[Michlete]

I am just considering entering into the nursing field and with two small children I need to get my degree onlin. Does anyone know of an online RN degree program? Also, I see all of the classifieds for RN's that graduated from an "accredited" nursing program, how do I know if the online program is from an accredited school?

[Tweety]

If you are not at least an LPN, you are going to have to attend a program away from the home, at least for the clinical portion of it.

There is however plenty of pre-req and co-req classes like Anatomy, etc. that you can take online. Contact your local nursing school and see if they have an online component.

Schools should free publish their accreditation.

[Michlete]

Thanks for that info Tweety. I have seen many people stating that they are earning their BSN online and that they do go to a lab and complete the clinical side (which I'm sure I could arrange) but there is not much info about getting your RN online. Does anyone else know of an online school where you can do that?

[Tweety]

Most of us who got our BSN online were already RNs with Associate Degrees. There's many programs out there for online "RN to BSN " as we call them. Also there are a few online/distance learning LPN to RN programs, but even those aren't accepted everywhere.

Perhaps someone can lead you to an online degree, but investigate carefully the accrediations and whether or not your state accepts the degree for licensure.

Good luck!

[Chaoticdreams33]

I am just starting my online RN to BSN program, and I still have clinicals I have to do and arrange on my own. I took many of my liberal arts co-requsites for my ASN online, like Human Development, Cultural Anthropology, Western Civ.

If what you're looking for is a totally online RN program with no nursing license yet , I highly doubt there is such a thing, and if there is I would be very careful with it. Nursing school has a lot of clinical and lab time and you would need to have a clinical instructor with you at any time in clinical. But many schools offer or are starting to offer more online courses and "hybrid" courses with less on campus time and an online component.

As for accreditation, there is regional accreditation and many other types. See: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp
And check out allnursingschools.com too.

[Michlete]

Thanks chaoticdreams33. I have searched almost every nursing school site out there and there is just not an online RN program. I do realize there's a lot of lab and clinical work but the lecture portion is not even offered online. Unfortunately where I live there is an extremely high demand for nurses and a very limited amount of resourses as far as schools are concerned (thus part of the reason for the high demand I guess). I have been looking into the program at the local community college but it is a very difficult program to get into so I'll be praying that I can get in. It's just frustrating that when you decide to make a career move it has to be so difficult to even begin your learning process for that move.

[txspadequeen921]

There is one in Texas but you have to live in Texas and do clinicals here.

[Chaoticdreams33]

Yes it is frustrating, but you will find somthing that will work for you. A lot of people have big choices to make when they decide to become nurses because sometimes it means a large sacrifice in other areas of your life. Good luck, and don't give up.

[Michlete]

Thanks for the encouragement chaoticdreams33! I'm afraid it will take some sacrafice in some other areas. I will probably have to be working full time with two kids (and a husband) so that's the reason for wanting the online thing so much. I wish I had made the decision to go down this path earlier but live and learn I guess.

Oh and we almost did move to Texas a year or two ago... oh well.

[Aprilhere]

Michlete....what state do you live in? I'm in MN. I did an online RN program. It was actually the FIRST completely online RN program... through University of South Dakota. You have to be an employee of the Good Samaritan Society (long term care) to participate. GSS and USD got together to find a way to get moms who work through school. Through the program some generals are through a satellite program and the rest are online. They do their best to arrange clinicals within 60 miles of everyone. I had a great experience..and a great education. USD is a gold standard NLN accredited school.