The solution to offer online nursing degree programs have initiated a process which could eventually take care of the increasing nursing shortage. Nursing courses, as offered by the different and universities, are filling up, and online degree programs are increasing the level of enrollment which somewhat promises to keep up with the need for the demand for graduating qualified nurses. The University of Phoenix is the largest accredited institution to offer online nursing degrees. The university has over 17,000 highly qualified instructors, 170 campuses and Internet delivery worldwide.

There are abundant nursing careers available in the Unites States, and nursing shortage is reported to be growing day by day. Online nursing degree programs have opened up career opportunities for the top healthcare occupation in the United States for many, which is helping the healthcare industry to fill in the shortages existing in nursing profession. All the nursing schools which offer nursing degrees are accredited by the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission. As for Doctoral and Master’s nursing degrees on specific nursing specialties, there are separate accreditation boards that focus on these.

There are several different nursing education levels officered by institutions for different levels of nursing staff required by the healthcare industry. There are different diploma programs for certified nursing assistant careers which take about one year to complete. Online nursing degree programs include Associates degree in nursing (ASN), and Bachelor’s Degree in nursing (BSN), and also prepare students for certification in order to become a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse). While a BSN is not required for LPN, the degree becomes necessary for most RN’s.

Source: My Nursing Degree

Below are some of the colleges that offer you the best programs:

• Jacksonville University
• Chamberlain College of Nursing
• Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
• Kent State University
• Grand Canyon University
• St. Joseph’s College of Maine
• University of Saint Mary

With such a large list of colleges you will surely find an online accelerated nursing program that will work for you. You can take the classes at your own pace and do you studying at lunch or in the middle of the night, if that fits your busy lifestyle.

Jacksonville University is a private, independent institution located in Jacksonville Florida. They are accredited by The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Their mission is to prepare each student for life-long success in learning, achieving, leading and serving. Jacksonville University has a 14:1 total student to faculty ratio with average class sizes of 18. In addition to traditional on-campus education, the university also offers an online curriculum.

Online Accelerated Nursing Programs at Jacksonville University

Within Jacksonville University’s online offerings is its accelerated nursing program. The accelerated nursing program or Online RN to BSN program is a way for busy working nurses with an active RN license to earn a bachelor’s degree. Nurses who use an accelerated nursing program to take their RN to a BSN, are more marketable and attractive to potential employers and also earn substantially more. According to the 2006 Census Bureau Statistics, RN’s earned an average of $56,764.04 per year while BSN’s earned an average of $63,435.00 per year.

Jacksonville University’s accelerated nursing program consists of 33 credits and is offered 100% online through lectures and tests. Students earn the same degree awarded to on-campus students. With the online accelerated nursing program, there are no mandatory log-in times so that students can study at their own pace and within their own schedules. Those interested in Jacksonville University’s accelerated nursing program can choose one of six start times per year and can take up to two classes at a time. The courses are offered in 8-week sessions and students can earn their BSN in as little as 24 months.

Jacksonville University Accelerated Nursing Program – Tuition and Financial Aid

Another advantage to enrolling in an accelerated nursing program is that they are typically less expensive than on-campus programs. Tuition is $410 per credit hour and books and materials cost approximately $225 per course. Jacksonville University offers financial aid such as tuition assistance, Federal Student Aid, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Florida Resident and Access Grants, Veteran Nurse’s Financial Aid Support and the Nursing Educational Loan Repayment Program (NELRP).

With more and more RN’s entering the field of nursing, the demand for nurses at the top tier of their education (BSN’s and MSN’s) will also increase. Those who choose to enter an accelerated nursing program will be at the forefront of remain relevant and attractive to potential employers.

Flexible schedules allow nurses to work for longer hours, but less days in the week. However, nursing is also very hard work, with irregular, long hours. Most nurses are employed by private or public hospitals and many become specialized to one or two departments.

Top Accelerated Nursing Programs Online:

• Kent State University
• Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
• Grand Canyon University
• Chamberlain College of Nursing

Accelerated Nursing Programs

Accelerated nursing programs offer a very fast route to an exciting career in this field. These fast track nursing programs are a faster way to culminate your nursing degree verses traditional means. What about the idea of soaking in life, traveling or just hanging out because you have the free time available – while your other friends are still in school because you’ve finished school sooner.

Coursework provides the knowledge you need and the clinical training allows you to put what you learn into practice right away. If you already have a degree, accelerated nursing programs or schools can be a wonderful way to springboard into nursing. Accelerated nursing schools allow the participant to finish their training in a fraction of the time a standard program would require. Specifically, the total time involved can range from a year – a 12 months program – to a year and a half for a baccalaureate program, and over a year for a Master’s degree program.

