Why Taking Online Nursing Degree

Today is an excellent time to become a nurse with the nursing shortage and multitude of career opportunities. And there are even convenient, online nursing schools that offer the flexibility of a nursing education on your own time, and at your own pace.

This online nursing degree and education question and answer session will help you learn about online nursing degrees and whether they're the right nursing career education choice for you.

You generally complete the non-clinical portion of your course work via online classes. See Online Nursing Courses for the types of nursing courses you can expect to take online. As you can imagine, there are no schools that allow you to fulfill your clinical requirements online, so the clinicals are usually arranged at a medical facility near your home.

Many working nurses with family responsibilities cannot afford to work less while attending school. Though online education is no less demanding than traditional education, the option of learning online allows many nurses to earn an advanced degree at home, completing course work at their convenience. This saves on travel time, which is particularly useful for students living in rural areas that are not close to any nursing schools

No classes to attend, no traffic or parking to worry about. Earn your degree when and where you want, 24/7 from the nation's leading colleges and universities! You can also take accredited online nursing continuing education courses, and explore nursing specialties, or allied health career pathways, read helpful career articles, and find nursing scholarships in our student resource center

No longer have to spend long hours in searching the shelves of various libraries. You might not be having face-to-face meeting with your teachers but you can email them or talk to them online for whatever help you require. Since nursing is a profession where simply theoretical study won't suffice so the online nursing degree school will arrange for your clinical experience at a medical facility that is located conveniently for you.

Study Nursing and Healthcare

Nursing and Healthcare Administration Program

The Nursing and Healthcare Administration Program draws upon the strengths of a top ranked School of Nursing and the top ranked Wharton School of Business.The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus in Nursing and Health Care Administration integrates concepts and principles from 11 courses in nursing administration and 5 courses from the healthcare management major in the Wharton MBA program. Students may also select courses or declare a minor from the Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics program or may obtain certificates in human resources, marketing, entrepreneurship or finance and accounting from the Wharton Program for Working Professionals. In general students focus their study in operations management, health care finance, consulting, or project management. Relevant minors also include health informatics, occupational health nursing, organizational dynamics or quality improvement and safety processes in healthcare.

This program is comprehensive in scope, emphasizing administration in diverse health care settings and culminating in a practicum working with a nurse executive in your field of interest. Practicum sites have included the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, GE Healthcare, The Advisory Board Company, and Mainline Health Systems to name a few. Graduates of this program have been employed in myriad healthcare settings including healthcare consultation; project management in healthcare organizations e.g., quality initiatives; nursing management in large teaching hospitals and a variety of other healthcare venues; executive positions in community health systems; and long-term care management.

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates meet the educational eligibility requirements for national certification as a Nurse Executive from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Click here for more information on course requirements and to view full and part-time plans of study for the Nursing and Healthcare Administration program.

Nursing Schools Directory

Welcome to the Nursing Schools directory! Here you can find the nursing schools that you are looking for in our nursing schools directory! Also, you can read about Nurse career, requirements to be a Nurse, nurse resources and many more!! There are several aspects that you need to consider when choosing a nursing school. The first step is to choose a specialty. The next step is to select a nursing school in which you need to consider your objectives as your current career goals, lifestyle, and financial status. About Nursing schools: How to choose a nursing school? Types of Nursing programs Nursing specialties Nursing Organizations

Nursing Schools in United States
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Nursing school grants

An ongoing shortage of nurses means that hospitals, clinics and private practices are thrilled whenever qualified students choose this all-important profession. As America ages the demand for nurses will only increase which means that nurses will be well compensated for their work.

As we all know, a college education can be expensive including for Nursing majors who not only must cover tuition, room and board, and their books, but lab fees and other costs related to their schooling. Though well compensated as they advance in their careers, some nurses enter the workforce carrying tens of thousands of dollars of debt that can take many years to pay off.

