Find out where a nursing degree can take you

Nursing Degrees Online

When you want to advance your career, online nursing programs can help you reach your goals and improve your ability to provide quality healthcare.

With a nursing degree, you will become more marketable to employers and build on your leadership, clinical, and humanistic skills. Online nursing programs are affordable and can be fit within your schedule, so you can maintain your full-time career while earning your degree.

Use this guide to find out if earning your nursing degree online is worth it, what areas you can go into after earning your degree, what to look for in a school, high-paying nursing careers, and more.

Is a Nursing Degree Worth It?

No matter which level of degree you pursue, an online nursing program will open the doors to many opportunities.

Nurses are always in demand. In fact, employment for registered nurses is projected to grow 15% through 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A career in nursing pays well, too — RNs earn a median salary of $71,730 per year, and higher-level nurses, such as nurse practitioners, make even more.

Online Nursing Programs

Online nursing programs can provide you with the skills you need to succeed in a variety of careers within the field. With affordability and flexibility, earning your nursing degree online allows you to maintain your busy professional schedule.

Nursing Specializations

Advance your career as a nurse in any of these areas.

Nurses with advanced degrees can pursue employment in an administrative or advocacy area. In these careers, you will either supervise other nurses at your facility, teach other nurses, or determine ways to improve healthcare in communities. You may choose to provide care to individuals or communities. They may work with children and families, with expecting mothers, or with those who are serving the country in the U.S. military.

You can also work in a more specialized area such as dermatology, cardiac care, or radiology. These nurses focus on patients with specific illnesses.

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What to Look for in an Online Nursing School?

As you search for an online nursing school, there are some things you should consider. Find out what the program’s clinical requirements are before applying for admission. Chances are, you will need to complete a practicum at a nearby healthcare facility. Sometimes, you can complete this component through your workplace.

Program Details

Some of the other things you should look for in an online nursing program include:

  • Affordability
  • Quality
  • Flexible schedule
  • Experienced instructors
  • Specialization opportunities

Nursing Accreditation

You should also ensure that the online nursing school is accredited. Check to see what the school’s accreditation is, and find out if the nursing program you are interested in is accredited by a nursing accreditation agency. Accreditation is important as it shows that the online degree programs are held to high quality standards. Some of the nursing accreditation bodies include:

  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
  • American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation (ACNM)
  • Commission on the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
  • National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)

Common Misconceptions About Online Nursing Degrees

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How Did an RN-BSN Help Advance Your Nursing Career?

Tatiana earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing online through an RN to BSN program. The flexible format made it so that she didn’t have to sacrifice work and personal commitments.

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Where Can an Online Nursing Degree Take You?

You can pursue many rewarding careers after graduating from an online nursing degree program. Here are some of the highest paying and most in-demand careers in the field.

Explore Nursing Degrees Online

An online nursing program can help you pursue advanced opportunities within the field, increase your marketability, and increase your salary — all at an affordable price. With the convenience of an online format, you don’t have to put your nursing career on pause to earn your degree.