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Comprehensive Online Advanced Nursing Degree!
Lisette Hilton

Do you want to go the distance? Some nurses are opting for online learning experiences — online advanced nursing degree programs that allow nurses to juggle demanding jobs and family responsibilities without ever having to step foot in a classroom. These nurses enjoy the freedom of logging on for their lessons at their convenience and in the comfort of their homes.

Distance learning is an exciting education alternative; but before you launch into cyberspace, be aware the option isn’t for everyone. Nurses who aren’t organized, computer-literate self-starters might quickly find themselves drowning in the virtual sea.

To see if this education alternative might be right for you, explore the world of distance learning through the articles and advertisers offered here. We’ll get you started with a few quick pointers from experts:

Working virtually does not mean working passively.

Professors will grade you on your participation and interaction.

Online students “have to assume responsibility for their education — that is key,” says Marie Truglio-Londrigan, RN, PhD, professor and chair of the graduate department of nursing at Pace University Lienhard School of Nursing, New York City and Westchester County, N.Y. “You can’t sit back in the classroom and not do anything and memorize information and pass a test. There’s a lot more involved, so you have to be self-directed.”

Online students are connected, too. Truglio-Londrigan says distance learning students find they form strong connections with fellow students and faculty. Many schools use various communication methods to strengthen ties between students, from telephone calls and traditional, face-to-face meetings to video streams.

Don’t assume that online classes are easier, less time-consuming alternatives.

Distance learning programs have the same requirements as onsite programs; the only difference is the mode of program delivery.

Terry Badger, RN, PhD, FAAN, professor and division director for the systems division at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, says people mistakenly think that going the online route will take less time.

“I can tell you through experience that it takes you as much, if not more, time,” Badger says.

Only organized, independent learners need apply.

You’ll decide when to log on, when to turn in your weekly assignments, and how to manage your education as a whole. If organization is your thing, then distance learning might be, too.

Do your homework on the programs that interest you.

Study faculty member qualifications and research schools’ reputations as nursing schools and as providers of distance education.

Barbara Ann Johnston, RN, PhD, CNE, associate dean graduate programs, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Lubbock, Texas, recommends nurses look at the track records of the schools’ students.

“On the graduate level, many of the tracks to a specialty require the individual to take national certifying exams. It would be good to know, for example, if you’re interested in the nurse practitioner program, what is the percentage of pass rate for those people completing the program? If it’s low, you’d be concerned about taking that program,” Johnston says.

An online advanced nursing degree is a great option for the right learner!

Whether it’s to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing or a master’s or doctorate, distance learning options put higher education within the reach of many of today’s nurses.

“Students tell me they really get hooked on it,” Truglio-Londrigan says. “I’d say about 96% of our students are working full-time … Most of our students … have children. So it’s very difficult for them to get in the classroom once a week. This is a way for them to progress in their educational experience.”