About Accelerated RN Programs

If you already have a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field but want a change of career, an accelerated RN degree may be a good option for you. Some schools offer accelerated BSN programs, which allow you to obtain your bachelor of science in nursing in 12 to 18 months.

The accelerated BSN program is not for everyone, however. You must already have a bachelor's degree in some field; if it is not a science field, you may be expected to complete science prerequisites before starting your nursing classes. Also, getting in to an accelerated RN program is very selective.

If you are accepted, accelerated BSN programs are very grueling. They can require 15 to 18 hour days, between coursework and clinical work, and many schools do not offer breaks between terms. Given the amount of time commitment to an accelerated BSN program, there is often no time to work while obtaining your degree, which can cause financial issues. If you have the money and the desire to devote to becoming a nurse, consider an accelerated BSN degree. They are offered in 41 states and the District of Columbia.

Doctorates of Nursing Degrees

If you are a nurse and have already earned a BSN or MSN but want to further your education, you may want to consider a doctorate in nursing. The practice doctorate in nursing is a relatively new degree to be offered. A practice doctorate in nursing will usually prepare nurses in two different roles: direct healthcare and health systems/clinical leadership.

However, all programs usually require various research, health policy, and business courses in addition to the focused courses, allowing overlap between the roles. Depending on what kind of doctorate degree you choose to pursue, you may only need to have completed your bachelor's degree, or you may need to have an MSN before enrolling. Nurses who gain their doctorate degree in nursing are licensed independent practitioners, much like doctors of pharmacy or doctors of clinical psychology.

About Taking RN Courses Online

You can opt to take RN courses online, through an online program or a distance-learning program, while getting your BSN degree. When taking an RN course online, consider the pros and cons:

Pros: You will usually receive the professor's lecture notes written down; you can work at your own pace and on your own schedule; most assessment in online courses is nontraditional, meaning there will be no exams.

Cons: You cannot usually talk to the professor face-to-face; you may lack support from other nursing students. Also, make sure you consider the technology requirements for online courses. Some typical requirements:

• Internet connectivity – usually a 56K modem or higher

• Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator

• Pentium III PC or G3 Mac with 256k memory

• Shockwave Player

• Real Player

• Adobe Reader

• MS Office – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Challenges to Obtaining an RN Degree

Deciding you want to become a nurse is the first step in your nursing career; however, actually attaining your RN degree can be a challenge on its own. Here are some challenges to consider when deciding to obtain your RN degree:

• RN programs are selective. Because there is a shortage of nurses, many nurses who may have opted into the educational arena are staying in the field. For that reason, there are less teachers in RN programs, and RN programs are limited in the number of students they can take. This leads RN programs to be very selective

• RN programs cost money. No matter what kind of RN program you choose to pursue – ADN, RN, or MSN, you will be faced with tuition payments, which could be a problem if you are switching careers. Remember, though, that financial aid is available to qualified students

• RN programs are time-intensive. Because RN programs require both classroom learning and clinical learning, there is no “shortcut” to getting your RN degree. While accelerated programs exist, they are usually all-consuming for the 12 to 18 months they take to complete

Deciding Between an Online RN School and a Traditional RN School

If you have chosen to pursue your RN degree, you may have the option to study either in an on-campus setting or online. Making the decision to pursue one course of study over the other may be a difficult one; consider the following points when making your decision.

• What kind of a learner are you? If you learn face-to-face and need interpersonal interaction in order to learn, a traditional, on-campus degree is probably the best for you.

• Do you need to keep working? If you need to keep your current job, and it is not overly flexible about scheduling, a online degree may be better for you. Online degrees usually let you study at your own pace and on your own schedule.

• Are there RN schools close to you? If there are no RN programs near to your home and relocating is not an option, consider an online RN school. You can study from anywhere and you are not limited by geography.

• Are you comfortable with technology? If you are comfortable with technology, you may want to consider an online degree. If you are not well-versed in computers, web, and chat programs, a traditional degree may be the way to go.

Who Should Consider RN to BSN Online Degrees

If you are a Registered Nurse who has an associate's degree or have received a diploma from a school accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission, a RN to BSN degree may be for you. If you want to complete your bachelor's degree but don't have time to go back to school full-time, an online degree is probably your best choice.

Most RN to BSN degrees are designed for nurses who are already working in the field, but want to complete their degree. Schools that offer online RN to BSN degree programs understand that going back to school is a huge time commitment, one that can be prohibitive to most working professionals. Online degrees give you the opportunity to study on your own schedule, day or night, and complete courses when you can.

Also, most schools offering RN to BSN online degrees give you the opportunity to participate in an accelerated program, so you can earn your degree in less time. Some programs will also give you credit for work you have already done, further reducing your time commitment.

How To Find Online Programs

If you think an online program is for you, the next step is to find a program that fits your schedule, budget, and lifestyle. But how do you do that? Since you're planning on studying online, you may as well start there – online.

The easiest way to get an overview of the online programs available is to go to your favorite search engine and do a search for “rn online degree,” “rn to bsn online,” or “msn online,” depending on what kind of degree you're looking for. You should come up with a lot of results; one way to narrow down the number of programs you'd like to look at is to restrict your search by location (“Midwest”) or state.

Once you find a list of schools that offer online degrees and may work for you, begin contacting the schools for more specific information. Most will have online forms to request information; if they don't, then call the admissions office and request a catalog. Begin narrowing down the programs based on the criteria important to you.

Becoming an RN

If you want to become an RN, you have two choices in regards to education: an ADN degree and a BSN degree. Here is some info on both to help you figure out which desgree is best for you. ADN degree: The Associate Degree Nurse can earn an associate's degree in in about two years, and become a licensed nurse. This option is good if you have limited time to earn your degree, or if you are not interested in getting a bachelor's degree.

However, most medical facilities will require a bachelor's degree for career advancement. BSN degree: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is usually a four-year course of study that will result in a bachelor's degree and a nursing license. In addition to practical nursing topics, a BSN will focus on theoretical applications of nursing in patient care and elsewhere. If you plan on advancing up the career ladder or getting an advanced degree in the future, the BSN degree is for you.

Emerging Issues In Health Care Trends

There are several health care issues that have been greenlighted to be studied more closely. Physicians and physician advocacy groups are interested in improving the measurement and reporting of the following up and coming trends in health care:

• Cancer prevention methods such as mammography, colonoscopy, and cervical cancer screenings

• Diabetes management

• Asthma treatment

• Depression identification and management Nurses have an opportunity to get involved in the reporting and management measures that are happening now in these topics.

If you have a specialty or interest in any of these areas and have excellent research and reporting skills, you may consider getting involved.

Admissions Requirements for RN Applicants to MSN Programs

If you are interested in applying for an MSN, here are some requirements you may need to meet as an RN applicant:

• Proof of high school graduation

• A BSN degree, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

• All transcripts from your post-high-school studies

• An acceptable score on the GRE (usually around 1000 on the verbal/quantitative and 4.5 on the analytic)

• Letters of reference

• A written or in-person interview

• Various prerequisite courses

• The accreditation of the school where you have recieved your nursing associates or diploma

• A valid nursing license in the state in which you want to study

Once you have found a MSN program that is good for you, check with the office of admissions to find out exactly what their requirements are. They will usually send you a packet of information, complete with a requirements checklist.

Becoming an RN College Instructor