Can You Study Nursing Online?
Thanks to everything being online these days, most students can choose between studying in a traditional setting and online. Even courses that you’d think would require labs and practical settings can be studied online, which is great news for those who want to study nursing! In fact, there are plenty of institutions that offer online nursing courses, so you can complete at least some of your courses from the comfort of your own home.
When thinking about starting a nursing course, you’ll need to complete a number of prerequisite classes before you can move on to more advanced courses. These are often offered online, as are postgraduate degrees like Master of Nursing graduate certificate and more. Today, we’ll look at what you can study online to benefit your nursing career.
Prerequisite Classes: What Are They?
Prerequisites are courses you need to take before applying to your chosen nursing program or enrolling in upper-level nursing classes. You typically need to pass all of your prerequisites before you meet the requirements to begin your nursing degree. Prerequisites for nursing programs often include specialised subjects such as maths and science courses, which can often be studied online at your chosen institution.
You’ll need to check with your chosen school to determine which prerequisites you’ll need to complete and pass before applying to your chosen nursing program, as some institutions require different grades. However, here are a few of the most common nursing prerequisites you might need to complete:
- Algebra
- Introduction to psychology
- Biology
- Human anatomy and physiology
Many universities allow students to complete prerequisite classes online – even those that require labs and in-person practical settings. In fact, some institutions even offer complete nursing degrees that you can carry out completely online! However, it’s worth noting that some online courses still require you to arrange in-person clinical work experience in medical facilities before letting you pass your course.
What About Postgraduate Nursing Courses?
There are also plenty of post-graduate courses online that you can take to further your nursing career, perfect for people who have already gained their nursing degree and are looking to enhance their skill set in a shorter amount of time. Here are a few of the most common postgraduate nursing courses that you can take online:
Master of Nursing
A Master of Nursing is typically around two years of study when taken online, and it’s a course designed to prepare you for advanced practice roles and even leadership positions. You can also use it to transition into academic careers, and this can even become a prerequisite for doctoral-level study, so it’s a great option for people who want to get the most out of their degree and who appreciate studying in a traditional way.
Graduate Diploma of Nursing
A Graduate Diploma of Nursing tends to take less time to obtain, with courses usually running for one year. However, you may be able to take the course part-time for longer than one year depending on the institution you choose. This course gives you most of the same skills as a Master of Nursing degree, but with less detail to fit it into a shorter amount of time.
The course lets registered nurses improve their skills in specific areas, improving their career performance and even setting them up for leadership roles. Some people find the Graduate Diploma a great stepping stone to getting their Master of Nursing degree.
Graduate Certificate of Nursing
The Graduate Certificate of Nursing is the most entry-level postgraduate qualification, so it’s great for people who want to advance their careers without too much of a time commitment. These courses are also the shortest, often running between six months and a year depending on if you’re working full or part-time. This is a good option if you’d like to learn more about a particular area of nursing or specialty without time restraints, and it can still help further your career than if you were to only have a Bachelor’s degree.
Final Thoughts
So, to answer your question – yes, you can study nursing online! Not only can you get prepared for your nursing career by studying your prerequisites online, but you can also further your education by completing a postgraduate degree online. These include a Nursing Master’s degree, which is the most advanced option available, along with a Graduate Diploma of Nursing and a Graduate Certificate of Nursing. All of these post-graduate courses will help you further your career and even set you up for leadership roles in the future!
