Between 2011 and 2021, the number of online learners increased from 300,000 to 220 million. At the same time, healthcare has been one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. Due to ongoing shortages in the industry, online education has been useful for adults to upskill and fill positions for providers swiftly. But you might be asking yourself, how do healthcare degrees – online ones specifically – work anyway?
Healthcare itself is a diverse field encompassing many different areas, which also means there are many different types of healthcare degrees specializing in various areas. From broad generalist degrees such as those that focus on healthcare administration to highly specific ones such as MSN in nursing education, the choice is endless, and choosing one can seem daunting. The following however will provide prospective students with some guidance on how online healthcare degrees work, as it might be of use when deciding on what course you choose to pursue.
The Online Format
Overall, online learning offers far greater flexibility than on-campus programs. You can study from the convenience of your own home, and generally, through a personalized, self-paced process. This can be especially important for students who have commitments such as family, work, caretaking, etc. Online healthcare degrees, therefore, mirror traditional courses, except also maximizing the use of recent technology that has allowed online education in the first place, which accommodates the various needs or factors that are beyond a student’s control.
Depending on your course, they usually consist of a mixture of live classes, recorded lectures and different forms of assessment to be completed in your own time. However, to succeed in your online health degree, you will need to have the self-motivation to stay on top of readings, assignments, and exam preparation.
Student Interaction
Disconnection and isolation are common problems students experience with online courses. However, this can be avoided when you connect with other online students by making the most out of the features available for your program. This can be through video calls, discussion boards, break-out rooms, creating virtual study groups, and most importantly, maintaining a social life offline.
Another important way is to keep in touch with your teachers. Most institutions use learning management systems such as Canvas, which offers chatrooms for students not only to engage with one another but also to ask professors questions or message them directly. Or, one can easily choose to set up a video call with your professor through a different platform such as Zoom and communicate there.
Despite not being in-person, many online healthcare degrees, such as nursing, still generally require students to do in-person clinical placements. These are important opportunities for students to build up their practical and professional skills in a real-life clinical environment; they can take place either in an approved healthcare provider (e.g. a hospital) or through controlled simulation labs. The duration of these experiences depends on the institution of your nursing program as well as the chosen clinical experience facility.
In-person programs usually arrange clinical experiences for students, whereas students taking an online nursing course may need to plan placements on their own. Some courses offer virtual simulation labs – still, this depends on your course. In searching for your clinical placements, you should always first enquire online faculty members of your course. For example, clinical placements are compulsory for all accredited nursing programs and are an essential step for students to meet their clinical outcomes and course needs.
Class Time and Study Routine
As mentioned before, online courses have a reputation for their flexibility. Unlike traditional on-campus classes, there is no particular set class time that students need to adhere to, nor is there a specific attendance requirement for those classes if your program is solely based on video recordings. Usually, set class times only apply to live lectures. However, like traditional courses, online classes still have deadlines for assignments, quizzes, or exams that students need to complete.
While you can study at your own pace and access resources and support 24/7, having an effective schedule to balance out work and education is no less important. Forming strategies and goals for your course is far more effective than having none at all. When they are applied in an educational setting, they can provide guidance for a student’s learning journey until they finally reach the desired outcome. The main (and most pernicious) drawback of self-paced learning is the higher likelihood of slacking off, procrastination, and demotivation compared to traditional learning. Goals and study routines however can serve as internal motivators to drive you to action and avoid such situations as much as possible throughout your program.
Support
Like every other degree, many institutions provide a wide range of free support and counseling services for students which includes online learners. These range from psychological counseling and social work that cater to your personal needs, to academic skills and tutoring which can assist you with assessments. Depending on how much your institution has invested in its online education initiative, you may also have access to online-specific services and resources to for learning support.
Before enrolling in your online healthcare course, make sure to prepare for any prerequisites you may need to satisfy. Before starting your course, make sure to get a full rundown of the curriculum, note the assessments, and form a study routine that you can follow for the duration of your studies.
Also Read: 10 Best Online Degrees To Get in 2024
