Completing an online nursing program can help move your career in a new direction, specializing in a certain area of nursing and opening up more job opportunities. There are constant opportunities for growth and career development within the nursing industry as technology develops and different types of nursing are more in demand than ever. If you are currently working as an RN and are looking to advance your career, or are planning out your educational journey to becoming a nurse, then online nursing programs are a great way to boost your career in nursing while offering you the flexibility to continue practicing. Here are just a couple of the career outcomes of online nursing programs.
What is it?
The online nursing programs are BSN-MSN/NP degrees that are aimed at practicing RNs who want to take the next step in their nursing careers. If you are just at the beginning of your educational journey to becoming a nurse, it can help to plan ahead to the future, as you can begin to understand the educational and personal requirements that certain professions or areas within nursing calls for. Online nursing programs can help you focus your study and practice in a certain area. The courses can be completed in 24-30 months, depending on which pathway you choose to take. The pathways are:
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree, 28 months to complete
- Family Nurse Practitioner Degree, 30 months to complete
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Degree, 28 months to complete
- Adult-Gerontology, Primary Care, Nurse Practitioner Degree, 24 months to complete
Some of the entry criteria for online nursing programs include a 3.0 GPA and a BSN degree, as well as an unencumbered license. There is also the option to take a 1-week break in-between each 7-week course. Courses include Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Practice and a Moral and Ethical Decision-Making residency, and online nursing programs will give you the clinical expertise to succeed in your chosen area of nursing, helping you to prevent, treat, assess and manage diseases that are acute and chronic.
Who are these courses for?
If you are a practicing RN wishing to specialize in certain areas of nursing, online nursing programs could be the perfect option for you. They can open up higher-level nursing roles that are more advanced, helping you move up the career ladder. Most online programs also allow you to earn your PALS certificate that you’ll be needing when working as a nurse. Once you have graduated, you could begin working or develop your education further with a DNP.
There are certain skills that nurses require in any field or area, and it is likely that you will already have many of them. They can always be developed and expanded, and online nursing programs can help teach you how to do this, as well as how to apply them to new situations that you may come across.
- Compassion and empathy- an empathetic nurse can help to make a patient feel more comfortable, as they will have a more personal approach. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in the place of others in order to better understand their emotions and thoughts. Compassion is feeling sympathy for others combined with the desire to alleviate whatever is causing them pain or distress. As well as supporting their health, nurses are often providing patients and families with emotional support too.
- Critical thinking- there are often no black and white answers in nursing, and you may often be presented with several right answers. This means you will have to use your critical thinking skills to work out what the best solution would be. Judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are all vital in nursing.
- Stamina- nursing is a physically demanding profession, and you will be on your feet for many hours each shift. You will also be lifting and moving patients and equipment, so you need to be strong and fit. Furthermore, you also need to have emotional stamina, as you can be working in pressurized environments and with patients who have experienced traumatic events. You will need to remain emotionally strong in order to keep yourself healthy and continue providing a high level of service to your patients.
- Communication- nurses have to be great communicators. You will be working with and communicating with a vast range of people, including the general public and other medical professionals. Being able to communicate effectively has numerous benefits. For example, it can help a patient feel more comfortable and heard, and can help you educate and advise others. It is important to know how to be a good listener too, and how to pick up on any non-verbal cues such as body language.
- Teamwork- nurses often work as part of a larger, multidisciplinary medical team, and therefore you will need to be able to work with all your colleagues and team members to make sure the patient is receiving the best treatment. Teamwork and communication often go hand-in-hand, as you will also need to know how to adapt your communication techniques when dealing with different people.
- Adaptability- the technology and methods surrounding the medical industry are always changing and developing, and you need to be willing to learn new theories, no matter how long you have been practicing or what job you have. This helps you keep up with the latest treatments and means that you are always providing the best and most up-to-date care to your patients.
Nurse Practitioner
The online nursing programs prepare you to become a nurse practitioner, which is a title that can be combined with other specialisms. Generally, nurse practitioners are mid-level practitioners whose primary function is to promote wellness via patient health education. NPs are nonphysician clinicians, which essentially means that while they are not trained as physicians, they take on many of the diagnostic and clinical functions that a medical doctor would. One defining characteristic of NPs is that in some states, they can work independently and without the supervision of a physician.
