Abstract
Release of the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) Report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010) has been widely referenced to guide nursing practice and nursing education curriculum to transform the quality of care provided by all nurses. The report focuses on plans and actions that must be implemented to develop a higher educated and diverse nursing workforce capable of meeting the healthcare needs of today's society. Factors such as increased technology usage, current and future shortage of nurses and high-acuity patients with multiple health issues has brought forth the complex role of today's nurses that supports the need for nurses to obtain a high level of education. Many academic institutions are now offering a variety of online programs for nurses to achieve higher education, such as RN-BSN, MSN, and doctoral level programs. With the array of online programs available today, exploring educational programs require strategic approaches and considerations from both nursing program advisors and the nurse learner. Not all online programs are created are the same; therefore, key factors that influence nurses to return to school in the online environment must be evaluated. By evaluating essential factors, the learner and advisor can uncover a program that fits the learner's goals, objectives, and preferences; thereby, promoting a one of a kind educational experiences.
Location
Rooms 113 & 115
Recommended Citation
McClenny, Tammy L.; Johnston, Roxanne; and Carter, Jaime, "Factors Influencing Nurses to Return to School in an Online Environment" (2015). SoTL Commons Conference. 107.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sotlcommons/SoTL/2015/107
Factors Influencing Nurses to Return to School in an Online Environment
Rooms 113 & 115
Release of the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) Report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010) has been widely referenced to guide nursing practice and nursing education curriculum to transform the quality of care provided by all nurses. The report focuses on plans and actions that must be implemented to develop a higher educated and diverse nursing workforce capable of meeting the healthcare needs of today's society. Factors such as increased technology usage, current and future shortage of nurses and high-acuity patients with multiple health issues has brought forth the complex role of today's nurses that supports the need for nurses to obtain a high level of education. Many academic institutions are now offering a variety of online programs for nurses to achieve higher education, such as RN-BSN, MSN, and doctoral level programs. With the array of online programs available today, exploring educational programs require strategic approaches and considerations from both nursing program advisors and the nurse learner. Not all online programs are created are the same; therefore, key factors that influence nurses to return to school in the online environment must be evaluated. By evaluating essential factors, the learner and advisor can uncover a program that fits the learner's goals, objectives, and preferences; thereby, promoting a one of a kind educational experiences.
