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I have a bachelors in psychology and want to change careers to become a nurse. Are there any online bachelor degree programs in nursing (BSN) that will admit me without the RN (registered nurse) certification? —Peter, Madison, WI
Answer: The good news: online nursing education is booming. In 2009, there were 129 online RN-BSN degree programs nationwide, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
The ANA tracks an additional 114 distance learning nursing programs which are considered hybrid (50 to 99 percent online). Hybrid means some nursing courses are taught online while others require campus attendance. Nursing Career Change Obstacles
However, online nursing programs impose very strict admission requirements. Almost all require a valid RN (registered nurse) license in the state where the applicant lives.
And, in most cases, online education programs are open only to applicants who have completed at least an associate degree in science in nursing (ASN) and who hold a valid state RN (registered nurse) license.
Why is the RN required? Nursing education includes two components: theory (textbook) learning and hands-on work in a hospital setting. The latter is referred to as clinical training.
If you already hold an RN license, colleges assume you have completed both the required foundation lab courses, such as chemistry, and the required clinical hours in a nursing setting.
Most RNs are already employed in a local health care facility. This means they can complete advanced courses online while continuing to work. Their work setting becomes the “supervised clinical” setting for the online BSN degree. A local supervised clinical setting is required for all online degrees in nursing.
Best Way to Change Career to Nursing using Distance Learning? You can use online education to change careers to nursing. But to lay the foundation you will need to spend a few months to a year completing clinical experience and foundation science (lab) courses in a residential or campus setting.
However, to enter the Wisconsin program you must already hold a bachelors degree as well as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification. This is to ensure you have completed hands-on clinicals and labs in a supervised setting. Completing the CNA provides exposure to the healthcare field and ensures an understanding of the basic concepts of nursing.
To earn a CNA, you must complete both a clinical component and pass your state’s CNA exam.
Even with a CNA, the Wisconsin program, like all distance learning nursing degrees, requires BSN students to visit the Wisconsin campus for three one-week “boot-camps.” These sessions are designed to demonstrate advanced clinical skills. To Begin Your Career Change to Nursing
Check your local community or technical college for a campus-based Certified Nursing Assistant certificate or diploma program. These programs are also called nurses’ aide programs. Technical and trade colleges as well as local healthcare facilities may all offer training toward the CNA.
The CNA will be your quickest and cheapest route to meeting the supervised clinical experience you need to later enter a nursing degree program online. You may still need to take a few residential lab courses in anatomy, biology, and chemistry to switch to a career in nursing.
Because of the severe shortage of nurses, almost every state sponsors a RN-to-BSN degree option through distance learning. Check the school of nursing at your state college for leads on an online bachelor’s degree program that utilizes local hospital settings for training.
