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Home | Career Pathways | Online Education Guide | Health & Medical Majors | Nursing

Online Education Guide

Guide to College Majors in Nursing

What is Nursing?

A college degree in Nursing provides the opportunity for diverse personal growth and professional development in this vital and exciting field. The tools of the nursing profession consist of a special combination of human compassion and advanced medical technology.

Nursing degree programs are designed to offer enrolled students a solid educational background of traditional science and liberal arts. As the degree program progresses, this basic knowledge becomes integrated with the more in-depth knowledge, skills, and expertise that are necessary for success in the nursing profession. The more advanced the degree in Nursing, the more specific and in-depth the coursework becomes.

In the past several years, the availability of online and distance learning programs in the field of nursing has seen a significant growth. The expansion of the industry of online and distance learning degree programs in the field has made it possible for students in all situations to obtain a college degree in Nursing while continuing to maintain their lives at work and at home.

Students who choose to obtain a college degree in Nursing will be prepared for a wide variety of professional opportunities in the field. Nurses are highly in demand in many different segments of the health services industry. As students enroll in programs offering more advanced degrees in nursing, they will receive increasingly specialized nursing training and will be eligible for jobs within more focused segments of the health services field.

In addition to providing students with general scientific and health knowledge, most of the courses offered in a Nursing degree program emphasize the demonstration of competency in both classroom work and work in the field. Many students enrolled in a Nursing degree program will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience and knowledge of working with the subject matter by engaging in extensive field study in health services facilities such as hospitals or private physician's offices.

Many levels of degrees in Nursing are available through online and distance learning programs. Students may obtain their Nursing degree at the associate, diploma, baccalaureate, or graduate level. All nurses need to take the National Certification Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) in order to become Registered Nurses (RNs). Some nurses complete one year of training to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Licensed practical nurses do hold a nursing license but cannot perform many of the tasks and procedures that a registered nurse can perform.

Career Education in Nursing

Undergraduate and Graduate degree and certificate programs

A student who wishes to earn an associate's degree in nursing may complete an associate's degree program in two years. A diploma in nursing can be earned through the completion of a three-year diploma degree program. A bachelor's degree in nursing can be earned through a four-year baccalaureate program. Some students who wish to enter nursing careers at a high-paying managerial level may wish to pursue a Master's degree in nursing, which can be earned only after a bachelor's degree is achieved.

Bachelor Degree Programs

The Bachelor's degree in Nursing is the basic degree at the professional level of the nursing profession. Most students who major in nursing at the baccalaureate level will be required to complete coursework in basic science and liberal arts. This foundational study will usually be followed by intensive internships or other such arrangements, in which the student enters the workplace and experiences working as a nurse on a first-hand basis.

Students in a baccalaureate nursing degree program who are required to gain field experience will most often handle all the elements of nursing that nurses handle. They will treat patients, administer medicine, administer medical procedures and tests, and analyze patient reports, among other tasks.

Baccalaureate coursework in Nursing
Most baccalaureate level degree programs in Nursing will require students to successfully complete course such as:

Biology
Microbiology
Nutrition
Sociology
Human Anatomy
Chemistry
Statistics
Clinical Rotations
Nursing Care of Children
Nursing Care of the Elderly
Mental Health Nursing

Students who complete a baccalaureate level degree program in Nursing may go on to have successful careers in specialized fields such a:

Emergency Room Care
Home Health Care
Mental Health Care
Critical Care
Oncology
Geriatrics
Pediatrics
Pulmonary
Obstetrics

Master Degree Programs

Students who choose to pursue a Master's degree in Nursing can expect to concentrate their studies on a specific health-related topic such as geriatrics, pediatrics, or healthcare policy. Nurses who complete a Master's degree program in Nursing are known in the nursing field as advanced practice nurses. Graduate level degree programs in nursing are designed to prepare students for advanced practice in many different segments of the health services industry.

Most often, students who choose to pursue a graduate degree in nursing have already gained experience working in the nursing field. It is common that nurses seek a Master's degree in order to enter higher-paying positions, most often at the managerial level. Many nurses seek a Master's degree in order to focus the direction of their professional careers.

Most graduate level degree programs in nursing require new students to choose a specialization upon which they will focus their studies. After these students complete the graduate degree program, they will be specially trained to be successful in the field of their focus of study.

