1. Born into a wealthy, upper class family in the early 19th century, Nightingale was never expected to pursue her own career. Her family wanted her to get married and have children, not work in a hospital. Yet she rejected marriage proposals, fearing that they would get in the way of her work, and pushed on with her career in spite of it being a great point of contention with her family.
2. She got her name "Lady with the Lamp" from the lamp she carried with her as she checked on patients in the battlefield hospital during the Crimean War. She had a habit of checking on patients in the middle of the night while carrying a simple oil lamp, a romantic image of nursing that survives to this day in her legacy.
3. She would play an instrumental role in setting up proper military hospitals in the United States during the American Civil War. Her experience in the Crimean War, along with her reputation for revolutionizing nursing care, made her an ideal choice to advise how the army should set up hospitals in the U.S. While she faced some initial opposition, her ideas were generally adapted.
4. Nightingale founded the first secular nursing school in the world at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. It is still there today, training nurses for work as RNs and midwives and happens to be the number one nursing school in London.
5. She traveled extensively, studying hospitals in places like Greece, Egypt and Germany– journeys which would be the inspiration for her career in nursing. It was during her time in Egypt that Nightingale wrote of feeling "called to God" to a career in nursing and when she returned to Europe, stopping in Germany she spent four months training at The Institution of Kaiserswerth on the Rhine. When she returned home, she was ready to begin her nursing career in earnest.
6. Nightingale's own aunt worked under her during the Crimean War. Helping her tend to the wounded, along with 37 other women, her Aunt Mai Smith was by her side to work in the Ottoman Empire in the fall of 1854.
7. At the beginning of the war, Nightingale believed high death rates in military hospitals were due to poor nutrition, lack of supplies and overworking of the soldiers. It was not until after she returned to Britain and was reviewing her work that she came to believe that most of the soldiers at the hospital were killed by poor living conditions. This understanding would change not only how she operated, but how nursing as a profession would be carried out.
8. Nightingale was a proponent of medical tourism. Today, many individuals travel to foreign lands to get medical treatment that doesn't cost the astronomical sums that it does in America. It was no different in Nightingale's time and she was known to advise patients on smaller incomes to travel to places like Turkey, where they could have access to spas, medical treatment and good nutrition at a much lower cost.
9. During her time in the war, she contracted Crimean Fever. She nearly died herself while trying to nurse the wounded men back to health, contracting a form of typhus, a disease from which many of her coworkers and patients would die. While she recovered from her illness, it would cause medical issues that would confine her to bed rest for much of her later life.
10. Florence had a great love of mathematics and devoted much time in her later life to using statistics to better understand health care. She is credited with starting a health revolution in India, collecting data from military outposts through the mail and creating a detailed report based on the stats she was able to compile. Her findings helped push forth changes that would reduce the high death rates of soldiers and would improve health care and sanitation for everyday people as well.
11. In 1883, Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale with the Royal Red Cross and in 1907 she became the first woman to be awarded the Order of Merit. She is still a highly honored figure in England and around the world, with numerous awards and colleges named after her.
12. Nightingale's book Notes on Nursing is still a classic read for nursing students today. It may not be up-to-date, but the fundamentals it lays out for patient care, cleanliness and treatment can be applied to modern health care settings as well.
13. In the 1870s, Nightingale mentored Linda Richards, "America's first trained nurse." When she returned to the US with her newly acquired training, Richards was able to establish high-quality nursing schools, spreading information, training and expertise throughout the US and Japan.
14. Nightingale was offered a place of burial in Westminster Abbey. This honor isn't handed out lightly and is usually reserved for royals, cultural elites and religious figures. Yet Nightingale's family chose a more humble burial for her, one that she would surely have appreciated, in the graveyard at St. Margaret Church in East Wellow, Hampshire.
15. Her early writings are considered major texts in English Feminism. While not published until after her death, essays like Nightingale's "Cassandra" showcase her feelings about a woman's role in the world quite clearly. Nightingale believed that women were often unnecessarily deemed as helpless when they were quite capable and chided women like her sister and mother who chose a life of leisure despite being highly educated.

1. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. This prize-winning novel was made into a prize-winning movie, but that doesn't mean the literary version still isn't worth checking out. In it, readers will find a story about four entangled lives during the last weeks of WWII. At the center of the drama is the mysterious English patient being cared for by nurse Hana, a man whose memories slowly reveal a tale of love, betrayal and redemption.
2. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. If you've never read this literary classic, it's never too late to start. Set in WWII, the story follows a young soldier named Henry, based loosely on Hemingway's own wartime experiences. When he becomes injured he finds himself falling for the elusive nurse Catherine, a complicated and tragic figure. If you're looking for happy endings, this might not be a good choice, but if you want a moving portrayal of men and women coming to terms with life, both the good and the bad, then pick up this read.
3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. This book is an incredibly popular read among nurses. Why? The main character, Claire Randall, is a nurse herself serving in the British Army during WWI. But this is no traditional novel, as it blends elements of fantasy, romance, historical fiction and legend to tell Claire's tale. In it, the happily married Claire finds herself suddenly transported back in time where she meets and falls in love with another man. Torn between her two loves and two centuries, Claire's story is one of passion, pain and intrigue that's sure to keep you reading page after page.
4. The Thin White Line by Craig DiLouie. While the panic associated with avian and swine flu turned out to be overblown, the reality is that a pandemic illness could hit and wipe out entire communities at any time. This novel takes a look at what could and quite possibly would happen if such an epidemic were to hit Canada. It is a fascinating takes on both the personal and political ramifications of such a disaster and is a great read for any nurse with an interest in infectious disease.
5. The Healer's War by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. Drawing on her own experiences, Scarborough creates the fictional Kathleen McCulley in this novel, a nurse on a tour of duty at China Beach in Vietnam. Dealing with not only healing the battle wounds of soldiers but her own ambivalence towards the enemy, the racism of her charges and her own personal battles. While the novel is set on the field of battle, nurses in any profession will recognize the courage it takes to keep it together in such a stressful situation.
6. The Glory Cloak: A Novel of Louisa May Alcott and Clara Barton by Patricia O'Brien. If you were inspired to become a nurse by historical greats like Clara Barton, you'll love this fictional take on her life and work that unites her with the author of the classic novel Little Women. The story follows Alcott and her fictional cousin Susan as they help join the war effort by becoming nurses, encountering the battlefield legend Barton in the process. Blending love, history, friendship and betrayal, the novel is at once engrossing and enlightening about life and work during the turn of the century.
7. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. Think you've got a real piece of work for a coworker? He or she is likely nothing compared to the tyrannical Nurse Ratched in this classic novel. Kesey's portrayal of a fictional insane asylum garnered him international acclaim and numerous awards, and the book is still worth a read today. The story centers on Patrick McMurphy, a mental patient who antagonizes his nurse and upsets the daily routine of the other patients, but not without just cause. It is a frank look at the state of institutional care and a must-read for anyone working in psychiatric nursing.
8. My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira. Set in the Civil War, a young midwife leaves home in this novel to seek out the medical experience she wants in order to help her become a doctor. Readers will find that she gets what she wished for, with vivid descriptions of medical treatments common at the time that would seem like torture or mutilation today, showing just how far we've come with medical advancements.
9. Cherry Ames Nursing by Helen Wells. This collection of novels was geared towards young girls when it came out in the 40's through the 60's and meant to inspire them to a career in nursing. The young girl the stories center on is at first a student nurse but later becomes a full-fledged professional, all while she solves mysteries, stands up for herself and is a fully independent woman. The novels are surprisingly feminist for their early publication date, and while they contain some nursing stereotypes are still fun, inspiring and entertaining reads for anyone working in the field.
10. No Other Medicine by Gail Ghingna Hallas, RN PhD. Titled after the quote, "the miserable have no other medicine but hope," this book takes a harsh look at the corruption, ineptitude and downright cruelty that can take place in the medical profession. The author is a nurse herself, which helped her create a nice variety of fictional characters that are richly developed and true to life. While the story was written in the early 70's, many nurses will sadly recognize that many of the issues she addresses are still prevalent in hospitals across the nation. A riveting, compelling (though depressing) novel, it's a great read for anyone with a passion for health care and patient rights.

