Online Education Expands in School of Nursing
written by Ruth Eby, MSN, RN
The Institute of Medicine’s 2010 Future
of Nursing report called for nurses to
“achieve higher levels of education and
training through an improved education system that promotes seamless
academic progression” (IOM, 2010, p.4).
The report also set goals to “increase
the proportion of U.S. nurses with a
bachelor’s degree from fifty to eighty
percent and to double the number of
nurses with a doctorate by 2020” (IOM,
2010, p. 12). Even with the economic
downturn, there is continued demand
for more educated nurses to provide
care for aging baby boomers, fill retiring faculty vacancies, and bridge gaps
as health care coverage expands.
was very flexible and practical for my
working schedule,” one student explained through an anonymous survey.
To provide this flexibility, the online
programs at IWU offer courses asynchronously, meaning students can participate at their convenience instead
of being required to participate in a
designated location and at a designated
time, posting homework and joining
discussions when it fits their schedule. For nurses who work off-shifts or
rotating schedules, this is an especially
attractive benefit.
While flexibility is important, some
students are concerned by online’s
perceived drawbacks, believing, for
Indiana Wesleyan’s School of Nursing
example, that an online education may
offers a variety of fully accredited probe of lesser quality. Yet according to the
grams designed to meet this demand
American Association of Colleges of
by providing bachelor’s, master’s, and
Nursing, there is no significant differdoctoral-level programs, all in an onence in student outcomes between online format. Several new programs are
line and traditional nursing programs.
in various stages of development.
Both types of programs fulfill the call
of the Institute of
Medicine for nurses
IWU SON Online Offerings
to achieve higher
education in order to
SON Division of Post-licensure Nursing
meet the care needs
+ Bachelor of Science in Nursing
of the public, and
+ Parish Nursing Certificate
both can provide a
SON Division of Graduate Studies in Nursing
fulfilling, equipping
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
learning experience.
+ Nursing Administration
+ Nursing Education
Others worry that in
+ MSN/MBA dual degree
online classrooms
+ Primary Care (family nurse practitioner)
they will not have
+ ASN/MSN—new in 2014
the opportunity to
+ MSN post-MBA—new in 2014
get to know other
Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)—new in 2013
students. And while
online education
Unlike traditional, site-based edudoes not offer face-to-face interaction,
cation, online learning provides a
there are many other opportunities to
convenient, flexible format that allows connect with classmates and faculty.
students the opportunity to earn a
The online format provides an envidegree while balancing family, career,
ronment in which students learn with
and other obligations. “The program
and from colleagues who may be across
Overheard on Facebook
Join the conversation at facebook.com/IWUSofN.
Heidi Driver Shank Luv IWU School of Nursing! Great
group of people!
4
School of Nursing SPRING 2014
town, across the state, or across the
country. By sharing with one another,
students learn about what is happening in nursing beyond their local area.
“I felt that my cohort was a close knit
group,” a student said. “People may
think that online classes are impersonal, but I think these classes promote camaraderie.” IWU’s faith-based
programs play a role in this bond—for
example, by students sharing concerns
and needs in courses’ online prayer
forums. In addition, in some courses
students may choose to attend supplemental sessions through synchronized
web conferencing where they can see
and hear one another as well as work
together with documents online.
As accredited programs, each of IWU’s
nursing degrees requires practice experiences. These rich experiences enliven
theory and its application by allowing
students to observe and interact with
those working in their future roles. The
experiences provide the preparation
necessary not only for the completion
of program requirements but for successful transition to nursing practice.
As seasoned professionals, the faculty
and staff of the IWU School of Nursing
encourage and equip all types of nursing students. “I just want to salute my
facilitators,” a student shared. “They
have been [extraordinarily] supportive for this challenging chapter in my
life.” IWU’s professors are dedicated to
providing a Christ-centered academic environment for learning where
students can develop personally and
professionally—whether that environment is on-site or online. +
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