Excited to further your nursing qualifications? Life can be fast-paced and difficult to predict sometimes. It’s easy to feel like you haven’t got enough hours in a day to get work done, let alone get another qualification. Thankfully, the advancements in technology and the convenience of online education platforms have made furthering your career much easier.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of studying nursing online and link you to a place to get started.
What level of qualification do you need to be a nurse in Australia?
The standard qualification set for nurses is a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This will usually be a 3-year or 4-year course that covers the broad field of nursing. Once qualified, nurses then need to apply to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency before they can practice. There’s also an opportunity to study further. As a nurse, you might want to specialise, meaning you’d need to study further and get certified in the field you desire to work in.
What nursing qualifications can be studied online?
In addition to the bachelor’s degree, there are several other qualifications a nurse can earn. For instance, you could consider taking a graduate certificate of nursing online if you want something more affordable and shorter to do. Here’s a list of post-grade studies you can do in nursing:
Graduate certificate in nursing
Graduate diploma in nursing
Master of Science in Nursing
PhD in Nursing Practice
Post-Master’s Certificate Programs
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing Administration
Who should study online?
This is a good question because studying online isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t have to be. Some people prefer the personal interaction of taking in-person lessons with other students. So, we’d say that studying online would be the best solution for people who want to study from the comfort of their own homes or while they work.
Financial considerations also come into play here. Studying online can be more affordable than studying at a campus, thus making it a better option for those who can’t afford attending traditional universities. Online studies would also be a good solution for people who live in remote areas and can’t get to a university.
The benefits of studying nursing online
Here are some of the best benefits you’ll find if you study online:
Courses are readily available
Before online educational platforms revolutionised the world, traditional educational institutes were often the only option for people looking to further their studies. This meant going to in-person classes, which meant there were always added travel and accommodation costs if you didn’t live close by. Now, online studies have eliminated the geographical barriers that hinder many from being able to study in a tertiary education.
This kind of accessibility allows nurses to stay on top of the most recent nursing methods, techniques and studies, improving their skills and the whole nursing system. Students of all ages can now study from the comfort of their own homes with full access to lectures, study resources and other students online.
Learn at your own pace
Many online courses allow students to learn at their own pace to a certain extent. They’ll usually have deadlines for assignments or examinations, but when it comes to studying, that’s all on your watch. A benefit of this approach is that it allows students to work through tough topics more thoroughly, ensuring they understand them well before moving on or being assessed.
Cost-effectiveness
Studying online usually costs a lot less than attending a traditional university. This is because the fees to run an online course are significantly lower. In most cases, the courses are set in a way where they can be self-studied, so you’re simply paying for the course and the affiliation and accreditation with the institutes.
They give you some wiggle room
For nurses who want to study further, going to a physical institute might not be possible due to they’re working hours, and it wouldn’t be super practical either unless they lived right next door to the institute.
Online nursing courses allow nurses to continue working and studying when they’re off shift. Whether they use time in the evening to study after work or in the mornings before shift, the option is theirs. This flexibility allows nurses to balance they’re professional and personal lives more effectively.
You can tailor your courses
Studying online doesn’t limit you to a specific set of courses. Because you have so many online educational platforms available to you, you’re able to choose courses that best suit the qualifications you’re pursuing
Whether you’re looking to specialise or try something new, the options are all available online. Certain institutes will also give you the opportunity to customise your qualifications by choosing elective courses in addition to compulsory courses. As a result, you will have a somewhat bespoke course.
Courses are up-to-date
Like most industries, the healthcare industry is adapting and improving constantly. This means that nursing qualifications need to update their curriculums often. This is simple of online institutes who merely need to upload new content to they’re platforms when they receive it.
You get to practise learned skills
The world is in a digital era, with more and more businesses and services moving to the digital world, the healthcare system would be left behind if they didn’t. Thus, many medical procedures, applications, and methods are now done on online platforms. Studying online gives you a head start with this way of working.
By doing an online course, you’d practice the fundamentals of digital platforms, providing you with a good foundation on how certain tech devices and systems work so you don’t feel lost when you start working in a nursing environment that relies on technology for its operations.
Final Thoughts
Online studies have become increasingly popular, especially during and after the 2020 pandemic. But they aren’t for everyone. If you want to study to become a nurse or study further while working, consider the benefits of studying nursing online; it may be the best way forward for you.
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