| Over the last few decades, the basic reason to | | | | Student-Centered versus Instructor-You would |
| nursing has not changed. If anything students who | | | | find that online courses have a direct one-one |
| learn nursing as a subject have changed their | | | | approach with the students.o Flexibility. This is one |
| perceptions dramatically. Nowadays, you would | | | | big benefit of taking online courses. Online courses |
| see a more pragmatic and a mature outlook from | | | | completely alleviate the need of the individual to |
| students when it comes to nursing. With that | | | | go to the library or the classroom to study the |
| being said, you would also find a lot of employed | | | | course contents.o Accessibility. A student in a far |
| individuals who wish to take up nursing, maybe as | | | | away country like Philippines could study an online |
| their part time job. | | | | course from an institute in the United States of |
| Irrespective of the need, you will find that Online | | | | America.o Student Interaction Increases. Much like |
| learning is one module that allows individuals to | | | | the classroom courses, you would find that the |
| learn a lot about nursing. The health-care industry | | | | students do get a lot of opportunity to interact |
| has been changing by the day if not by months | | | | and express their ideas.o Collaboration and Team |
| over the last few decades. There has always | | | | Problem Solving. The availability of a wide range |
| been a strong need to keep the nurses updated | | | | of communication tools makes it easier for people |
| of all latest medical advancements. This had to be | | | | to work as a team on projects.o Increased |
| done without the nurses actually having to | | | | Sharing of Knowledge. In a classroom module, you |
| sacrifice their work schedules. Taking all these | | | | would find that one instructor would be delivering |
| factors into count, Online course step in admirably | | | | the course contents, and students write their |
| to fill in the gap. | | | | notes. With the online courses, you would find a |
| Tools used for online nursing education include:o | | | | lot of knowledge sharing on subjects between |
| E-mail. All the information interchange including | | | | students and the instructors.o Immediate Access |
| sending and receiving course papers, answering | | | | to Updated Material. Any course content that |
| questions and many more happens through the | | | | undergoes change can be updated to the |
| email mode of communication.o Listservs. This is a | | | | students almost instantly with the help of the |
| one-to-many communication exchange. People | | | | Internet.o Developing Technology Skills. The |
| subscribing to listservs would be able to get the | | | | technical skills learnt by students while studying |
| benefits of opinions being shared by experts.o | | | | the online courses can be utilized by people at a |
| Discussion Groups. You could join a discussion | | | | later stage, especially when they are working. |
| group that already has members who are | | | | The advantages of online courses notwithstanding, |
| studying the same subject. You could use this | | | | some factors would still need to be considered |
| forum to ask your questions and share your | | | | before choosing online courses. Subjects like |
| opinions on a particular subject.o Chat Rooms. | | | | nursing would require a great deal of emphasis on |
| With chat rooms, you would be able to speak to | | | | socialization issues, something that most of these |
| your colleagues online.o Streaming Video. Entire | | | | courses fail to cover adequately. |
| lectures can be delivered using streaming video | | | | As a student, think on the lines of on-site |
| technology.o Desktop Videoconferencing. With the | | | | preceptors and a careful selection of clinical |
| Desktop Videoconferencing feature, you would be | | | | settings to ensure you get proper assistance on |
| able to eliminate any possible disadvantages of | | | | the socialization aspect, which is so important for |
| online courses versus the classroom courses. All | | | | nursing anyways. |
| you have to do is to add a camera on the top of | | | | Be sure to have your goals set alright at least in |
| your PC, and you would be able to talk live with | | | | the case of selecting online courses. If you |
| the teachers of the course.o Web Sites. You | | | | desperately wish to seek a course offered by a |
| could find the course contents being delivered | | | | particular university, you can choose an online |
| through websites. | | | | module in these three cases - 1) The university is |
| Before choosing online courses in nursing, you | | | | too far for you to travel, 2) You are working and |
| should think of some factors, as they would | | | | would not be able to find time to attend |
| impact the kind of education being provided to | | | | classroom courses, and 3) You would wish to |
| you. The first thing to be thought of is the mode | | | | save some money, which you can do by studying |
| of sending and receiving the course contents. | | | | online courses. Alternatively, you could also |
| Secondly, what is the sophistication of tools used | | | | combine an online and the classroom course if |
| in the course by the instructors? Thirdly and | | | | you wish to extract optimal benefits out of the |
| importantly, how often do you have interactive | | | | online course. |
| sessions with the course instructors? | | | | The world is changing rapidly, and so is the |
| Understanding these and many more questions will | | | | healthcare domain. In this dynamic world, online |
| lead you to be in a position where you could | | | | courses in nursing bring quality healthcare |
| choose an online course of your choice. | | | | education a step closer to the students. |
| Some advantages of distance learning are:o | | | | |