Nursing is a noble calling that is also in high demand. In fact, nursing jobs for registered nurses are projected to increase a whopping 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's approximately 581,500 more jobs pouring into the job market over the next decade. In addition, employment opportunities for licensed practical nurses and vocational nurses are expected to rise 21 percent by 2018, the Bureau asserts, adding another 155,600 jobs to the market. That's good tidings indeed for those looking to jump into the nursing field.
The subjects you will learn in an online nursing school are exactly the same as those you would learn in a classroom-based nursing program. All nursing degree programs begin with teaching students nursing fundamentals. This includes nursing theories, many of which are based on the teachings of the famous English nurse, Florence Nightingale, according to Agnes Scott College. Student nurses also learn basic biology and anatomy so that they may carefully and accurately treat minor conditions and injuries, such as help staunch bleeding, change wound dressings, or give a patient stitches. Introductory courses to medical law and ethics are also common topics for all nursing students to take. In these classes, students will learn about patient rights, confidentiality requirements, and many other intricate laws involving the provision of health care.
Students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program or higher will continue to learn more about the field after those enrolled in an associate program have completed their educational careers. Oftentimes, these nursing programs offer students the opportunity to pick a specialization in which to focus their studies. For example, those who wish to specialize in child care may take additional courses focusing on child development, child psychology, and other relevant topics. Likewise, those who wish to specialize in ophthalmology may take additional courses focusing on eye anatomy, eye health, and vision diseases. These specialized courses generally make up the last two years of a nursing student's bachelor's degree program and makes up the majority of a master's and doctoral degree program. This prepares prospective nurses for work in the field upon graduation.
Nursing students also complete clinicals outside of course work. Clinicals are similar to professional internships in that students will work in a functioning health care facility so that they may gain hands-on experience in a professional setting. All of these skill sets work to mold nursing students into knowledgeable and skilled professionals.