Online Nursing Schools Work to Alleviate National Nurse Shortage

Hospitals, state and local governments, and nursing schools are scrambling to attract people to the profession. But with a national nursing shortage crisis in full swing, there is one surprising element keeping aspiring nurses from joining the workforce.

Limited Access to Nursing Schools

Nurses serve a vital role in hospitals, clinics, and private practices across the country, and the healthcare industry is feeling the shortage keenly. However, the shortage is not due to a lack of interested students; rather, traditional nursing schools simply don't have the room. Nearly 17,000 students are waiting to enter California's nursing schools, while over 130,000 are on waiting lists in other states.
As traditional schools scramble to open larger training centers and hire instructors, online nursing schools remain an opportunity for students nationwide. The online format reduces the need for building expansion, and nursing instructors offer training and knowledge that nurses need. Clinical practice, of course, still has to be hands-on. But the use of online education to instruct nursing students in theory and administrative procedures can ease the burden that traditional nursing schools currently bear. Online nursing degrees are also excellent choices for current nurses who want to specialize in a new field, or move up to managerial positions.

Hiring Managers Offer Incentives to Trained Nurses

Once you complete nursing school, you may find a higher salary than you expected. Full-time registered nurses made $69,000 on average in 2006 in California, up 32% from the previous year's salary. Mandated nurse-patient ratios in some states also serve to increase the need for nurses, as hospitals are forced to relieve existing nurses of large patient loads.
For aspiring nurses willing to undertake the commitment to nursing school, financial stability is only part of the reward. Nurses help in the healing process and make a real difference in the lives of others. With today's nurse shortage problems, choosing an online nursing school may be the fastest way to the degree you want.
Source:
LA Times, "California looks to help local students fill nursing shortage"

Amelia Gray is a teacher and freelance writer in San Marcos, TX. Amelia earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University.