The very first thing you will endure is orientation. This can last up to just a few weeks or even months depending on the facility's procedures regarding new hires. During orientation, you will mostly likely feel as though you are still a nursing student—this is a "learning" segment and you will be doing more observing than actual direct-patient treatment. You will shadow other nurses and learn who your preceptor is. At this time ask tons of questions so that you can familiarize yourself with specific health care protocols and procedures. Once you're on your own, the environment will be very fast-paced (especially in understaffed facilities) and you don't want to risk making mistakes because you're overwhelmed. So pay very close attention to what your superiors/trainers say and take notes if need be. It's also important that you continue to ask questions throughout the entire first year—remember you're still theoretically in training since you will basically learn something new every day.

After a few weeks you will be released on your own. During this time you will be assigned an array of different duties, including distributing medication and treatment, recording medical histories and consulting with other physicians and health care professionals. While you may be accustomed to doing only a set of duties it's important that you prepare yourself for the unexpected. Meaning, you might have to put in more hours on some days because of additional paperwork that needs to be filled out or a patient who is under your care codes literally 5 minutes before your shift is over.

During your first year you will also learn that many of the other nurses are a lot older and can sometimes be "set in their ways," making it difficult for some of the younger RN's to get close to them. So just be prepared for age gaps and personality conflicts.

Lastly, be prepared for good days and bad. You may feel like a hero one day, and then like a failure the next. It's highly important that no matter what you try to stay positive and don't doubt your nursing skills. And always try to find time to unwind and de-stress, even if it's something as simple as taking time to enjoy your whole lunch break.

Fist let it be said that you will mostly likely have to treat patients with illnesses and perform procedures that you have never heard of before. And that's ok. During your first year you will be in-training and it's vital that you take this time to learn new protocols. It's just important that you always speak up and ask questions if you need help or are unsure of what to do. But be aware that even if you approach more experiences healthcare professionals with your questions, sometimes they won't have the answers.

Another thing that nursing school doesn't teach you is that despite your efforts to do everything just right, one day you will make a mistake. It's inevitable. But just remember that nurses are human and as long as your patient is safe, and you document and learn from this error so it never occurs again, you should be in ok shape. While on a similar topic, nursing school doesn't really prepare you for the emotional repercussions you may experience when you lose your first patient. Again, losing a patient is inevitable as well. It's just important that you are not too hard on yourself, but don't be ashamed to be upset either.

Nursing school also doesn't teach you that if you work in a hospital contractually you will be obligated to work a set number of holidays. Some hospitals let you choose which holidays you want to work, others determine that for you.

Lastly, nursing school doesn't tell you that it's ok to take a break from using medical terminology every now and then. You want your patients to truly understand what's going on so break it down for them in layman's terms. Even with fellow nurses, if they seem confused explain to them what you're saying without medical terms, and the reinforce it with the scientific names so they understand and learn something new.

When a school nurse is referred to their state's board of nursing to be investigated because of possible failure to meet state practice standards, this is called Administrative liability. If the school nurse is found at fault, he or she can be penalized in several different ways, including the temporary or permanent suspension of their nursing license.

On the other hand, school nurses are subject to civil liability when the question of negligence is brought to court. This particular type of liability is not resolved if there is proof of intent to harm. Instead, one is disciplined if there is proof that the school nurse failed to handle the situation like another "reasonable" nurse facing the same situation would. Generally, the causes of liability include but are not limited to the following: failure to make a good assessment; failure to adequately respond to emergency situations—especially with children who suffer from asthma and anaphylaxis; insufficient documentation of appropriate nursing care. Other cause include a failure to keep up to-date records; not abiding by district policy; failure to work and perform safely; and not effectively (or avoiding entirely) informing parents about their child's condition.

Lastly, a school nurse is subject to criminal liability if he or she participates in illegal activities, such as stealing controlled drugs from the school, having inappropriate contact with a child, or practicing medicine without a license. If a school nurse is found guilty of any of these accusations, typically he or she is required to pay a fine, serve a jail sentence (depending on the severity of the crime) and their nursing license may be revoked as well.

Aside from the obvious interviewing tips such as arriving to your appointment on time and dressing appropriately and professionally, it's important that you are well-prepared in all other aspects as well. One of the easiest ways to do this is to do some preliminary research of the school and district before your interview. This way, if the opportunity arises you can prove to your potential future employer that you are well-informed about the dynamics of the kids, including the economic, social and racial background, and you are the perfect person to fulfill the job. Researching the district's history and policies may also be highly beneficial.

