The Value of Online Learning
The Value of Online Learning
The nursing profession today is increasingly seeing staffing shortages. Online learning and distance education is a way that colleges have tried to fix the problem. The online programs available today offer working adults the opportunity to advance their degree while still maintaining their current job. The value of online education has increased amongst nurses who want to advance their profession that is constantly moving towards advanced technologies. One of the main reasons why there is a nursing shortage is from the lack of nursing faculty to teach the students. The labor bureau estimated that there will be a need for 580,000 nurses by 2018 due to nurses retiring (AACN, 2010). Colleges are working hard to try to fill this void by offering several programs that fits the needs of today’s students and returning nurses. There are programs at colleges that start students on their path to become a nurse, and there are also professional study programs. Professional study programs help nurses go back to school to obtain a second or third degree. Nurses today do not have the time to return to a traditional face-to-face educational program for their higher education. With the staffing shortages felt in the workplace today, nurses usually have to work far more than their scheduled days to just get the minimum amount of staff on their unit required for it to function on a safe level. Nurses pursuing higher education usually choose online or distance learning to complete their degree. These programs allow for the student to work independently and on their own timeline. Online education allows students to maintain their full time job, and also advance in their careers by having a higher education. Some concerns have been brought up about students learning to become nurses through a web based program. One concern is that you cannot teach a person how to be passionate, caring and empathetic when they are learning it from a computer. “One
The nursing profession today is increasingly seeing staffing shortages. Online learning and distance education is a way that colleges have tried to fix the problem. The online programs available today offer working adults the opportunity to advance their degree while still maintaining their current job. The value of online education has increased amongst nurses who want to advance their profession that is constantly moving towards advanced technologies. One of the main reasons why there is a nursing shortage is from the lack of nursing faculty to teach the students. The labor bureau estimated that there will be a need for 580,000 nurses by 2018 due to nurses retiring (AACN, 2010). Colleges are working hard to try to fill this void by offering several programs that fits the needs of today’s students and returning nurses. There are programs at colleges that start students on their path to become a nurse, and there are also professional study programs. Professional study programs help nurses go back to school to obtain a second or third degree. Nurses today do not have the time to return to a traditional face-to-face educational program for their higher education. With the staffing shortages felt in the workplace today, nurses usually have to work far more than their scheduled days to just get the minimum amount of staff on their unit required for it to function on a safe level. Nurses pursuing higher education usually choose online or distance learning to complete their degree. These programs allow for the student to work independently and on their own timeline. Online education allows students to maintain their full time job, and also advance in their careers by having a higher education. Some concerns have been brought up about students learning to become nurses through a web based program. One concern is that you cannot teach a person how to be passionate, caring and empathetic when they are learning it from a computer. “One
References: Ainsley, B., Brown, A. (2009). The Impact of Informatics on Nursing Education: A Review of the Literature. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 40(5), 228-232 retrieved from http//www.acteonline.org/uploadedFiles/About_CTE/files/The%2 0Impact%20of%20Informatics%20on%20Nursing%20Education.pdf American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2010) Accelerated programs: The fast track to careers in nursing. AACN. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/issue-bulletin-accelerated-programs. G.G. Smith et al (2009). The Challenges of Online Nursing Education. Internet and Higher Education. 12 (2009) 98–103. Retrieved from http://www.personal.psu.edu/dcj11/blogs/psu_behrend_nursing_department_journal_club/articles/ChallengesofOnlineNursing.pdf. Kowal, C. (2011 March 31). Nursing Together.Traditional Education vs. Distance Learning. Retrieved from http://www.nursetogether.com/Education/Education-Article/itemId/2457/Traditional-Education-vs-Distance-Learning.aspx Mancuso-Murphy, J. (2007) Distance Education in Nursing: An Integrated Review of Online Nursing Students’ Experiences with Technology- Delivered Instruction. Journal of Nursing Education. 46(6) 252-269. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.king.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e6d2806b-83ec-4363-a4d8-c53796e60e24%40sessionmgr12&vid=4&hid=123. Phillip, J.C., Waytt, T.H., (2011). Smartphones in Nursing Education. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. 29(8), 449–454. Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/cinjournal/Fulltext/2011/08000/Smartphones_in_Nursing_Education.9.aspx. United States Department of Education. U. S. Department of Education database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. Web. 31 March 2011. http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/