Family Nurse Practitioner
FNPs understand the importance of family-centered healthcare. As an FNP you will work with families and patients of all ages, genders, body systems, and diseases. FNPs have a wide variety of aims, and therefore the job is very varied. They prioritize preventative care but can also treat serious illnesses. Responsibilities of FNPs include assessing and diagnosing patients, ordering and interpreting lab tests, educating patients, managing treatment plans, prescribing medication, and helping to maintain and promote their health. FNPs can work in a range of settings, including hospitals, private practices, and internal medicine clinics.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
PNPs work with patients from newborns to young adults in both primary care and in dealing with chronic and acute illnesses. PNPs can work independently in private practices or alongside pediatricians and are an incredibly important part of the health care team. Responsibilities can include maintaining patient health, interpreting lab and diagnostic results, prescribing medication, performing physical assessments, developmental check-ups, treating various illnesses and injuries, acting as a liaison between patients, families, and doctors, and providing emotional advice and support to patients, and their loved ones.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
PMHNPs are trained to provide a wide range of mental health services to a wide range of people. This is done in different settings, including schools, prisons, substance abuse programs, and trauma centers. When working as a PMHNP, you can choose to generalize or specialize in areas such as forensics, geriatrics, or psychotherapy, and in some states can practice within the presence of a psychiatrist. The responsibilities and tasks the PMHNPs perform can include assessing and diagnosing patients, prescribing medications, conducting therapy, providing emergency psychiatric services, and managing patient care. They may also educate families and staff, as serve as consultants.
Adult-Gerontology, Primary Care, Nurse Practitioner
Gerontology is the study of aging, but this does not limit this area of nursing to geriatric health care. AGNPs provide health services to those ranging from young adults upwards. There are two different types of adult-gerontology nurse practitioners; acute and primary care, and this pathway focuses on primary care, treating those who are not usually ill. A large part of this nursing role involves maintaining the health of the patient through the promotion and encouragement of healthy life choices. AGNPs can also help with managing transitions between care settings and assessing the competence of caregivers, as well as educating patients and caregivers.
Online learning benefits
As well as the technical knowledge and skills that online nursing programs can provide you with, you will also have the chance to develop important personal ones when studying online. There are numerous benefits to online nursing programs, and flexibility is definitely one of them. You may be incredibly busy and not want to leave your job or take a break while you pursue this qualification. The online nursing programs are designed for practicing RNs and are therefore adaptable to work around your life.
Cost
Being a student can very expensive, and this is one of the main reasons why people may decide against further education. Some of the costs include transport and commuting, rent and accommodation, and tuition fees, and educational materials. When studying online nursing programs, some of these costs can be reduced or even removed. For example, when learning at home, you won’t have to find alternative accommodation on or near campus, and you can also save time and money on commuting. Furthermore, the tuition fees for online courses are often cheaper, and you may still be eligible for financial support from your college or university.
Location
Location can also be a hindrance to pursuing further education, as your local colleges or universities may not offer the courses or levels of qualification that you need. Furthermore, they may also not offer flexible study options that allow you to work alongside your course. Online learning means that you have access to a greater range of institutions and courses, which means you can find the perfect fit for you. Online nursing programs allow you to study from home, as well as in person, alongside your existing life commitments. You also have more control over your learning environment. This can help you create a study setting that works for you, allowing you to learn more efficiently and enjoy the course and content. If you do not feel comfortable in a lecture theatre or are unable to attend any physical classes, online learning can give you access to a high level of education at home.
Skills
Online nursing programs can also allow you to expand and develop your personal skillset. Soft skills are a set of non-technical, transferable skills that can be used in most roles and workplaces and include communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and self-motivation. They are looked upon favorably by employers, and some are particularly useful for nurses. You will probably already have many of them, but they can always be improved and developed. Online learning has many unique challenges, and when you overcome these, you will be using your soft skills, whether you are aware of this or not. For example, nurses have to be incredibly organized, as they will have multiple patients and cases to deal with at the same time and will need to approach each one with the same level of professionalism, empathy, and care. Organization and time management skills can help them do this. When you learn online, you will also need organization and time management skills to make sure you keep up with your studying, especially when doing so alongside your job.
There are many career outcomes and opportunities that online nursing programs can help to make you eligible for. You will learn valuable skills and techniques that will help you grow both in your career and personally. Becoming a nurse is a rewarding career and perfect for those who are passionate about helping others in a variety of ways. If you are looking to take the next step in your nursing career, online nursing programs can provide you with a flexible study option to help you achieve this and push on to make a real difference in your chosen field.