While you may be highly qualified to fulfill the position, sometimes first-time interview jitters can get the best of you. A good way to prevent this from happening is to simply formulate a couple of answers to critical questions before the interview takes place. While it's uncertain what exact questions will be asked, you can be assured that the interviewer is going to ask questions regarding your background such as "what made you originally pursue nursing?" "Why did you decide on school nursing" and "tell us about a conflict in your past and describe how you resolved it." Be honest with your answers, but do your best to answer them is a positive fashion.

On a similar note, your interviewer will ask you a series of "what if" scenario questions where you will be required to describe how you would respond to hypothetical emergency and common situations. For example, you may be asked how you would respond if a parent strongly disagreed/disapproved with the treatment of their child or you may be asked how you would handle treating two children who were suffering from severe healthcare problems simultaneously. These questions are highly imperative so it's important that you assess the hypothetical scenario carefully and put a lot of thought into your answers.

It may also be beneficial to prepare some questions of your own. Asking about the job during your interview will show that you are serious and have a strong interest in the position. But try to avoid questions about salary.

One of the easiest ways to avoid/reduce conflict with parents is to attempt to develop a good relationship with the parents from the very beginning. This starts with discovering the student's needs and his or her family's proprieties and preferences. Recognize the family's individuality and understand that people cope in different ways to certain situations. Also, prepare yourself to implement policies that are tailored to meet the needs of these individual families.

Another way to prevent conflict is to attempt to build trust with the student's family. Trust is built when you actively try to include the parent. This might mean some joint-planning and problem solving, or simply being open to recommendations and adequately addressing concerns. But whatever you do, it's critical that if you do not agree with the parent's position, you don't convey an extremely disapproving look or tone. Explain to the parent why their recommendations may or may not be a wise choice (including how it may affect the student's learning for example) and explain in layman's terms the reasoning behind your conclusion. Addressing issues this way encourages a harmonious environment.

Lastly, it's important that you always give parent's the complete (and unbiased) information regarding their child's care and condition—this includes notifying parents when a student's health status changes or alerting the parent if his or her child must undergo certain procedures.

Patient Care

Keep your sense of humor when it comes to difficult patients or patients you wish you had more time to care for.

1. A little pinch: This cartoon pokes fun at the oft-used nurse's phrase.
2. I would have been here sooner: A patient who's passed on apologizes for not making it to heave on time.
3. Nurse Training: Get a chuckle out of this illustration of nurses training.
4. Nurse Cartoon 3: Laugh at past experiences with demanding patients when you read this cartoon.
5. Vitamin D: You'd sign up for this treatment, too.
6. Will Look Up Famous People: If you've ever felt that patients expect too much coddling — or for you to be their personal Google — print this out.
7. Scale: Maybe this will help you deal with patient vanity.
8. Rate Your Pain: Sometimes, it's just easier this way.
9. Blood Pressure: Medicine isn't the cure for everything, we're sure you know.
10. Emergency Lollipop: Here's a cute cartoon to hang up, especially if you treat kids.
11. Try to get some rest: You may find certain parts of your job a little ironic.
12. Burger Mold: If you feel guilty when you serve your patients hospital food, read this cartoon.
13. John Tesh: Oh, the things you wish you could do to kill the time.

Doctors

Sometimes, you have great doctors. Other times, your supervisor is a bit of a jerk. Here are cartoons to keep it all in perspective.

14. Um, excuse me doctor: If you've ever had to school a doctor in medical instruments, you'll laugh at this toon.
15. Cranky doctor: If you're suspicious of your doctor's motives, try out this test.
16. Oops!: This cartoon pokes fun at doctors and cartoonists.
17. Never talk down to patients: The same rule applies to nurses.
18. Donuts: This cartoon is for all the nurses who feel unappreciated at work.
19. The doctor will be a little late: Here's a smart-alecky solution for late doctors.

Nursing Profession

These cartoons will help you laugh at everything from paper work to school nursing to nursing education and training.

