| According to the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions, | | | | certified registered nurse anesthesiologist (CRNA) or |
| the United States will need more than 1.7 million | | | | certified nurse midwife. Students attending traditional |
| nurses by the year 2020 and just 635,000 are | | | | schools would take eighteen to twenty-four months |
| expected to be available. The National Sample Survey | | | | study to complete the LPN program, two to four |
| of Registered Nurses found that there is currently a | | | | years study to complete the RN program and a |
| shortage of registered nurses. Nursing is a growing | | | | doctorate degree with additional certifications |
| career and online nursing programs make it easier | | | | (possible six to eight years of study) to complete |
| than ever to get the necessary training. | | | | the APN program. |
| Early Show contributor Rachel Lewis found that more | | | | Online nursing schools offers students some flexibility |
| than seventy-five percent of colleges now offer | | | | regarding course completion time. Online courses |
| online degree programs. Nursing programs requires | | | | usually take six to eight weeks to complete. Some |
| students to learn from educational materials as well | | | | schools requires students to follow a traditional |
| as through training in the field. The non-clinical part of | | | | calendar, while others allow students to accelerate or |
| the nursing course is taken online. Since it would be | | | | slow their pace according to their personal |
| impossible to complete the clinical requirements over | | | | preference. |
| the Internet, clinical training is generally held at a | | | | Nurses can work in many environments, such as |
| medical facility close to the student's residence. | | | | hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools and health |
| Nurses are licensed through the Board of Nursing in | | | | facilities, to name just a few. The United States |
| the state where they live. Each state determines the | | | | Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the average |
| requirements for nurses to practice within that state. | | | | income for a registered nurse as of 2005 was nearly |
| The criteria the boards use is based on the Model | | | | $57,000. Online nursing programs offer students the |
| Nursing Practice Act, the Uniform Core Licensure | | | | opportunity to study for one of the most rapidly |
| Requirements and the Model Nursing Administrative | | | | growing professions in the United States today. |
| Rules created by the NCSNB (National Council of | | | | SUMMARY: Online nursing schools offers students |
| State Nursing Boards). Nurses must renew their | | | | some flexibility regarding course completion time. |
| licenses periodically and continuing education is | | | | Nurses can work in many environments, such as |
| required in some states for renewal. Nursing schools | | | | hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools and health |
| online make it easier for busy, working nurses to fulfill | | | | facilities, to name just a few. The United States |
| continuing education requirements. | | | | Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the average |
| There are a few different types of nursing degrees | | | | income for a registered nurse as of 2005 was nearly |
| to choose from including Licensed Practical Nurse | | | | $57,000. Online nursing programs offer students the |
| (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN) and Advanced Practice | | | | opportunity to study for one of the most rapidly |
| Nurse (APN). An APN can specialize as a nurse | | | | growing professions in the United States today. |
| practitioner (NP), certified nurse specialist (CNS), | | | | |