If you have decided to further your nursing education, consider finding an affordable RN to BSN program. By doing your research, you can discover an online program that meets your needs and fits your budget as well.
Cost benefits of online learning
By choosing an online degree program, nurses may experience a variety of benefits that make their learning experience more affordable.
Online programs can generally be completed in a short amount of time (sometimes 12 months or less), and students who pursue an online affordable RN to BSN program often can complete their degree while still maintaining their work and family commitments.
Online courses can be completed anywhere a student has access to the Internet, making commuting costs virtually nonexistent. Nursing professionals can utilize the time they would spend driving to class instead working and continuing to earn a salary or knocking out course commitments quicker.
Tuition remission
According to an American Nurses Association 2014 report, bachelor degrees make a difference in employers' desire to hire new employees. The report shows that 43.7 percent of hospitals and other healthcare settings require new hires to have a at least a bachelor's degree, while 78.9 percent express a strong preference for those with a BSN or other advanced degree.
Because those in management of hospitals and healthcare facilities place a value on higher education, many have employee tuition remission programs. Professionals who are considering further their education should check with their supervisors and/or the human resources department of their organization to see if tuition remission is available. These types of programs allow current employees to have some (or all) of their education expenses reimbursed by their company, provided they adhere to certain requirements.
Scholarships and financial aid
Another way to find an affordable RN to BSN program is to consider how scholarships and financial aid may assist you in paying for your advanced education. By doing research on websites such as nursingscholarships.us, nursing professionals can find a variety of outlets that offer scholarships, grants and financial aid to students who fit certain criteria.
Being prepared to practice
Nurses who earn a bachelor's degree often have the skills and experience needed to excel in the rapidly changing healthcare field. The Institute of Medicine reports that 80 percent of nurses should hold a bachelor's degree or higher by 2020.
By enrolling in an online RN to BSN program, nurses can enhance their practice and contribute to improving healthcare as a whole.
Sources:
American Nurses Association, Fast Facts The Nursing Workforce 2014: Growth, Salaries, Education, Demographics & Trends: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workforce/Fast-Facts-2014-Nursing-Workforce.pdf
Institute of Medicine, The Future of Nursing: http://www.thefutureofnursing.org/IOM-Report
Nursing Scholarships. http://www.nursingscholarship.us/
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