Online Nursing Degree Success Strategies
Online nursing degree programs offer exceptional flexibility, convenience, 24/7 access, and a wider choice of accredited schools and nursing programs to choose from than traditional campus-based schools offer. With no campus attendance required, no traffic to worry about, no schedule conflicts, and no waiting lists to start a degree program, online nursing degree programs put earning an advanced degree entirely within your reach.
While an accredited online nursing degree program is a convenient solution to your educational goals, it's important to remember that it still requires just as much hard work and dedication as a traditional campus-based nursing program does.
We've surveyed online nursing program graduates and used their responses to put together the following helpful online nursing degree success strategies:
Review the Study Requirements
Before you even sign up for an online degree, review the course outline and the study requirements. If the course outline states you need 4 hours a week, you should really allow about 6 hours a week to complete the study. Check the timing of the course for completing the online degree and make sure you can commit to completing the planned study program. Although you do not have to attend regular lectures at a university, you still need time to complete the readings, review the video material online and to learn the new skills and information that is part of completing any degree.
Review the Assessment Schedule
The second step is to review the assessment schedule. Put each assessment and the due date on your calendar. Work out how long you plan to spend on each assessment, which can depend on the amount of work involved and the weighting of the assessment marks. Obviously, you will need to spend more time on an assessment that is worth 50 per cent of the marks than on an assessment that is worth 10 per cent of the marks. Plot out some time in the weeks prior to the assessment due date to work on the assessment in stages, rather than stress yourself out trying to complete an entire assessment in the two days before the assessment is due.
You don't have to have a huge patch of study time. You do, however, have to be consistent. You will never have to "cram" if you set aside a little bit of time each day to study.
Plan Regular Study Hours
If you need to complete six hours of study a week to complete your online course, plan six regular hours for you to study. In the same way you have regular hours to work, go to the gym, or go to church, you should block out the same hours every week to study your online degree. Choose hours and times when other distractions are less likely. If you often go out to a friend's place for dinner on Friday nights, it is better to choose another time for your study. Otherwise, you will be more likely to choose to do something else instead of study.
It is best to block out hours when your mind is most active and you will be able to concentrate and to study effectively. Planning to study at 11pm when you are very tired is not smart. Plan a few blocks of time, with two to three hours in a block over the week, rather than try to complete all the study required in one day. You will find it is easier to concentrate for two hours than for six hours.
Create a Study Space
Create a study space in your house where you can keep all of your study notes, books, readings, and assessment tasks together. It can save you time from trying to locate your books or from setting up the study area every time you want to study. If possible, try not to create your study space in the main living areas, such as on the kitchen table. Your family may move your notes if other people in your family want to use the space and you will waste valuable time finding your place in your notes again next time you study.
If you don't have an area at home you can separate for online learning, try going to a local library or even a cafe to get away so you can focus. It can be hard to resist the distractions of home -- television, children, or friends stopping by. By having an area that you associate with discipline for school, you'll be more productive and organized as a result.
Studying for a degree online can be easier and less time consuming than travelling to a university to complete the study. However, any degree is a commitment in time and if you want to achieve the degree, you will need to make definite plans and regular times to study.
University of St. Mary
Online
Give your career a boost with University of Saint Mary. We offer online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help make your educational and professional goals a reality.
Programs:- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Career Colleges of America
Campus
Get your career started with Career Colleges of America. We have four campuses in the Los Angeles area offering a wide variety of allied health training programs.
Programs:- Vocational Nurse
- Nurse Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Los Angeles
- San Bernardino
- Gardena
- South Gate
Carrington College
Campus
Carrington College has helped over 45,000 graduates realize their dream of a career in healthcare. Now it's your turn. Choose from eleven conveniently located campuses.
Programs:- Registered Nursing
- Medical Assisting
- Albuquerque
- Phoenix
- Portland
- Boise
- Spokane
- Tucson
- Reno
- Mesquite
- Mesa
University of Phoenix
Campus
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs:- BS in Nursing (RN Required)
- M.S. in Nursing
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- East Lansing
- Plantation
- Online
- Livonia
- Salida
- Henderson
- Lone Tree
- Roseville
- Phoenix
- Lancaster
- Las Vegas
- Tampa
- Murrieta
- San Diego
- Grand Rapids
- Killeen
- Houston
- Jacksonville
- Littleton
- Hollywood
- Troy
- Fresno
- San Francisco
- Nashville
- San Jose
- Ontario
- Maitland
- Fairfax
- Spring
- Baton Rouge
- Sugar Land
- Tucson
- Ann Arbor
- Westminster
- Saint Louis
- Fort Lauderdale
- Miami
- Irving
- Westlake
- St. Louis
- Pasadena
- Saint Paul
- St Louis Park
- Los Angeles
- San Antonio
- Rancho Cordova
- Temple Terrace
- Southfield
- Clearwater
- Elk Grove
- Orlando
- Beachwood
- Fairfield
- Gardena
- Dallas
- Arlington
- Livermore
- Costa Mesa
- Reston
- Mesa
- Oakland
- Lathrop
- Sarasota
- Chandler
- Hurst
- Diamond Bar
- Manassas
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Woodland Hills
- Independence
- Clinton Township
- Bakersfield
- Aurora
- Sacramento
- Daytona Beach
- Flint
- Palm Desert
- Portage
American Sentinel University Online
Online
Advance your career with the right online degree. ACCIS offers self-paced, real-world programs in Computer Science, Information Systems, Management Information Systems, and Business Administration.
