While there’s no such thing as a fully online nursing program, hybrid online programs blend online coursework with hands-on, in-person simulation labs and clinical experience. Accelerated programs allow students to expedite their nursing education while maintaining the academic rigor of a traditional program.
Online learning has become a popular option for many people pursuing higher education. What about becoming a nurse online? While many nursing programs include online coursework, in-person experience is a necessary part of the curriculum.
Madonna University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) in Metro Detroit offers a hybrid curriculum that blends online coursework and in-person, skills and simulation labs and clinical rotations.
Explore the components a hybrid nursing program, its benefits, and common misconceptions below.
Understanding Online Nursing Programs
Online nursing programs differ from online programs for other majors because they blend virtual coursework with required, in-person nursing labs and clinical rotations. These hands-on learning experiences are essential for developing the skills needed to take and pass the NCLEX-RN and to practice as a registered nurse.
Online Coursework
The online coursework component of hybrid online nursing programs typically is delivered through an interactive online platform. Online lectures may be delivered synchronously or asynchronously, and courses will include regular assignments with deadlines set by the professor. Coursework typically includes weekly discussion posts, research papers, assignments, and quizzes.
Skills and Simulation Labs
Nursing skills and simulation labs are required, in-person learning experiences that nursing students must complete to graduate. Simulation labs involve simulated clinical scenarios that students must assess and manage under pressure, while skills labs allow students to practice measuring blood pressure, pulse and respiration, nasogastric tube insertions, and wound care methods in a safe environment. These competencies are essential for nursing practice, and these simulation labs prepare students to become practice-ready nurses.
Clinical Rotations
In nursing school, clinical rotations are where students gain real-world clinical experience required to practice as a nurse. This is where students apply the knowledge they have gained through classes and simulation labs to real patients in controlled settings. Clinicals may cover practice areas including medical-surgical nursing, mental health, maternity (OB), and pediatrics. Clinical experience is required to obtain licensure and practice as a nurse.
While online nursing school is not fully online, the hands-on experiences gained through simulation labs and clinical rotations are essential for graduating and obtaining licensure. Additionally, online pathways also offer several benefits over traditional nursing programs.
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? Learn more about the pros and cons of nursing.
Benefits of Online and Hybrid Nursing Pathways
Online nursing programs offer some benefits for those seeking further education through online learning. For instance, career changers with bachelor’s degrees can benefit from accelerated BSN programs, which may shorten the time required to earn a nursing degree. Some ABSN programs, such as Madonna University’s take as little as 16 months.
Online nursing programs also offer more flexibility in learning than traditional in-person programs. Virtual learning allows students to engage with coursework on their time and from remote locations, provided they meet deadlines. This reduces the complexity of managing classes, clinicals, labs, and personal commitments.
This level of flexibility and time-saving can benefit people seeking career advancement. Nursing offers valuable opportunities for career and academic advancement. Students interested in furthering their education beyond the undergraduate level can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). These advanced degrees can be used to specialize, become nurse practitioners, or even go further and become a Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP).
Common Misconceptions About Online Nursing Programs
Before you enroll in an online nursing program, there are some common misconceptions that should be addressed. The most common misconception, of course, is that a nursing education can be completed fully online. Beyond that, however, online nursing programs can be misunderstood in other ways.
1. It’s an Isolating Experience
Many people assume that online nursing programs are isolating, but in fact they are collaborative. Students attend in-person simulation labs and clinical rotations and work closely with instructors, peers, and patients on tasks that require communication and teamwork.
Beyond labs and clinical rotations, online coursework encourages regular interaction with instructors and peers through lectures, feedback, discussion posts, and study groups. Collaboration is essential for graduation and for the nursing profession.
These interactions foster a sense of community and prepare students for the teamwork integral to nursing.
Learn more about how teamwork in nursing improves patient care.
2. You Can Work a Full-Time Job During Accelerated Nursing School
Many online nursing programs compress four years of study into one or two years, so working full-time is not recommended. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing suggests students not work while they attend accelerated nursing programs.
An accelerated program is essentially a full-time commitment. Coursework, lectures, labs and clinical rotations can require up to 40 hours per week, leaving little room for outside employment. Be sure to discuss your situation and options with your admissions representative.
3. Anyone Can Succeed in Online Nursing School
Hybrid or online nursing school isn’t the right option for everyone. Accelerated programs are fast paced, a side effect of compressing the curriculum into months, and the workload demands strong time management skills.
To succeed in online nursing school, students must have high levels of:
- Discipline, the ability to follow a strict routine even when exhausted.
- Motivation, the ability to maintain momentum for several months straight.
- Organization, the ability to keep track of assignments, exams, and other coursework.
- Stress tolerance, the ability to perform well under pressure.
- Time management, the ability to manage lectures, clinicals, labs, and personal responsibilities.
Though the coursework matches a traditional program, the experience is different. Online nursing programs demand intense dedication that not everyone can manage.
How to Get a Nursing Degree Online
Understanding the steps to earn a nursing degree online is essential. Getting an online nursing degree is not always a straightforward process, so it’s important to navigate this question thoughtfully and understand where you are in the process.
1. Research Nursing Options and Meet Requirements
Start by researching programs and ensuring you meet the requirements and have taken the prerequisites. Programs vary based on your current education level, so factor that into your decision.
2. Decide Whether to Pursue an ABSN or MSN
If you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you can accelerate your education through programs like Madonna University’s ABSN. Others may qualify for a Master of Science in Nursing, which can take longer and has additional prerequisites.
3. Graduate and Pass the NCLEX-RN
The final step to obtaining an online nursing degree is graduating and passing the NCLEX-RN. After you graduate from your online nursing program, you should be ready to sit for the NCLEX-RN, which you are required to pass to obtain licensure.
Become a Nurse Online through Madonna University’s ABSN Program
Madonna University’s ABSN program supports your journey to become a nurse online. If you have at least 60 transferable credits or already hold a bachelor’s degree, you might be eligible for our ABSN program. Once enrolled, you can earn a degree in as few as 16 months.
Contact us today to get started. A Madonna ABSN admissions representative will be in touch to discuss next steps.