For most nursing students, one of the biggest challenges of going to nursing school is finding a way to survive without a paycheck for several years.

It’s a little easier for students who have just graduated from high school and still have financial support from their parents, but for older nursing students who may have a family, a mortgage or rent, car payments, and grocery bills…surviving for three or four years without a paycheck is a huge financial burden.

Traditional nursing schools require massive amounts of memorization of complex topics involving science and mathematics. They are so intense that it is nearly impossible for students to succeed in their classes and also work full-time. Students who try to do this usually flunk out. Even working part-time while attending a traditional nursing school is a quite a burden.

This is where online nursing schools offer such a huge advantage. They allow students to progress at their own pace, and students can stretch out the length of the program and simply take less classes each semester, so that they can work part or full-time and still have enough time to take their nursing classes online, study, and take tests.

Generally speaking, for each year that the student is attending the program, there is an additional fee that must be paid to stay in the program (along with the course fees). It’s not very big, and it’s a small price to pay for being able to spend enough time on each course so you can have time to study, and pass the class, rather than rushing through and risking failure.

Also online nursing students can take classes at a time that fits in their schedule; they can generally check in on their classroom modules at whatever time is convenient for them. As long as they complete their coursework and take their tests and quizzes within the time frame required by the instructor, they can do this at whatever time of day or night works for them, including weekends.

And another benefit – if the online nursing school student flunks a class, they can retake it. And, while failing a class is unpleasant and expensive, because the student will have to pay to retake the class, at least they will know where their strengths and weakness are in that class, and they can seek tutoring or help from an online study group. In traditional nursing schools, generally, if a student fails a class, they are kicked out of the program!

One important note: to get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, you will have to already be a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Paramedic, or, in some states, respiratory therapists are permitted to participate in these programs. However, to become licensed as an LPN, paramedic, or respiratory therapist generally only takes about a year. Then you can take an LPN to RN online course, paramedic to RN online course, etc., as long as your state board of nursing permits it.

And – added bonus – there is a very good chance that your employer will pay for some or all of your online schooling! Make sure you check with your employer to see if that is an option.