The Choice Between An Online Or Traditional Nursing School

Attending practical nursing school is getting more and more popular for several reasons. Chief among them is the incredible growth in the health care field in recent years. In addition, the medical industry is projected to grow at even faster rates in the future. Couple this with one of the worst recessions in recent memory, and you have lots of young students flocking to nursing programs throughout the country.

In response to this overwhelming demand, nursing schools are popping up all over the place. In many areas, there are now a myriad of choices for those looking to get into nursing. And whether you're looking for CNA training, and LPN program, or an RN school, chances are there is a school close to you that can accommodate your needs.

In addition to the traditional 'brick and mortar' institutions, online practical nursing schools are becoming popular. Like with many other degree programs, students can now attend an online nursing program and become educated to enter the field. And while learning online has its advantages, there are some drawbacks to it as well.

The big advantage to online nursing programs is obvious; convenience. Instead of having to wake up at a certain time and travel to a physical location, all you have to do is turn on your computer and start learning. Now, there may be some scheduled times when members of the class get together and chat online, but it's still, all you have to do is turn your computer on at that particular time and you can learn with the rest of the class from your bedroom even while you're still in your pajamas.

Another big edge to learning online is saving on the cost to commute to school. Whether you're taking a bus or driving a car, transportation costs are higher today than ever before. And with fuel prices seemingly always on the rise, there doesn't look to be much relief in this area.

While online nursing schools have some advantages, there are some challenges to this type of learning as well. The main one is that the lack of practical application. Remember, if you're in an LPN program (which is the one most people choose), you are looking to become a 'practical' nurse. It stands to reason that for this type of career you would need some practical, hands on training. Unfortunately, there is really no way to get that kind of training online. So at some point, you're going to have to come to a physical location and get this training before you are totally prepared to go out and work in the field.

Another drawback to online learning is it is not conducive to those who struggle with time management. Much of your online study will be self-driven, and if you're not the type that can avoid distractions and stay focused, you could wake up one day and realize you've been trying to finish your LPN training for several years now.

Bottom line-online and offline nursing schools are both viable choices for those looking to enter the nursing field, but most students will likely do better with an offline school that has a physical location.

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