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If you are a nurse working in a busy hospital or other health care facility, you are probably required to earn continuing education credits by taking a certain number of accredited courses each year. The medical field is always developing new techniques, and it is vital that nurses keep up-to-date on advancements in their field as well as keep their knowledge and skills fresh. You may also be a nurse who is looking to advance your career for either compensation or job title purposes. If this is the case, continuing your education by earning a more advanced degree is one of the most effective ways to achieve this goal.  An Online Nursing Education on Your Own Time Busy nurses often don't have time to go back to school or take time off for classes. That's why online nursing continuing education is an excellent option for completing required courses to renew credentials. There are many accredited nursing courses available, making it easier to find the right classes for career advancement or credential renewal. In this demanding field, you can take courses in everything from acute care to diabetes pathophysiology—and it can all be done from the comfort of your own home. Even if you are a traveling nurse, you can continue your education from wherever you happen to be working across the country. The range of possibilities is truly vast—from taking a few continuing education credits in cardiac care as a refresher course to fulfilling your nursing continuing education requirements—to earning a full master's degree in nursing online. Earning an Advanced Nursing Degree Online A registered nurse usually has a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, a two- to three-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a three-year nursing diploma. Beyond the basic degree, certain nursing careers, such as clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners require a master's degree to practice. An online nursing degree might include advanced courses in some of the following areas: - Clinical pharmacotherapeutics
- Advanced clinical practice
- Holistic nursing
- Nursing practice and health care policy
- Administration and consultation services
- Health assessment
- Patient stabilization and care
- Patient education
Online nursing continuing education master's programs are usually one- to two-years long, and range from an emphasis in some of the following areas of expertise: - Public health
- Business administration
- Health services
- Administration
These nursing degree programs can make it possible for you to advance your career as a registered nurse into hospital administration, management, mentoring and nurse education. If nothing else, they bring a broader knowledge and experience to whatever area you pursue in the nursing field. Nurses that earn these degrees have increased earning potential, and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for nurses in general will rise by 23 percent by the year 2016, and specialists with master's degrees will see a rise in demand in the 30 percent range. This amazing increase in the need for qualified nurses shows that this is a great time to start or continue your online nursing education, and get on track for a successful career! You can also learn strategies for balancing work and nursing school to help set your nursing career up for success! EXPLORE TOP NURSING DEGREES Sources:
NurseCEU.com, 2008.
RN.com, 2008
Texas Board of Nursing, 2008 |
Continuing Nursing Education Resources The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow. ~Bill Gates Advances in computer technology and the Internet have changed the way America works, learns, and communicates. The Internet has become an integral part of America's economic, political, educational and social life. ~Bill Clinton How to Pay for Nursing School |