How Registered Nurses Earn Quality Degrees Online

• Earn both BSN and MSN Nursing degrees together in one program
• Begin RN to MSN nursing program studies in less than 1 month
• Receive the medical degree financial assistance you need and deserve
• Study at your own pace, from the comfort of your own home
• Save 50% or more on nursing degree college tuition
• Advance your Nursing career and get a pay increase faster

These one of a kind RN to MSN online programs will save you time, money and frustration. More and more Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses are realising that they can get the same accredited nursing degree faster online than offline and that online nursing classes, distance learning, independent study — whatever you wish to call it — can save you thousands of dollars!
There is now a new, respectable alternative to sitting in a classroom for several more years, for Registered Nurses. This way you are able to avoid boring, overcrowded lectures and lengthy commutes to campus. By taking this course online you won’t have to sacrifice your family time or job responsibilities to pursue higher education goals, making it a win-win situation for everyone. Currently over 80,000 working professionals like you have advanced their nursing education via distance learning through “The College Network”.

The only downside to this is that you didn’t sign up earlier! So sign up now and take that next leap forward in your job and your life with the RN to MSN Online Program and The College Network! All of this, just a click away in the comfort of your own home, with a nice cold cola by your side, a big steak dinner and your trusted Internet connected computer. Study at your own pace and enjoy getting your education.

The nursing is a field that is expected to experience tremendous growth in the next ten years. Consequently, the demand for nurses is also growing. Those who choose to pursue their education now will be on the forefront of the ever-growing nursing industry.

Many online colleges and universities now offer programs for nurses to expand their Registered Nurse’s Degree (RN) to a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN). In order to obtain a BSN, one must have successfully completed and hold their RN license. Some colleges even offer accelerated RN to BSN programs so that nurses can complete their degree program in almost half of the time as typical online RN to BSN programs.

Top RN to BSN Online Programs

1. Kent State University
2. Grand Canyon University
3. Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
4. University of St. Mary

About RN to BSN Online Programs

Using the RN to BSN Online Programs option, licensed nurses can build upon their education and pursue a career in not only nursing but also in supervisory or managerial levels. These careers include everything from hands on nursing to hospital administration. By advancing an RN degree to that of a Bachelor’s degree, students are more marketable, hold more job security and are generally more attractive to potential employers.

Nursing Salaries

In addition, nurses who obtain their RN to BSN degree earn substantially more than if they remained at the RN level. According to the 2006 US Census Bureau statistics RN’s earned an average of $56,764.04 per year, while BSN’s earned an average of $63,435.00 per year. Considering the low cost of pursuing these online RN to BSN degrees, the investment will pay for itself within the first year of employment.

RN to BSN Online Programs – Online Classes

With an online RN to BSN degree, students can attend class on their own time and without having to step foot on a college campus. Thus the degree program allows students to further their education without having to sacrifice work and family commitments. These degrees can be completed virtually one hundred percent online and at some online universities in as few as three semesters.

Degrees earned online do not differ from those earned on-campus as these programs must be accredited within the state in which they operate and a diploma earned online does not read any differently from an on-campus diploma. Another advantage to online RN to BSN programs is that they are typically less expensive than on-campus programs. With job growth at an all-time high, no time has been better for nurses to undertake the RN to BSN program.

Online RN to BSN programs are a convenient method for busy nurses to increase both their job satisfaction and earning potential.

With the baby boomers getting older, nursing is a field that is expected to experience tremendous growth in the next ten years and beyond.

As more and more nurses (RN’s) enter the field of nursing, the demand for nurses at the top tier of their education will also grow and become more lucrative. Those who choose to pursue their education now will be on the forefront of those expanding and high-demand careers in nursing and be able to influence health care policy and delivery.

Top 5 Fast Track Nursing Programs Online

1. Jacksonville University
2. University of St. Mary
3. Kent State University
4. Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
5. Grand Canyon University

About Fast Track Nursing Programs

Many online colleges and universities now offer accelerated online degree programs known as fast track nursing degrees for nurses to expand their Registered Nurse’s Degree (RN) to a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) or a Master’s of Science in Nursing Degree (MSN). Using this option licensed nurses can build upon their education and pursue a career in not only nursing but also in supervisory or managerial levels. These careers include everything from hands on nursing to hospital administration and even in some cases within the field of Information Technology with a Master’s of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Healthcare Informatics.

By advancing an RN degree to that of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, students are more marketable, hold more job security and are generally more attractive to potential employers. In addition nurses who obtain their RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree earn substantially more than if they remained at the RN level. According to the 2006 US Census Bureau statistics RN’s earned an average of $56,764.04 per year, while BSN’s earned an average of $63,435.00 per year and MSN’s earned an average of $75,940.83. Considering the low cost of pursuing these online accelerated degrees, the investment will pay for itself within the first year of employment.

