Every student has a specific lifestyle that cannot accommodate traditional education, which is why many choose to pursue their education online. It is well-known that online education helps save costs and equips students with the soft skills that help them advance in their careers. However, these benefits will be discussed in further detail concerning nursing.
Online education is especially beneficial for vocational programs such as nursing because students can get higher education at their own pace while simultaneously working in clinics. Online education is a blessing for overburdened nursing students who have to juggle their degrees alongside the hassle of daily life and furthering their careers. If you’re skeptical about getting your nursing degree online, then in this article, you’ll learn how it works, its benefits, and whether or not you’re the right fit for it.
How Does An Online Nursing Program Work?
You don’t have to attend classes through an online nursing program physically. Everything you’ll need to learn will be available online, meaning lectures, learning materials, or modules will be available on the portal. An online nursing program, however, doesn’t always mean 100% online. Since nursing is a hands-on course, you’ll still have to put in your clinic hours and attend lab assessments physically.
If you want to pursue anything post-grad, you’ll want it to be reliable, which is why you should choose an MSN online program that is accredited through CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) to make sure you get the best ROI (return on investment) possible. That way, you can comfortably pursue your degree according to your lifestyle while being sure of its legitimacy and enjoy the following benefits:
- No geographic restrictions
Since you’re not required to attend classes physically, you can significantly increase your options and pursue your nursing degree from anywhere in the world! You can live in remote states like Oregon and pursue quality education from major colleges located in California.
All you need is an internet connection, and you can transcend geographic boundaries. This is especially beneficial for those students who can’t leave their homes because they can’t afford to live anywhere else or leave their parents behind without a caretaker.
- Cut down costs
The major benefit of online education is that you get the same credibility, opportunities, and knowledge as traditional learners while saving more money. Daily commutes, living expenses, and even lunch money can contribute to excess spending. Online education saves you from lots of passive expenses.
Traditional learners also have to pay a hefty sum for nursing books and learning material, but online nursing students have access to all of the learning material on their portal, so there’s significantly less financial strain on them.
- Flexible schedules
A flexible schedule is a major bonus for nursing students who are also working as nursing assistants in clinics. Students can allocate their study hours and ensure there is no clash between their jobs and education. This allows students to improve their practical skills alongside their theoretical knowledge.
Students can also choose when to study and create a schedule that matches their learning style. If you study better after midnight, you can plan your studies accordingly. Even though you’ll still have to meet deadlines and sit for examinations, the freedom of choosing when and where to study your course makes all the difference.
- Interactive content
Online education provides dynamic learning that caters to all learners through quality learning materials that contain interactive questions, lecture videos, and digital course books. It doesn’t matter whether a student is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner because every unique learning style is catered to.
Online nursing students are more proactive in pursuing knowledge because they don’t have to sit there and just absorb lectures. They have to actively reach out and understand the material, which makes it easier to digest difficult concepts. This is why online learners retain 25%-60% more information online compared to traditional learners.
- Teaches valuable soft skills
Online learning is successful because it teaches students beyond the course and equips them with advantageous soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and confidence, which are some of the key skills to gain success in the practical world.
Having a work-life balance in a high-stress field like healthcare is important. Online learning enables nursing students to develop their work schedules, which is why they know how to separate themselves from their work. This skill enables them to prevent burnout and maintain their mental health as professional nurses.
- Form connections
Even if you’re not on campus, you don’t need to interact in ‘real life’ to form connections. The online learning portal will make it easier to engage with class fellows. You can choose to participate in online study sessions, have video conferences to discuss class contents, and use discussion boards to post questions. You can even message or email your course instructor privately to clear up any confusion.
Traditional nursing students don’t have as many opportunities to widen their network compared to online students. It makes sense, considering you can mail fifty students in a day, but talking to that many is a different story.
What Qualities Do You Need For Online Education?
- Time management
Despite having the flexibility to choose your study cycle, you’ll still have to complete the course, meet deadlines, and prepare for examinations on time. A nursing course is vigorous, and it’s important to be good at time management and not leave everything for the last minute.
- Discipline
There are no instructors to keep you in check and guide you every step of the way. You need to have the discipline to follow through with your study plans. As an online nursing student, you’ll need to keep up with complex topics and allocate the necessary time to learn them.
- Optimism
Nursing is a difficult degree to pursue, and it’s very easy to give up, so the dropout rate for nursing students in the US is 20%. If you want to survive as a nursing student, the first step is to believe in yourself and your abilities.
Conclusion
Nursing is a career path that is cutthroat yet highly rewarding. Not only is it difficult to get into, but it also requires you to invest a lot of time and money. With online education, however, getting a nursing education becomes easier. Once you let go of the stigma surrounding online learning and become aware of its benefits, you’ll realize it is a credible and convenient medium of education. All it takes is a bit more commitment and discipline.
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