How Does an Online Nursing Degree Work?

<p><b>Online nursing school works by choosing and applying to your online nursing program and completing class requirements and clinical experiences.</b> </p> <p>If you successfully complete an <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Online_Nursing_Degrees_Your_Questions_Answered.html">online nursing program</a>, you should be prepared to earn your state licensure and necessary certifications to start or advance your career. </p> <p>There are various levels of online nursing schools. The lowest college level of online nursing school is a practical nursing diploma program, and the highest level is a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. </p> <p>Learn more about how online nursing school works below. </p> <h2 id="section---AGuideToHowOnlineNursingSchoolWorks">A Guide to How Online Nursing School Works</h2> <p>Find out more information on how online nursing school works in the steps below. </p> <h3 id="section---ChooseAnOnlineNursingProgram">Choose An Online Nursing Program</h3> <p>Find an accredited online nursing program that supports your educational and career goals. If you do not have any background in nursing, start with an undergraduate program. </p> <p>You can start with a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Licensed_Practical_Nurse_LPN_Do.html">licensed practical nursing</a> diploma, an Associate of Science degree in nursing, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. </p> <p>If you have completed college nursing classes or are an active registered nurse, may qualify for an accelerated undergraduate and graduate degree program to advance your knowledge and career. </p> <p>Graduate degree programs involve choosing a concentration such as executive leader, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Family_Nurse_Practitioner_Schools_and_Courses_Your_Questions_Answered.html">family nurse practitioner</a>, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to evolve into a specific nursing position. </p> <p>There are several online nursing schools. State eligibility requirements may apply to online nursing school programs. Find some accredited online nursing schools in the table below. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Online Nursing School</th><th>LPN Diploma</th><th>ASN or ADN Degree</th><th>BSN Degree</th><th>MSN Degree</th><th>DNP Degree</th></tr> <tr><td>Purdue Global</td><td> </td><td> Yes </td><td> RN to BSN </td><td> Yes </td><td> Yes</td></tr> <tr><td>Rasmussen University</td><td> Yes </td><td> </td><td> RN to BSN </td><td> </td><td /></tr> <tr><td>Regent University</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> RN to BSN </td><td> Yes </td><td> Yes</td></tr> <tr><td>Western Governors University</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> Yes </td><td> Yes</td><td /></tr> </table><p>You will complete your online nursing classes and clinical rotations after enrolling in your nursing program. </p> <h3 id="section---ApplyToOnlineNursingSchool">Apply to Online Nursing School</h3> <p>Apply to your online nursing school after you choose your program. Admission requirements are different depending on the school and program. At a minimum, you may need the following: </p> <ul><li>to successfully pass a background check </li><li>immunization records </li></ul><p>Some online nursing schools and programs require you to submit an essay, complete an examination or have completed some prior college courses. </p> <p>An online nursing program may also require you to hold an active state licensure for advanced nursing programs. </p> <h3 id="section---CompleteOnlineNursingClasses">Complete Online Nursing Classes</h3> <p>Undergraduate nursing programs provide a foundation in nursing through online instruction covering topics such as patient care, mental health nursing, nursing fundamentals, and more. </p> <p>You will complete a capstone project at the end of many nursing schools to demonstrate knowledge and skills learned in the program. </p> <p>Graduate degree programs also involve online classes that relate to your concentration. Examples of common concentrations include: </p> <ul><li>addictions counseling </li><li>adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner </li><li>family nurse practitioner </li><li>nursing education </li><li>pediatric primary care nurse practitioner </li></ul><h3 id="section---CompleteLabWorkAndClinicalExperiences">Complete Lab Work and Clinical Experiences</h3> <p>Nursing school also involves lab work and clinical experiences that you must complete in person. Few online nursing schools provide lab work and clinical experiences through virtual simulators. </p> <p>Clinical experiences are important for introducing you to working in a healthcare facility with medical tools and real patients. </p> <h2 id="section---OtherNursingSchoolRequirements">Other Nursing School Requirements</h2> <p>There are state reciprocity rules for online nursing schools and financial responsibilities for online nursing programs. Learn more about each one below. </p> <h3 id="section---StateReciprocity">State Reciprocity</h3> <p>Complete an online nursing school near you or in a state that offers state reciprocity for the state you live in to make sure that you can legally work as a nurse. </p> <p>Learn about state authorization information on the website of the nursing school you are interested in. There are several ways to search for accredited nursing schools near your state. </p> <p>Use the college navigator tool by the National Center for Education Statistics or the search directory on the website of a nursing accrediting organization. The two accrediting organizations for nursing are: </p> <ul><li>The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education </li><li>The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing </li></ul><p>It is important to find an accredited online nursing program for the quality of the program and financial aid options to help lower the cost of tuition. </p> <h3 id="section---FinancialResponsibilities">Financial Responsibilities</h3> <p>The cost of tuition for online nursing schools depends on the school and program. It also may depend on full-time or part-time enrollment and the state you live in. </p> <p>Tuition ranges from under $200 per credit hour to over $600 per credit hour. There are many ways to reduce the cost of tuition. See ways to lower tuition costs below: </p> <ul><li>grants </li><li>scholarships </li><li>a tuition waiver </li><li>transfer credits </li><li>tuition discount </li><li>an employer tuition reimbursement program </li></ul><p>Submit a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_is_the_FAFSA_Online_Application_Form.html">Free Application for Federal Student Aid</a> to qualify for grant opportunities and search for internal and external scholarship options. </p> <p>You can find external scholarship options through private organizations and websites such as www.fastweb.com. </p> <h2 id="section---StartOnlineNursingSchoolToday">Start Online Nursing School Today</h2> <p>Learning how online nursing school works is a step towards starting an accredited program to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for obtaining licensure and starting or advancing your nursing career.</p>