Online Nurses Prove Skeptics Wrong
Traditionally, online nursing degrees weren't offered frequently due to the practical nature of the occupation. After all, how can you major in such a hands-on subject at a distance? Pratt Community College (PCC) of Kansas is showing that a) it is possible, and b) one can achieve equal or greater success than someone earning a nursing degree at a brick-and-mortar school.
Because the area surrounding the college is so rural, many students aren't close enough to a campus to attend college in the traditional sense. Enter online learning...
In 2006, PCC instituted an online nursing program and, since its inception, four classes have graduated with an average first-time pass rate of 85 percent, which is above state and national averages! And the numbers have only improved since — in November 2008, 94 percent of the students enrolled in the online nursing program passed the test on the first try.
If you're wondering how a nursing program can be done solely online, it can't. Students must go to campus for labs, and they have to complete clinical hours like all prospective nurses. But studying and learning theory at a distance is a huge help to those with jobs, families, or just busy schedules.
While online nursing degrees gain in popularity, some are still wary of the concept. Jim Stratford, Vice President of Instruction at PCC, has this to say to the skeptic — "The way to counter [them] is to demonstrate a high level of student learning outcomes." With pass rates like those at PCC, I'd say they're doing exactly that.
Read the article about PCC in the Pratt Tribune online.