Fortunately, college scholarships and grant money can help nursing students defray some if not all of the costs associated with attending college. To help you find what money is available, SayCampusLife.com has put together a short list of companies, businesses and organizations who offer college scholarship money to Nursing majors:

American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA) – ANNA offers scholarships that provide funding to support members in their pursuit of higher education, such as Career Mobility Scholarships. ANNA also offers grants for clinical research projects and patient or staff education programs. Members may apply directly for scholarships and grants.

CHANCES Scholarship Program – If you’re interested in pursuing a career in pediatric nursing, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHANCES) is accepting scholarship applications for the 2010-2011 academic year until May 1, 2010. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or better and have already been accepted into a nursing school. Selected applicants will receive tuition equivalent assistance up to $16,000 per academic year, for up to two years. Upon graduation from nursing school, recipients will be committed to work as a Registered Nurse for Children’s for 18 months for each academic year of support received.

Clinique Nursing Scholarship – The same people who want you to look good in your skin also like to help nursing students. Students who have a grade point average of at least 3.5 may apply and must demonstrate financial need on your FAFSA report.

ENA Foundation Scholarship Program – The types of scholarships offered by the ENA Foundation are intended for currently licensed nurses (RN, LPN, or LVN) for their undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees. There are a minimal number of Non-RN scholarships available.

Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc. – The application for scholarships administered by the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association (FNSNA) is now available for the 2010 – 2011 academic year. For undergraduate students.

March of Dimes – To encourage students who are already Registered Nurses (RN), the March of Dimes awards several $5000 scholarships annually to RNs who are enrolled in graduate programs of maternal-child nursing. The application period begins in the fall and are due by the following January 15^th; awards are announced in May.

As always, prospective and current college students are encouraged to apply for multiple scholarships in a bid to increase their chances of securing an award.

Adv. — As recommended, collect all the information you can about college scholarships well before application deadline. SayCampusLife offers helpful tips and information about scholarship essay writing to help you make your college dreams come true.

Nursing practitioner

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed advanced education (a minimum of a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic illnesses.

Nursing shortage

A nurse—whether working in a family clinic or large hospital—is responsible for a majority of patient care. Nurses perform some of the most important duties during a patient’s stay at the hospital, from monitoring vital signs to administering necessary medications. Nurses also provide a human face to what can sometimes be a cold, sterile environment. However, in recent years there has been a vast shortage of nurses in the healthcare industry. In fact, this shortage is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years.

Estimates show that approximately 72 percent of hospital supervisors reported a nursing shortage at their facilities in October 2004. A previous report also estimated that in the year 2000, approximately 30 states experienced a nursing shortage. Unfortunately, these numbers are only increasing. One startling statistic estimates that by the year 2020, over 44 states and the District of Columbia will be experiencing a shortage of registered nurses, or RNs.

Some statistics also show that the number of nursing school graduates has decreased quite significantly. Since nurses play such a large and important part in today’s medical care system, it is a worthy endeavor to investigate the causes behind these shortages. Although it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly why there is such a dramatic nursing shortage, examining the trends and statistics can provide clues. Investigating these clues is key to understanding how to combat the nursing shortage. Further, as hospitals and clinics struggle to recruit nurses, some nurses are seeking other avenues of employment or ways to perform their duties.

Hospitals and clinics have begun to investigate other methods for attracting nurses to their environments. Exactly how these facilities are addressing the shortage can provide insight into the larger problem of the nursing shortage, and it can provide clues to the trends of the nursing shortage in the future. If the statistics show the shortage growing worse, what can be done to stop it? Or will the nursing shortage continue to grow until the trends reverse themselves? A thorough examination into the shortage itself can provide some hints.

Type of nursing programs

There are four different ways that are necessary to become a nurse, although the first two are usually popular.

Bachelor of Science Nursing (BS/BSN)
BSN is a program of four years that is given by colleges and universities. This program trains nurses to focus in all health care situations. BSN graduates have more opportunities in different area. For example, a BSN is indispensable for entry into a Master's program, in which you can have a nursing position like clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or nurse researcher.

A BSN also is frequently needed for military nursing or public health nursing.

Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN)
It is given by junior and community colleges and sometimes in universities and hospitals, an ADN is a program of two or three years, in which educates nurses to provide a direct patient care.

With this program, you can get your degree in 2 years and start practicing as an RN as soon as you approve your state board examination.

Hospital Diploma
Hospital Diploma is a program in where you study and work simultaneously for several years in a hospital with other nurses, and with educators.

But don't confuse with LPN because for this requirements are totally different, and is rarely given by hospitals or traditional colleges. You’ll usually obtain an LPN certification at a community or technical college.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurses is a program that takes a year of study.

Now if you desire to get an Accelerated Programs (Accelerated BSN/MSN), in which These programs are specific for nurses that already have Bachelor's, or even Master's, degrees. Many universities offer these programs for four additional years.

In addition to obtaining one of the above degrees, nurses need to pass the NCLEX-RN, a national licensing exam.

Top nursing schools

Top 20 Nursing Schools NIH Ranking for 2003

				Total Awards
Rank	INST	City	State	Number	Amount
1	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO	SAN FRANCISCO	CALIFORNIA	42	$13,415,409
2	UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON	SEATTLE	WASHINGTON	42	$12,912,013
3	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL	CHAPEL HILL	NORTH CAROLINA	22	$8,886,900
4	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO	CHICAGO	ILLINOIS	26	$8,737,038
5	UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA	PHILADELPHIA	PENNSYLVANIA	18	$6,317,357
6	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH	PITTSBURGH	PENNSYLVANIA	21	$5,134,090
7	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN	AUSTIN	TEXAS	16	$4,666,258
8	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	BALTIMORE	MARYLAND	16	$4,484,330
9	YALE UNIVERSITY	NEW HAVEN	CONNECTICUT	15	$4,168,651
10	UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN	ANN ARBOR	MICHIGAN	14	$4,121,001
11	UNIVERSITY OF IOWA	IOWA CITY	IOWA	15	$3,217,318
12	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES	LOS ANGELES	CALIFORNIA	10	$2,968,230
13	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	ROCHESTER	NEW YORK	8	$2,960,064
14	CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY	CLEVELAND	OHIO	10	$2,628,002
15	UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA	COLUMBIA	MISSOURI	10	$2,501,948
16	UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VIRGINIA	15	$2,443,668
17	UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM	BIRMINGHAM	ALABAMA	7	$2,377,028
18	EMORY UNIVERSITY	ATLANTA	GEORGIA	7	$2,332,599
19	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	PORTLAND	OREGON	10	$2,280,922
20	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	TUCSON	ARIZONA	12	$1,968,047

Complete List (Top 100 Schools -- for 2004 Listing) see the -- NIH---

Top 10 Nursing Schools according to dollars funded for training of Nurses.

					Training Grants
Rank by Training Grants	NIH Combined Rank	INST	City	State	Number	Amount
1	2	UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON	SEATTLE	WASHINGTON	3	$1,029,5732
2	10	UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN	ANN ARBOR	MICHIGAN	3	$844,103
3	3	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL	CHAPEL HILL	NORTH CAROLINA	2	$724,830
4	5	UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA	PHILADELPHIA	PENNSYLVANIA	2	$712,993
5	8	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	BALTIMORE	MARYLAND	2	$690,403
6	1	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO	SAN FRANCISCO	CALIFORNIA	2	$654,705
7	16	UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VIRGINIA	2	$640,217
8	11	UNIVERSITY OF IOWA	IOWA CITY	IOWA	3	$572,408
9	19	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	PORTLAND	OREGON	2	$559,675
10	4	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO	CHICAGO	ILLINOIS	3	$552,312

Nursing degrees

here are many levels of nursing degrees. Each requires a specific educational program, and each provides a different set of nursing jobs opportunities. With the growing popularity of distance learning, several online nursing degree programs, even online masters-in-nursing programs, have been developed - the quality of these programs can vary, so its usually advisable to stick with well-established programs.

LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse or LVN - Licensed Vocational Nurse

Training for LPNs lasts about 1 year, and includes both a classroom segment and a patient-care segment. LPNs are licensed by each state, so requirements vary by location. The LPN provides general care for patients, including taking vital signs, changing wound dressings, basic phlebotomy, and daily intake-outtake monitoring.

According to the US Dept.of Labor Statistics most new LPN jobs will from nursing care facilities. However, it is also appears that hospital jobs for LPNs will be decreasing. On balance, demand for LPNs is expected to decrease in the coming years.

The median salary for LPNs in 2002 was $31,440, with the top 10% making $44,040 or more, and the bottom 10% making less than $22,860.

RN - Registered Nurse

There are three different nursing degrees that lead to an RN. To become an RN, nurses need to graduate from a 4-year Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing (BSN), an Associates of Nursing (ADN), or a Nursing Diploma program offered by hospitals. In addition, there is a national licensing exam (the National Council Licensure Examination - NCLEX-RN exam).

Because the RN nursing degree has a national licensing component, it is easier to get licensed in multiple states. As a result, RNs are heavily recruited for travel nursing positions.

According to the Dept. of Labor Statistics, RNs will be in heavy demand for the foreseeable future. More new RN nursing jobs are expected to open up than any other type of job. Given the recent tightening of restrictions on foreign nurses entering the US, demand for RNs will grow even stronger.

The median nursing salary for an RN is $48,090 (as of 2002, US DLS), with the top 10% making more than $69,670 a year. Because of the broad range of jobs that an RN can take, salaries widely by job description.

Nursing degree programs are available at a variety of schools, but you should confirm if they have the program in which you are interested - some have only BSN to masters, others can get you to a BSN.

Nursing schools in Texas

Degree Programs: Adult Care, Anatomy, Community Health, Family Care, Neonatal, Nutrition, Pathology, Perinatal, Pharmacology, Physiology, Postpartum, Psychiatric/Mental Health, Radiology, Respiratory Medicine, Surgical...
Largest Cities: Abilene, Arlington, Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Garland, Houston, Irving, Laredo, Mesquite, Plano, San Antonio...
State ZIP Codes: 75082, 75181, 75481, 75644, 76207, 76645, 77302, 77418, 77625, 77807, 78113, 78347, 78505, 78674, 79097...

Registered nurses are in demand in Texas, and through 2012, labor projections foresee nursing as having the most job openings. In 2001, Texas implemented the Nursing Shortage Reduction Act which secures $26 million towards increasing the number of nurses in the state.

Friendship is the state's motto, and Texas prides itself on the friendliness of its residents. While there are conflicting reports on the origination of the word Texas, all agree it means friendship.

National Programs: The following schools are accepting students from across the country.

Kaplan University Online Bachelor's | Master's Kaplan University's online nursing degree programs offer licensed RNs an innovative curriculum designed to encourage critical thinking, enhance communication techniques, and address the managerial and technical competencies required by health care employers today.

Sanford-Brown Institute - Dallas

Dallas, TX US

About: Thank you for your interest in Sanford-Brown Dallas. We are a career-oriented school located in Dallas, TX. We are dedicated to providing career focused education in a variety of healthcare fields. If you're looking for training in an exciting and rewarding career in today's rapidly expanding fields, we can help you get there. Request Information

Sanford-Brown College - Houston

Houston, TX US

About: Thank you for your interest in Sanford-Brown Houston. We are a career-oriented school located in Houston, TX. We are dedicated to providing academic excellence. If you're looking for an exciting and rewarding career in today's rapidly expanding fields, we can help you get there. Request Information

Sanford-Brown Institute - Northloop

Houston, TX US

About: Thank you for your interest in Sanford-Brown Northloop West. We are a career-oriented school located in Houston, TX. We are dedicated to providing academic excellence. If you're looking for an exciting and rewarding career in today's rapidly expanding fields, we can help you get there. Request Information

Westwood College - Dallas Campus

Dallas, TX

About: Westwood College isn't your typical institution of higher learning. Students can earn a bachelor's degree in just three years and some associate degrees in as little as 20 months. And with day, night and online schedules*, we can accommodate almost any lifestyle. Based in Denver, Colorado, since 1953, Westwood has 17 campuses across six states, plus our online campus. Key to our success is a faculty of working professionals. Drawing on personal experience and insights, they give students real-world perspectives to empower them to meet the workforce needs in in-demand employment fields.

