Online Undergraduate Degree in Nursing

A recent study published by the American Medical Association stated that patients cared for by nurses having a bachelor’s degree in nursing have a “substantial survival advantage” over patients who are cared for by nurses who do not.

Nursing is one of those few professions that offer individuals the opportunity to have direct influence on the recovery of the sick and injured. In fact, the study further showed that with just a 10% increase in nurses with a bachelor’s degree in the health care profession would result in 5% decrease in patient death and failure to rescue.

Why earn an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing?

Undergraduate degrees in nursing come in the form of:

• Online Associate Degree in Nursing: The online associate degree in nursing is an introductory program to the field of nursing. It is skewed towards developing the technical skills more than theoretical principles so that students have some practical knowledge before moving onto their bachelor’s degree. Graduates of the online degree in nursing are also qualified to be registered nurses so they can start working in just over 2 years of starting the program.
• Online Diploma in Nursing: The online diploma in nursing is 2-3 year training program that at a level between the associate and bachelor’s degree. Today, nursing diplomas are not as popular as before, but are still recognized by the profession. The diploma in nursing adds more theory to the practical experiences of the associates degree and prepares students for employment in hospitals and other patient care facilities.
• Online Bachelor’s in Nursing: The online bachelor’s degree in nursing is the most preferred degree to employers with the nursing profession. This is because it entails an intense study of nursing principles combined with significant practical training.

Course Outline of the Undergraduate Degree in Nursing

Instead of putting their lives on pause to attend a traditional university to pursue your undergraduate degree in nursing, many students are now opting for the pursuit of their nursing undergraduate degree. At online colleges that offer undergraduate nursing degrees, students can study at times and in locations convenient to them. Courses are divided into several modules and available from their university’s web site. Students cover general subject areas such as biology, physiology, pharmacology, nursing theory, clinical governance and ethics and law in nursing. Some students also choose specialized electives such as substance abuse recovery, pediatric care and midwifery.

It is important to note that all nurses must receive licensure by completing the National Certification Licensure Examination. This will qualify them to function as registered nurses.

Top Online Schools to study Undergraduate Degree in Nursing

Some of the top online colleges for undergraduate degrees in nursing include:

Chamberlin College of Nursing

University of Phoenix

Colorado Technical University

Walden University

What can I do with an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing?

Currently the entire world is facing a shortage of nurses. This is triggered by continuous wars, natural and man-made disasters. A study published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics detailed that the demand for trained nurses will continue to be high through to 2014.Many nurses with undergraduate degrees function in environment such as hospitals, private nursing homes, birth centers and public health.