Summary of Fast Track Nursing Programs

With an accelerated or fast track nursing programs, students can attend class on their own time and without having to step foot on a college campus. Thus the degree program allows students to further their education without having to sacrifice work and family commitments. These degrees can be completed virtually one hundred percent online and at some online universities in as few as three semesters. The accelerated online nursing degree does not differ from one earned on-campus in that these programs must be accredited within the state in which they operate.

Both traditional on-campus degrees and online degrees are held to the same high standards. Another advantage to an accelerated online nursing degree is that they are typically less expensive than on-campus programs and are becoming more widespread with less restrictive access than traditional on-site programs. No time has been better for nurses wishing to take advantage of the rapidly growing healthcare industry to increase their job satisfaction and earning potential. Fast track nursing programs can make those educational goals a reality.

• Western Governors University is the only accredited university in the United States that offers competency-based, online degrees (similar to credit for life experience, but in my opinion, superior)
• Focused on adult learners rather than younger students
• Accredited by four regional accrediting commissions
• Unique mentor-based approach to learning, pairing each student with a mentor who has a vested interest in their progress
• Students have the possibility to accelerate their degree by passing competency tests, rather than by putting hours into courses with content that they already know

Western Governors University is a unique establishment: it is an online-only university. They offer several degrees and programs, including a teacher’s college, a business school, information technology programs and several programs within the health profession.

Western Governors University health care programs are particularly robust, and they have many bachelors and masters programs to choose from. Whether you are a practicing nurse looking to increase your knowledge, salary or position, there is a program for you.

• B.S. in Nursing for RNs – if you want to increase your salary and job security, this degree will expand your expertise beyond simply the clinical aspect of nursing.
• B.S. in Health Informatics – healthcare is combined with IT in this degree, leaving you with the skills to design and develop heal information systems.
• M.S. in Nursing Education – you will learn research, technology, theory and to advance the role of health education in nursing schools and other healthcare settings.
• M.S. in Nursing Leadership and Management – with this degree, you will have the skills to become a manager and administrator in a healthcare organization.
• M.S. in Health Education – you will learn some high-level skills to act as a health educator in a hospital, public health, community health or another setting.
• Master of Business Administration Health Care Management – you will earn your certified MBA designation that features specialized training in healthcare administration.

Tuition at Western Governors University is lower than most accredited universities. It is between $2,890 to $3,250 per term, which is 6-months long and can begin on the first of any month. Western Governors offers one of the only financial aid services from an online university, as selected by the US Department of Education. There are several forms on the university’s website for students to apply for financial aid. Because of the low tuition costs, federal financial aid may be able to cover most, if not all, educational fees.

• Liberty University was founded in 1971 in Virginia
• Certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, accredited by Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Liberty University is the world’s largest evangelical university, with over 20,000 students on campus and taking distance education courses
• Close, faith-based community of students who attend weekly prayer meetings, 3 convocations a week and many Christian concerts and other events
• Graduates of the Online RN to BSN Program experience a 99% hiring-rate when they complete the degree

There are over 60 programs at Liberty University, so your choices are limited only by your interests.  They offer courses in music, communication, law, theology, nursing and pre-med, and many more.

Liberty University Online Nursing Degree Programs

The nursing degrees offered by Liberty University cover a generic Online BSN program, an Online RN to BSN track, and the Online Nursing Master’s Degree program.  All of the programs require that students adhere to a Christian ethic when caring for the sick, and understand the caring nature of nursing as an extension of the Benner theoretical framework.

BSN Program

The generic BSN program is only offered on-campus, through their residential studies program.  Students must take three years of general and nursing-specific courses to graduate from this program.  The major focus of this program is hands-on study.  Students are placed in a hospital internship between one to three times a week, depending on their year of study.  Liberty University strives to give its graduates at least 200 hours of nursing experience before they complete their degree and move on to their careers.

Online RN to BSN Degree

The RN to BSN degree track is offered through Liberty University’s online curriculum.  It is tailored to registered nurses who want to improve their knowledge, salary and career position.  Classes are completed on a weekly basis online, whenever the student chooses.  There are also video lectures that the student can watch at his or her convenience.  There is one week-long aspect of this course that must be completed in the campus lab, but other than this, it is a completely web-based degree.  Graduates experience a 99% hiring-rate when they complete this degree.

Online Master’s Degree in Nursing

The Online Master’s Degree in Nursing is the third and final program that Liberty University offers.  This is an accredited program, and is only open for individuals who already have their RN status.  The specializations that Liberty University offers are in the clinical nurse specialist field, with concentration on acute care and community health.

Liberty University Tuition and Financial Aid

The average cost for tuition, room, board and other fees at Liberty University is reasonable, calculated at $21,234.  Tuition for online courses are billed by the hour, and range from $250/hr for an undergraduate to $425/hr for a PhD or doctorate candidate.  If you are taking full-time online courses as an undergraduate, you can assume tuition to be about between $5,500 and $7,000 per semester. Liberty University has many resources compiled for its students’ financial aid inquiries.