Students may choose to focus their graduate studies in areas such as:

Community Health Systems
Elderly Nursing
Psychological Nursing
Health Care Systems Administration
Family Nursing

Graduate Coursework in Nursing
Most graduate level degree programs in Nursing have a consistent curriculum of required courses. In addition to the core curriculum, students will take elective courses inside of their specialized concentration of study.

The core curriculum in a Master's degree program in Nursing may consist of courses such as:

Evaluation Strategies
Health Policy
Health Finance
Pharmacology
Research Applications
Theory Applications
Advanced Nursing Theory
Pediatrics Care
Adult Care
Women's Health
Health Care Management
Nursing Technology
Health Assessment
Illness Management
Research Methods

Prerequisite Requirements
Most graduate level degree programs in Nursing have similar prerequisite requirements that all accepted applicants must fulfill. For instance, most students who choose to pursue a Master's degree in Nursing must have previously obtained a Bachelor's degree in Nursing, or must hold licensure as a Registered Nurse.

Some common requirements for entrance into a graduate level degree program in Nursing include:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution
Official transcripts from all educational institutions attended
Appropriate academic credits in specific coursework, such as health assessment
Appropriate GRE scores (dependent on the graduate program)
TOEFL scores
CPR training and certification
Letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose
Appropriate application materials
Application fee

If you are interested in enrolling in an online or distance learning degree program in Nursing, you should be familiar with the various admissions, coursework, and fieldwork requirements of the degree programs offered by these colleges and universities. You should also be familiar with the levels of Nursing degrees offered by these colleges and universities. By obtaining this information, you will be better equipped to choose the online or distance learning degree program in Nursing that is right for you.

Universities offering online nursing degree programs:

Walden University - Graduate Degrees in Nursing
Indiana State University - Online BS in Nursing Degrees
University of Phoenix - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Kaplan University - Online BSN Degree
Jacksonville University - Online RN to BSN Degree
University of Delaware - Online Nursing Programs
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences - Online RN-BS in Nursing Degree
National American University - Online RN-BSN Degree

What can you do with a College Degree in Nursing?

Career specializations for aspiring nurses

Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are vital to our society because they work to help prevent disease and illness and to provide necessary care for those who are suffering from illness and pain. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses have jobs that require that they be able to perform a variety of important tasks such as observing, analyzing, and recording a patient's symptoms. Nurses help patients develop rehabilitation plans and to develop plans to maintain their health after a recovery. Registered Nurses are also called upon to assist physicians during surgeries.

Career Options

Though there are state laws to determine the specific tasks that registered nurses and licensed practical nurses may perform in the workplace, the nature of the jobs and the job duties of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse are largely determined by the segment of the health care industry in which the nurse is working.

Hospital Nurses
Hospital nurses are the largest population of registered nurses. Most hospital nurses work as hospital nursing staff, and are most commonly designated for one area of the hospital such as maternity, surgery, pediatrics, emergency room, intensive care, or others. The duties of a hospital nurse usually include bedside care and the execution of medical regimens. They also may be required to supervise nursing aides or licensed practical nurses.
Office Nurses
Office nurses usually work in physician's offices, surgical centers, emergency medical centers, and other specialized health services facilities. The duties of an office nurse are most often outpatient care duties, such as preparing patients for examinations, assisting with examinations, administering medications, giving injections, dressing wounds, and managing patients' records. Office nurses may also be required to do office work.
Nursing Facility Nurses
Nursing facility nurses may spend much work time on administrative tasks, but they also attend to the health and needs of resident patients. Registered nurses working in a nursing facility may develop plans for treatments, supervise nursing aides and licensed practical nurses, and administer medications or invasive procedures. These nurses may also work in specialized nursing facilities designed for patients with specific needs.
Home Health Nurses
Home health nurses work in patients' homes, providing appropriate nursing services. Home health nurses assess the effects of the patients' home environments on their health, and develop health maintenance and rehabilitation plans to be administered in the home environment. Home health nurses may provide care for patients in many different situations, including patients suffering from illness or injury, or recovering from childbirth.
Public Health Nurses
Public health nurses focus on the health of individuals, families, and groups, in an effort to improve general public community health. Public health nurses work in private or governmental agencies like clinics, retirement communities, and schools. Job requirements for public health nurses may include developing and implementing community health programs. They dispense instruction about subjects such as nutrition and childcare to families and communities, while also designing programs to make immunizations, testing, and health screening available to community members.
Occupational Health Nurses
Occupational nurses give nursing care at worksites to employees, patrons of the worksite, and others. The duties of an occupational nurse may include providing emergency care, filling out accident reports, and making arrangements for the patient to receive any necessary further care. Occupational nurses may also be required to give counseling about health-related issues, administer examinations, and evaluate working environments for health hazards.
Head Nurse/Nurse Supervisor
Head nurses usually work in hospitals, making schedules for and directing the duties of nurses and nursing aides. Head nurses are also usually required to monitor the care that patients are receiving and to maintain records and supply orders.
Nurse Practitioners
An advanced level nursing career, nurse practitioners provide health care for patients, diagnosing and arranging treatments for some illnesses and injuries, and prescribing medications. Licensing requirements for nurse practitioners vary from state to state. Nurse practitioners (like Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Certified Nurse Anesthetists) must have an educational background that exceeds basic nurse education and training.
Nurse midwives
In the nineteenth century, doctors pushed nurse midwives and the practice of midwifery out of the medical field. Midwifery, however, is a centuries-old practice that is now present again in hospitals, birthing centers, and the home. Nurse midwives deliver babies, care for and monitor the health of pregnant women, and educate and guide new mothers. Many pregnant women and women giving birth prefer to receive care from a nurse midwife than from an obstetrician.

