RN Associate Degree Online
Higher Education Articles January 16, 2013Some aspiring registered nurses (RNs) seek admission to bachelor degree programs. However, there are other routes to pursue, if students are interested in a career as an RN. Another popular choice aspiring RNs have is enrolling into an associate degree program. Many programs are offered online. In this article, we will look at the benefits that can accrue from doing an associate RN degree program online.
An online associate degree program is much more flexible than a course that requires students to attend a campus, as it allows students to study at a time of their convenience without having to ignore personal responsibilities or any other work they are required to complete.
Associate of Science in Nursing Program
An associate degree program in nursing usually spans two years. Four-year institutions and community colleges offer associate degree programs, and these include online programs. As already stated, an online program offers exceptional flexibility allowing students to complete such program even while working at a job. Coursework typically involves lectures that can be viewed online; in addition, students would be required to get hands-on experience through externships in clinical settings apart from lab work. Students will be required to perform such hands on assignments at healthcare facilities associated with the school granting the degree or on a college campus.
Associate of Science in nursing programs are not offered at all schools. In its place, an Associate of Applied Science degree is awarded by these colleges via an RN program delivered online. Coursework relating to such online programs is not dissimilar from that relating to an Associate of Science degree course, but the general education courses offered are quite different.
Online RN Associate Degree Coursework
Various online associate degree programs for nursing have different coursework depending on the school offering the program, but it usually includes technical electives apart from core nursing class-work. The electives are devised to provide students with knowledge about healthcare technology, neonatal nursing, gerontology, and trauma among other specialized nursing areas. General courses in the sciences, English, mathematics and communications are also included in the curriculum. Online associate degree programs in RN also include specific coursework subjects that cover business communications, pharmacology I, nursing management concepts, introduction to microbiology, human growth and development, pharmacology II, nursing health assessment and human anatomy.
