Rural areas tend to have community colleges rather than universities. With a decrease in numbers of nurses and qualified faculty nationwide, rural areas are especially hard hit. The purpose of this column today is to discuss ways in which nurses can prepare for a career in nursing education for community colleges in their own area. A number of colleges and universities have tailored their nursing programs for students at a distance. More recently I have seen total graduate nursing programs provided via the Web.
Students graduate from programs where they have never seen the campus.
These programs cover all types of courses including but not limited to midwifery, care of the older adult, and care of the child. What a wonderful way for nurses in rural settings to earn bachelors and masters degrees in nursing. I was at the Doctoral Conference sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in late January 2001. Faculties in colleges of nursing are aware that it is difficult for many nurses to be on a university campus to earn a doctoral degree. They are developing doctoral programs for these potential students.