Programs:- MS Nursing - Case Management
- MS Nursing - Infection Prevention and Control
- MS Nursing - Management and Organizational Leadership
Bryant and Stratton College
Campus
Give your career a boost with an education from Bryant and Stratton College. We offer certificate, associate degree, and bachelor's degree programs for careers in the business, criminal justice, design, finance, technology, health care, and legal fields.
For more information about Bryant and Stratton’s graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assisting
- Richmond
- Milwaukee
- Cleveland
- Virginia Beach
- Buffalo
- Rochester
CollegeAmerica
Campus
Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.
Programs:- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)
- Denver
- Colorado Springs
- Fort Collins
- Cheyenne
- Flagstaff
- Phoenix
Medtech
Campus
Start your career with an education from Medtech. We offer programs in biotechnology, health care management, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, medical lab technology, and nursing, plus several short-term career courses.
Programs:- School of Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
Medical Career Institute
Campus
Experience the Rewards of Caring, With ECPI’s Medical Careers Institute, you can Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree in 2.5 Years or Your Associate’s Even Sooner through Our Year-Round Schedule!
Programs:- Nursing (BSN) - Bachelor
- Registered Nursing - Associate
- Practical Nursing - Diploma
- Virginia Beach
- Newport News
- Greenville
- Henrico
- Greensboro
- Richmond
- Manassas
- North Charleston
- Raleigh
- Charlotte
- Columbia
Lincoln Technical Institute
Campus
Lincoln Technical Institute provides career-focused, hands-on training programs with industry experienced instructors. Get the skills for a rewarding in-demand career.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Casselberry
- Mount Laurel
- Edison
- Paramus
- Hamden
- Philadelphia
- Shelton
- Allentown
- Lincoln
- Lowell
- Saint Petersburg
- Brockton
- Somerville
Concorde
Campus
Get your career started with Concorde Career College. Our training programs are short, affordable, and hands-on. We offer training programs in medical assisting, dental assisting, insurance coding, respiratory therapy, surgical technology, vocational/practical nursing, patient care, and more.
Programs:- Nursing - (AS)
- Nursing - (AAS)
- Vocational Nurse
- Tampa
- North Hollywood
- Garden Grove
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- Kansas City
- Orlando
- Aurora
- Portland
- Arlington
- San Antonio
- Jacksonville
- Dallas
- Memphis
Stevens-Henager
Campus
For more than 119 years, Stevens-Henager College has worked to train generations of graduates for new careers. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Our degree programs, designed to help graduates compete in the ever-evolving employment market, include Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Surgical Technology, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Graphic Arts*. Online programs are offered via Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray. Stevens-Henager College Idaho Falls is a branch campus of the CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ, main campus.
*Check each campus for program availability.
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Nursing Education
- Master of Science in Nursing Administration
- Boise
- Layton
- Ogden
- Lehi
- Murray
- Logan
- Orem
- Nampa
- Idaho Falls
- Saint George
Kaplan University - KHE
Campus
Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan University can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.
Programs:- Associate of Science: Nursing
- Diploma: Practical Nursing
- Certificate: Medical Assistant
- Cedar Rapids
- Urbandale
- Cedar Falls
- Omaha
- Lincoln
- Davenport
- Hagerstown
- Council Bluffs
- Mason City
- South Portland
- Lewiston
Harrison College
Campus
Get started on your career with an education from Harrison College. We offer more than 30 degree, certificate, and diploma programs in the fields of health sciences, veterinary technology, information technology, criminal justice, and business, in addition to our culinary arts academy.
Programs:- Nursing - Associate of Science
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
- Indianapolis
- Terre Haute
- Elkhart
- Lafayette
- Anderson
- Evansville
- Grove City
- Muncie
- Columbus
Lincoln College of Technology
Campus
Imagine the possibilities of furthering your education from the comforts of anywhere with Internet access. Imagine working towards your college degree and expanding your future career opportunities! With Lincoln College Online, you can. Use the internet to join students from all over the country who share your same educational and career goals. By enrolling in Lincoln College Online, you'll have the opportunity to learn while maintaining your active lifestyle. At Lincoln College Online you'll learn through simulation activities, participate in a virtual classroom, study lessons from qualified instructors who promote learning and participation in the online environment, and communicate with peers from across the United States of America.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Florence
- Toledo
- Cincinnati
- Marietta
- Franklin
