Distance Education Nursing Program- A Solution for Nursing Shortage
- By Carl Hruza
- Published March 7th, 2009
- Nursing
- Unrated
In the past few years, there has been a growing demand for nurses especially in countries like the US. Experts feel that nursing program offered through distance education could help alleviate this shortage. The current shortage has made a deep impact in the field of healthcare.
You might think that training more nurses could alleviate the shortage, but there is a problem. Although, there are plenty of qualified applicants for spots in nursing schools but we don't have sufficient nursing educators to teach them.
You must understand that nursing is a scientifically rigorous discipline, which requires the hands-on technical skills as well. The education of nursing education comprises of a classroom and a clinical component. Even though, distance learning nursing programs have been made available for many years, but providing the clinical component still continues to be a problem. One of the best solutions for this problem is preparing existing nurses to be nurse educators.
A masters degree in nursing (MSN) is the minimum qualification required to become a nursing educator. To encourage nurses become educators certain incentives are offered to BSN nurse to continue their education.
However,
it is not very easy for working nurses to find time, resource and energy for studying. Besides, BSN prepared nurses receive almost the same opportunities as MSN prepared nurses, even their pay package don't differ much. Here are the two basic ways that distance education nursing program can help:
RN to MSN Programs
RN's without a BSN have limited career opportunities. MSN program offers them an incentive to continue their education and earn a degree. The program has been designed especially for working nurses.
Making the program more easy to complete and recruiting more nurses into then, can help prepare more nursing educators.
BSN to PhD Programs
Since, there are not many incentive offered to MSN prepared nurses to teach. Therefore, recruiting more nurses into doctoral programs could be a way out. Nursing educators with a PhD degree have more opportunities and make more money as compared to MSN educators. Perhaps, recruiting BSN prepared nurses into doctoral programs rather than convincing them to pursue a masters degree.
The only answer to the nursing shortage is preparing more nursing educators. Distance education nursing programs is one of the best ways to achieve that.
You might think that training more nurses could alleviate the shortage, but there is a problem. Although, there are plenty of qualified applicants for spots in nursing schools but we don't have sufficient nursing educators to teach them.
You must understand that nursing is a scientifically rigorous discipline, which requires the hands-on technical skills as well. The education of nursing education comprises of a classroom and a clinical component. Even though, distance learning nursing programs have been made available for many years, but providing the clinical component still continues to be a problem. One of the best solutions for this problem is preparing existing nurses to be nurse educators.
A masters degree in nursing (MSN) is the minimum qualification required to become a nursing educator. To encourage nurses become educators certain incentives are offered to BSN nurse to continue their education.
However,
RN to MSN Programs
RN's without a BSN have limited career opportunities. MSN program offers them an incentive to continue their education and earn a degree. The program has been designed especially for working nurses.
Making the program more easy to complete and recruiting more nurses into then, can help prepare more nursing educators.
BSN to PhD Programs
Since, there are not many incentive offered to MSN prepared nurses to teach. Therefore, recruiting more nurses into doctoral programs could be a way out. Nursing educators with a PhD degree have more opportunities and make more money as compared to MSN educators. Perhaps, recruiting BSN prepared nurses into doctoral programs rather than convincing them to pursue a masters degree.
The only answer to the nursing shortage is preparing more nursing educators. Distance education nursing programs is one of the best ways to achieve that.