*Online programs not available in all states, e.g. TX, MA, MN, and IL. All programs not available at all campuses. Request Information

Westwood College - Fort Worth Campus

Fort Worth, TX

About: Westwood College isn't your typical institution of higher learning. Students can earn a bachelor's degree in just three years and some associate degrees in as little as 20 months. And with day, night and online schedules*, we can accommodate almost any lifestyle. Based in Denver, Colorado, since 1953, Westwood has 17 campuses across six states, plus our online campus. Key to our success is a faculty of working professionals. Drawing on personal experience and insights, they give students real-world perspectives to empower them to meet the workforce needs in in-demand employment fields.

*Online programs not available in all states, e.g. TX, MA, MN, and IL. All programs not available at all campuses. Request Information

Westwood College - Houston Campus

Houston, TX

About: Westwood College isn't your typical institution of higher learning. Students can earn a bachelor's degree in just three years and some associate degrees in as little as 20 months. And with day, night and online schedules*, we can accommodate almost any lifestyle. Based in Denver, Colorado, since 1953, Westwood has 17 campuses across six states, plus our online campus. Key to our success is a faculty of working professionals. Drawing on personal experience and insights, they give students real-world perspectives to empower them to meet the workforce needs in in-demand employment fields.

*Online programs not available in all states, e.g. TX, MA, MN, and IL. All programs not available at all campuses. Request Information

Alamo Community College

San Antonio, TX US

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Alvin Community College, Nursing Program

Alvin, TX US

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Amarillo College, Nursing Division

Amarillo, TX US

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Angelina College, Nursing Program

Lufkin, TX US

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Angelo State University, Department of Nusing

San Angelo, TX US

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Austin Community College, Nursing Program

Austin, TX US

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Baylor University, Louise Herrington School of Nursing

Waco, TX US

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Blinn College, Vocational Nursing

Brenham, TX US

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Canseco School of Nursing

Laredo, TX US

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Central Texas College, Nursing Program

Killeen, TX US

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Cisco Junior College Practical Nursing

Cisco, TX US

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Cisco Junior College, Nursing Program

Cisco, TX US

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College of the Mainland

Texas City, TX US

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Collin County Community College District, Nursing Program

McKinney, TX US

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Covenant Health System, School of Nursing

Lubbock, TX US

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Del Mar College, Registered Nurse Education

Corpus Christi, TX US

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East Texas Baptist University, School of Nursing

Marshall, TX US

About: East Texas Baptist University, Department of Nursing offers a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing. There are two programs. One, the generic program, is for students with no prior nursing education. The second program, the RN to B.S.N. is for registered nurses who have a diploma or associate degree in nursing who wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The second program is currently under revision with a goal for enrollment to begin fall of 2006. The Department of Nursing is dedicated to the development of intellectual inquiry, social consciousness, wellness, Christian Character, and professional standards of behavior, and to providing a challenging academic atmosphere within a Christian environment. The faculty strives to prepare its graduates for the practice of nursing in a variety of health care settings within a culturally, racially, and ethnically diverse atmosphere, and to provide a foundation for graduate study in nursing. Request Information

El Centro College, Nursing Programs

Dallas, TX US

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El Paso Community College, Nursing Programs

El Paso, TX US

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Galveston College, Health Occupations

Galveston, TX US

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Galveston College, Nursing

Galveston, TX US

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Grayson County College, Nursing Program

Denison, TX US

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Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Intercollegiate School of Nursing

Abilene, TX US

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Houston Baptist University, College of Nursing

Houston, TX US

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