Whether you’re a brand-new student or a nurse looking to broaden your horizons, finding time outside of work and life to continue your education can be a challenge. Online degrees can help remove many obstacles that can hold you back from your full potential. If you are interested in becoming a registered nurse or nurse practitioner, you can complete an online program to earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree program at your own pace.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses “usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate degree in nursing or a diploma from an approved nursing program.” Nurses interested in advanced career options can also obtain a master’s or doctoral degree. In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of what online nursing degrees can offer.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs for Nursing
If you are a registered nurse interested in expanding your skill set, you can consider a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree. Many hospitals now require nurses to have a BSN, particularly facilities with Magnet designation. This degree will cover evidence-based clinical reasoning and judgment, leadership and management skills, practice in community and public health settings, healthcare resource management and how to integrate ethical and legal standards throughout nursing practice.
How Long Does an Online Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Program Take to Complete?
Completion times for degrees can vary. On average, a bachelor’s degree program can take between two to four years to complete. However, if you are a registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing, your credits will typically transfer into a bachelor’s degree program, helping to bring the completion time down to 14 months on average.
Career Options for Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing
With a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you can find positions in hospitals, clinics, private practices and assisted living facilities. Some nurses even enter private practice or work in corporate settings as a health service for employees. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses (who often have a bachelor-level education) earned a median salary of $75,330 in May 2020.
Master’s Degree Programs for Nursing
For an advanced nursing degree, there are several options available including a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Informatics (MSN/Informatics), MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner and MSN/Nurse Administration.
MSN/Informatics degree programs teach registered nurses the ins and outs of managing clinical information with special emphasis on improving patient and provider outcomes. The program covers topics such as tracking staff productivity and safety, measuring organizational performance and implementing data privacy.
MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner degree programs teach registered nurses about leadership roles in advanced practice and educational settings, diagnosing and treating patient diseases, performing symptom-focused physical exams, performing and interpreting diagnostic and screening tests and offering preventative care.
MSN/Nurse Administration degree programs are a post-licensure nursing offering. This can be a great option for individuals interested in leading nursing staff. The program covers how to manage healthcare resources in a variety of settings, implement systems that improve patient outcomes, advocate for patients and design evidence-based clinical prevention and population care with interdisciplinary teams.
How Long Does an Online Nursing Master’s Degree Program Take to Complete?
Before you can complete a master’s degree program, you must earn a bachelor’s degree. In the same way that the completion time of a bachelor’s degree can vary wildly, there’s no firm duration for earning a master’s degree. For many online master’s programs, you can work at your own pace and can take between 21 months or three years to complete.
Career Options for Master’s Degrees in Nursing
With a master’s degree in a nursing specialty, graduates can be eligible for the same jobs as undergraduates as well as more advanced jobs in healthcare like those overseeing staff or engaging with higher-level management.
Nursing Degrees at University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees through flexible online programs. Faculty have, on average, 26 years of industry experience in their field. With a 19:1 student-faculty ratio, you can rest assured that students are always our priority. For licensed registered nurses with an associate degree, credits may roll over, letting them earn a bachelor’s degree faster.
Each University of Phoenix nursing program is overseen by an experienced faculty practitioner and faculty mentor to guide students through their courses. Students may also be eligible for an accelerated program if they have an associate degree, an unencumbered RN license and at least one year of professional work experience. With flexible workflows and fixed tuition rates, University of Phoenix offers an environment for success.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix offers over 100 programs in business, technology, nursing, and healthcare completely online. Innovative services such as lifelong career advising and professional development courses make University of Phoenix a great place to start your future. Follow University of Phoenix on Facebook
