Rowan Rey Sutherland 
In a previous article, we discussed how pursuing a higher education is everyone’s dream. The recent market recovery means there are more people – students and professionals alike – considering pursuing a higher degree. There are more programs to choose from too, with specific fields like nursing gaining the most attention.
Getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree can be the perfect way to kickstart your healthcare career. As healthcare service providers seek more nurses and healthcare professionals, students who are studying to become a nurse have more job opportunities to explore later. If you are eager to enter this field too, there are several reasons why pursuing your nursing degree online is the way to start.
More Affordable Than Offline Courses
Let’s start with the most obvious advantage: the more affordable tuition. Online degrees are up to 40% more affordable than the equivalent offline degree, and that’s just on tuition and direct costs alone. You can complete the same course online for a lot less, which means your return on investment (ROI) will be significantly higher in the long run.
You also eliminate a lot of costs associated with pursuing a higher degree. You no longer have to relocate closer to the university or commute every day. You also don’t need to buy physical books, since course materials and the necessary supporting books are available for free or for much less online.
More Advanced and Up to Date
Healthcare service providers now value online graduates more than ever because the online courses in fields like nursing are more up to date; this means the courses are designed to meet specific industry needs and get updated more regularly than offline courses. By going the online route, you can also earn the degree of your choice while mastering more skills.
The advanced nursing programs are made more attractive now that they are also available as accelerated courses. Among the best accelerated nursing programs online is the course from Baylor University. The course lets you earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in as little as three weeks with several pre-requisites.
Extra Flexibility for Students and Professionals
We really cannot talk about online nursing programs without talking about the flexibilities that they offer. Keep in mind that online nursing programs are not conducted 100% online. You still need to complete clinicals, which are done in the healthcare institutions of your choice, plus mandatory offline classes and certifications.
That said, much of the course is still designed to be very flexible. You can, for instance, take the course while working a fulltime job. As long as you can allocate enough time for studying, you will have no trouble completing the course. The same is true for the clinicals. You can schedule yours around your existing schedules, allowing you to hold on to your old job as you prepare for the new career.
Accelerated
The accelerated online nursing programs are very attractive if you want to pivot to the healthcare industry. Any degree that you currently own can be used as an enrollment requirement. Of course, an existing degree in any non-nursing field is not the only requirement. You also need to take the HESI exam and have a previous GPA of 2.75 or higher.
However, the higher admittance requirements are worth it when you consider how efficient the accelerated course is. The course can be completed in 3 to 12 weeks depending on your pace, after which you can jump straight into 720 hours of practicum requirement to earn your degree. The course comes with Clinical Placement Services for students.
Valued as an Investment
Let’s not forget that a BSN is the first step to many advanced degrees in nursing. As with many professional nurses, earning an online nursing degree is only the first step in a very long journey. The field is expanding, which means there are management-level opportunities to seize in the future. After starting your career in this field, you have plenty of options to explore.
You can, for instance, focus on becoming a nurse administrator. The role is among the most rewarding in healthcare today, and it is a relatively straightforward position to achieve. Many professional nurses reach the position of administrator within the first three years. The possibilities are endless from there; many hospital operations directors started their careers as nurses.
Getting Started with an Online Nursing Degree
The five benefits we discussed earlier are only the beginning. Taking your nursing degree online comes with other advantages, including the ability to transfer your scores from accredited universities, access to the best mentors and lecturers, and field experience that will further strengthen your preparation for a career in nursing.
To start enjoying these advantages, there are a few things you need to do to get started:
- Start by finding a course and understanding the course requirements. There is no shortage of options, but that doesn’t mean you can randomly choose any program. You still have to think about the enrollment requirement, whether the course is accredited, and the overall course structure.
- Speaking of course structure, make sure you understand the course curriculum before enrolling. You need to be extra certain that you can acquire the skills you need and complete the program in a timely manner and knowing the challenges ahead will help you do that from the start.
- Take into account the assignments and practicum requirements of the course. Make sure you can allocate enough time so that the pace at which you complete the course is not disrupted. If you are not sure about what to prepare, you can get in touch with the university directly and ask questions.
- Develop a passion for the field. The field of nursing is very challenging, and anyone currently working as a professional nurse will tell you that. However, it is also a very rewarding career path to explore, both financially and emotionally. If you are passionate about the field, an online nursing degree is the perfect first step to take.
A perfect first step to take indeed. Now that you know the benefits you can get from pursuing your nursing degree online, and how you can get started effectively, the only thing to do left is kickstart your journey.
