HALAMAN SELANJUTNYA:
25 FASTEST ONLINE MEDICAL DEGREES
Healthcare is a rapidly growing profession on almost every level. An increasingly aging population needing care, staggering retirement rates in clinical health professionals and the ever expanding technologies and treatment modalities, all join to create a near perfect storm of employment opportunities in the healthcare field.
While careers in healthcare (with to technology, regulations and requirements for quality patient care) demand formal education and training but not all positions require four-year diplomas. There are a significant number of healthcare professions that may be completed in 1-2 years and still offer good salaries and opportunities. These are considered fast-track careers which will help meet the critical needs experienced by hospitals, health systems, out patient clinics, community health agencies, long term care facilities, etc.
Best Medical Degrees has updated the 30 Best Healthcare Careers With An Associates Degree ranking, which suggests ways you can enter the healthcare field without attending a four-year college or university. All careers in this ranking have been noted, by U.S. News and World Report, to be among their 25 Amazing Health Care Support Jobs in 2017.
In an effort to meet the increasing demand for qualified healthcare professionals, many community colleges, vocational and technical schools are offering online Associate Degree programs or training in a wide range of healthcare professions. Prompted by the nursing shortage and a need for allied and support health professionals colleges and universities have created more online healthcare specialty programs.
RANKING METHODOLOGY
This list is drawn from credible sources such as the 1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. News and World Report and professional organizations (such as National Council of State Boards of Nursing, American Occupational Therapy Association, National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, etc.) (30%), 2. Department of Education approved accrediting agencies where appropriate (such as Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), etc. (40%), 3. educational and salary ranking services such as U.S. News and World Report, Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale (a national online salary survey company)(15%) and 4. educational programs offered of no more than 2 years (15%).
NURSING
Registered Nurses
The nursing shortage and need qualified nurses has prompted colleges and universities to provide degrees which can rapidly graduate qualified nurses.
U. S. News and World Report ranked the nursing profession at #17 in Best Healthcare Jobs in 2017 and for 15 years in a row, nursing has been rated as the #1 most trusted profession in America.
An online Associate Nursing Degree (ADN) may be achieved in as few as two years as opposed to the four year curriculum required of the Bachelor of Nursing (BSN). Students applying to an ADN online program will be required to have a high school diploma or GED and provide transcripts including the students GPA. Online programs may also require students to complete an entry exam for admission.
ADN prepared nurses perform the same function as a BSN, in that they take patient histories, record vital signs, administer medications; and, are responsible for providing direct patient care. Students will typically complete online study anatomy and physiology, psychology, principles in nursing, pharmacology and microbiology. There are clinical experiences which will need to be completed under the guidance of a qualified preceptor; and, community colleges offering online ADN degrees, will place students in healthcare facilities in their home communities to complete this portion of the student’s studies.
Be certain the online program you choose is accredited by a Department of Education approved organization such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). This accreditation assures you that the program you select meets, or exceeds, the minimum educational requirements for nursing and will prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) and be licensed by the nursing board of your state. Attending an appropriately accredited RN program will provide you the background necessary, should you decide to further your education.
Program Length: 2 years
Typical Salary Expectations: $57,844-$67,436
Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) perform many of the same functions as a Registered Nurse. LPNs, sometimes referred to as Licensed Practical Vocational Nurses (LPVN), work in hospitals, home care agencies, long term care facilities or private clinics. Licensed LPNs work under the direction of Registered Nurses to provide direct patient care such as administering medications, taking patient histories, bathing and feeding, wound care, etc. A high school diploma or a GED will be required for admission to online LPN programs. LPN courses will include classes in biology, nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, healthcare assessment, psychology and also require onsite clinical experiences.