Pros and Cons of an Online Nursing Degree

Is an online nursing degree the same as a traditional nursing degree? Let's take a look.

Have you considered getting a nursing degree online? You’re not alone. One survey identified nursing as the second-most popular major among both undergraduate and graduate online learners, second only to business administration.

Online programs are already an accepted way to earn advanced nursing degrees, such as RN to BSN (two-year to four-year degree) or NP (Nurse Practitioner). Online degrees are ideally suited to licensed nursing professionals, as they already have hands-on experience needed to practice. (Note, if you’re interested in travel nursing, a BSN degree can give you even more options.)

How do potential employers view online nursing degrees?

One of the most fundamental requirements for a travel nurse job is an accredited nursing degree, but does it matter if the degree was online or not?

Many employers’ concerns about online degrees center around the hands-on clinical experience required to graduate. Naturally, working experience is less of an issue for an RN who is going after an advanced degree. If you are not yet a licensed RN, you should prepare yourself for employers asking about your clinical training, and make sure that any online nursing program you are considering has a comprehensive approach to providing hands-on training.

In general, online nursing programs will take a more active role in helping to set up clinical training for undergraduates. Graduate students are often expected to arrange for their own clinicals and preceptorships.

As with any profession, employers evaluate nursing job candidates based on more than just where – and in what format – they earned their degree. But an applicant's education still plays a large role in the hiring process. Though some hiring managers still have reservations, many employers have lately become more receptive to online degree holders.

Interest in online nursing degrees is rising

The Coronavirus pandemic has transformed the educational landscape. Virtual learning is in many cases the only safe option now. Many institutions that previously shied away from online teaching have revised their programs and incorporated virtual learning into their educational menu.

Beyond simply being “safer”, online nursing programs make quality healthcare education available to individuals in remote areas without any nursing schools. Online learning also provides an opportunity for credentialed instructors to reach more students -- a lack of qualified nursing faculty is one of the primary factors in the nation’s long-standing nurse shortage.

Upsides to an online RN degree

Flexibility is a huge advantage. If you’re currently working in another profession, or perhaps working your way along the healthcare continuum - advancing from CNA to RN, for example -- it’s going to be hard to make your daily schedule work with a full-time classroom degree.
Many more educational institutions are available to you with online programs. Maybe you were accepted into an elite institution, but you couldn’t attend because of the distance. You’ll now have many more programs to choose from, with perhaps only occasional travel to the main campus.
You may save some money with an online degree. Room and board is not required; online textbooks and other incidentals may be available online at lower prices than analog versions.

Downsides to an online RN program

You’ve got to be self motivated. You’re responsible for your schedule, in some cases for setting up your clinical training and board testing.
Online programs produce graduates who are likely to be rated highly by their supervisors and succeed in their careers. However, one area where online learning often falls behind is in retention rates. Unfortunately, the tuition is not virtual, and you will still be on the hook, whether you graduate or not.
Online courses are not necessarily easier than traditional classroom courses. Difficulty is entirely dependent on the program in which you are enrolled.
Popular perception is that healthcare employers do not value online degrees as highly as brick and mortar degrees. Again, this is changing, and the weight given to how you earned your degree in part depends on where you are in your career, what kind of degree you are earning, and what kind of nursing career you plan to pursue. The skills you demonstrate as you gain real-life experience will eventually supercede your educational record.

What to look for in an online nursing degree program

The program should be accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Your degree must be from an accredited institution or you cannot sit for the NCLEX exam.
Does the school have classroom learning as well as online learning? If the school has a campus and a traditional classroom-based program, that is an indication that the online program will have performance standards, qualified instructors, and an established structure for its nursing program.
Does the school require some class attendance? Even though the program is online, it is a positive sign if they require some attendance for either testing or skills assessments.
One of the most important missions of any nursing program is to prepare students to take the standardized exams, such as the NCLEX -- as well as to pass clinical skills assessments. What does the program you're considering offer regarding testing preparation?
Look at the school’s ratings, but be aware of the source of those ratings. You want to look into objective ratings services, as well as ratings from students.
Do objective ratings list the graduation rate, NCLEX pass rate, and post-graduation placement/earnings rates?

Perhaps the best source of information is friends and colleagues. Do you know any nurses who went through the program? Did they get the support and training they expected? Would they recommend it to others?

Warning signs

Some online universities use aggressive enrollment tactics. Admissions staff may have sales quotas to meet, and with online programs, there is virtually no limit to the number of students they may sign up. Look out for:

No, or very few, previous education or testing requirements for enrollment.
Lack of clarity on whether your previous education credits can be transferred to their institution
Very little information about the qualifications of faculty or the requirements for completing coursework and graduation.
Hard-sell promises of financial arrangements to help you cover tuition. Get all the details about tuition financing from reputable sources.

Are you a good candidate for online learning?

Be honest with yourself. The college placement office is saying you can study at midnight when the kids are asleep, or on your lunch break. But if you have started similar training in the past and found it challenging to squeeze in that study time, think carefully before starting an online nursing degree. Self motivation is paramount.

Do you have the equipment and technology you need to reliably log on and learn? You’ll need a good internet connection, a reliable laptop or desktop computer and a dedicated study spot with minimal distractions.

You’ll have many opportunities to connect with instructors and classmates in a virtual environment. But if you learn better with in-person feedback, and know you would do best with the IRL experience of classroom learning, you may want to postpone earning your degree until an in-person program is once again available.

The future of online nursing education

There is little doubt that virtual learning in higher education will only continue to grow in popularity. Nursing is a bit of a special case, though. Unlike a degree in, say - Accounting, a nursing degree is always going to require training in real life, with real humans. Schools will become more adept at offering hybrid programs that seamlessly integrate clinical practice with ever-more-sophisticated online tools. While we’re in the midst of this evolution, keep your eyes open for programs that offer the best of both worlds. Ultimately, this evolution will result in making a nursing career available to many more individuals than in the past, and that’s definitely a good thing.

Additional Resources

Challenges of Online Nursing Education Learning and Satisfaction of Nurses in the Online Environment Nurses' perceptions of online continuing education

Last Modified On: Dec 08, 2020

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