. 7. How can I contact my professors and
classmates?
A worthy University program will give you several options such as chat room,
message board, email, MSN or the university may implement their own proprietary
online learning system for contacting your professors and classmates. 8. What
are the practice project requirements?