Advantages of an Online Education
The Internet has made online education feasible for those involved in a variety of professions. In nursing, refresher courses have been designed via the Internet to address the nursing shortage and get nurses to return to the workforce. Collaborative distance education using an online instructional design answers some of the problems of cost, effectiveness, and access for nursing refresher courses. Career mobility is another educational issue that is sparking interest in online education. RN to BSN programs have begun migrating to the Web, offering the advantages of interactive opportunities, resources on the Internet, and flexible, cost-effective, and easily accessible alternatives to traditional education. For nurses juggling work, family responsibilities, care of aging parents, and other life stressors, this is a feasible option for professional development. Another use of Web-based education is for professional development toward an advanced degree, such as a nurse practitioner degree. Graduate classes are offered online and include core courses, many resembling realistic clinical practice.
Advantages of Online Education
For RNs, shift work, high patient acuity, and unpredictable patient flow all create barriers to attending continuing education programs. Benefits of online education include its accessibility and flexibility. The opportunities for professional development include career advancement such as course work toward certification or to prepare for certification exams; contact hours for participation; or as a means for career advancement (RN to BSN– clinical ladders). Web-based education can help RNs maintain evidence-based practice knowledge and skills. In addition, overburdened practitioners can more realistically spare time for a 30-minute online course versus a full day or weekend conference. Another barrier of traditional continuing education involves the cost that can include travel, lodging, food, and registration. Costs should be lower for a Online programs, depending on who is offering the program. Online instruction developed by pharmaceutical companies or as the result of a federal or private grant may be free to participants. Nursing managers also have difficulty accessing continuing education. The development of educational resources and support for leadership and management is viable via online methods. Providing interactive workshops presenting information focused on enhancing knowledge and skills is feasible. Finally, creating an arena for discussion and support for practitioners via Web-based education can lead to interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge development. Finally, for some areas, continuing education is geographically inaccessible. Online education can reach rural areas that may lack resources and access to current continuing education. Clinics caring for underserved populations may be more easily reached via the Internet, as long as they have Internet and computer resources.