Career Outlook

The career outlook for nurses with nursing degrees of all levels is very positive. Registered nurses are expected to enjoy a rapid increase in employment levels through 2012, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. More new jobs are expected to be generated in the nursing field than in any other occupational field.

Registered nurses leaving the field will also cause thousands of job openings, as will rapid growth in medical technology. These technological advancements will emphasize preventative medicine and health services and will also make it possible for those in the health services profession to treat illnesses and injuries once thought to be untreatable. Technology will also extend the life expectancy for elderly people, thereby increasing the need for medical care in the older population.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employers throughout the country report difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of registered nurses. This may be due to the fact that many RNs are aging and retiring and that many new RNs are not receiving an adequate education. The gap between the supply and demand for RNs in the workforce will create a greater number of opportunities for newly trained registered nurses.

Working Conditions

Most health services facilities in the United States are clean, well lighted, and well- maintained. Home Health Nurses, Public Health Nurses, Occupational Health Nurses, and some other specific types of nurses often do not work within a regular health services facility. Nurses of all kinds should be in good physical shape because the duties of the job require much walking, standing, and lifting. Nurses should also expect to keep some irregular hours, particularly if they are working in a health services facility that provides 24-hour care for the patients. Nurses may have to work nights, weekends, and holidays. Many nurses must spend some time each week or each month being on-call.

Nurses must be extremely careful when in the workplace to follow strict rules and guidelines that will protect them from infectious diseases that they may be around. There are other hazards involved with nursing, such as chemical usage, needle usage, radiation usage, usage of compressed gases, usage of electrical equipment, and others. Because of the many hazards of the workplace, nurses must be consistently conscientious and cautious while on the job.

The Disposition of Nurses

Nurses must be compassionate, responsible, and detail-oriented. They must be willing to take control of stressful situations and to ask for assistance when assistance is needed. They must possess an emotional stability that will enable them to handle emergency situations and to be engaged with emotional and physical suffering, illness, and injury. Nurses must also be able to use faculties of sound judgment, enabling them to assess and evaluate the conditions of patients. Nurses who advance in the nursing profession must be able to be good leaders and to negotiate with and manage teams of other nurses.

Salary Expectations for Careers in Nursing

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that in 2002, the average annual income of Registered Nurses was $48,090. The 10 % of Registered Nurses earning the least made less than $33,970. The 10 % earning the most made more than $69,670.

The Princeton Review indicates that the average workweek for a registered nurse is 45 hours. The average starting salary for a registered nurse is $32, 930. The average salary after 10 to 15 years of working in the field is $65,000.

The average stating salary for registered nurses who graduate with a Master's degree in Nursing is between $50,000 and $60,000.

Many employers of registered nurses offer incentives such as flexible work hours, educational benefits, provided childcare, and other benefits and bonuses.

Certification and Licensure

In the United States, students who wish to become nurses must graduate from an approved nursing educational program. In order to gain a nursing license, nursing students must also pass a national licensing examination. Nurses have the option of being licensed in more than one state. Nurses can obtain licensure in more than one state through examination, endorsement, or a licensing agreement between states.

All states require that licensed nurses renew their licenses periodically. License renewal procedures vary from state to state but may require that the nurse receive additional education.

Related Associations
The following organizations and associations are designed to provide support for nurses. These organizations and associations also make relevant and helpful information accessible to those working in, or interested in working in, the nursing profession.