20. Hospital Food: This cartoon points out just how bad the hospital food is.
21. Super heroes: This cartoon gives medical workers the honor they deserve.
22. Nurses cartoon 6: You know what it's like to try to teach kids about nutrition, don't you?
23. Innies, Outies: Nurses in charge of newborns will love this cartoon.
24. Genius: You've got to train the new ones right.
25. Hospital Time: Everyone knows "hospital time" is a little more flexible than real time.
26. Catch of the Day: Will you get the flu, strep throat or another "catch?"
27. Why am I a nurse?: This cartoon says a lot about what nurses have to do each day.
28. Wounded Soldiers and Nightingales: Here's a vintage tribute to Florence Nightingale.
29. That Special Place: If you hate insurance companies, you'll want to hang up this cartoon.
30. FDA Approval: This cartoon takes a jab at the bureaucratic process.
31. Mongo: Here's a hilarious spin on the bizarre world of medicine and transplants.
32. Budget cuts: Try to laugh at something so depressing when you look at this cartoon.
33. Continuing education credit: …If only.
34. Bad Mood: Perk up a bit when you're in a bad mood, and realize what that means you can get away with.
35. Mental health day: Sometimes even nurses are at a loss for a valid sounding medical excuse.
36. Career Day: Even if you love your job, you probably have moments like this.
37. My job is mostly seasonal: If you divide your work cycle into seasons like this school nurse, you'll laugh.
38. 25 cents: Have another laugh at the expense of budget cuts.
39. Fruit Basket: If only you had your own office!
40. Why Nursing: The reason you became a nurse may be hard to remember sometimes.

School Nurses

Take a look at these blogs for help, advice and news from other school nurses.

1. The School Nurse Speaks: Hear from school nurse Nancy about her work and life in this blog.
2. Scrubs Magazine: No matter what kind of nursing you practice, this online blogazine has something to offer.
3. Kiddizzy: Get funny and interesting stories from this school nurse as well as advice on dealing with cold and flu season.
4. Provo School Nurses: These school nurses share their expertise and updates about community healthcare on this blog.
5. Central Community Elementary School Health Blog: Parents, nurses and community members will find everything they need on this blog to help kids grow up happy and healthy.

Safety and Prevention

These blogs are full of great ideas to keep your students safe and illness-free.

6. EDC Blog: Visit this blog to learn more about improving health and education at home and around the world.
7. The Sara Bellum Blog: School nurses can visit this blog for ideas about how to teach teens about the dangers of drug use.
8. BUG Blog: Got a lice problem at your school? Follow along with this humorous and helpful blog to learn all about pest control.
9. Scarleteen: Help teens avoid STDs and pregnancy by educating them about sex, with the help of sites like this one, helping give teens, parents and medical professionals insights into sex ed.

Children's Health

Read through the information featured in these blogs to keep up with children's health issues.

10. Science Daily Children's Health News: You'll be able to stay in-the-loop about all news related to children's health when you follow this blog.
11. School Health Alert Blog: From legal issues in school healthcare to funny stories from school nurses, this blog is a great place to find great info and a few laughs.
12. School Kids Healthcare Blog: This healthcare blog features all kinds of healthcare-related stories that can help you in your work.
13. Thrive: Created by Children's Hospital of Boston, this blog offers up tips, tools and news to help keep kids healthy.
14. Healthy Child Healthy World: Learn ways to help educate students and parents on the health-related reasons they should go green on this blog.
15. Kid's Health Blog: Hear from Children's Hospital of Minnesota on a wide range of health care issues on this site.
16. Teen Health Clinic Blog: Teens and medical professionals alike can learn from this blog from the Baylor Teen Health Clinic.

Mental Health and Development

School nurses are in a unique position to watch out for signs of abuse and depression and to monitor the development of students at all ages. Use these blogs to learn more.

17. The New Teen Age: Learn how teens think and how to better deal with the issues they may be bringing you as a school nurse with the help of this blog.
18. A Psychological Solution to Bullying: Bullying is a big problem in schools today, so learn to recognize the signs and get students the help they need with advice and interesting articles found on this site.
19. The Teenage Mind: A lot of changes happen as students go through puberty, many of which authority figures may find hard to understand or deal with. Help explain the science behind these changes with the aid of this blog.
20. Overcoming Child Abuse: If you see bruises or scratches on your patients, you may suspect abuse. Learn how to help these students get the help they need and understand the effects of abuse with guidance from therapist Catherine McCall.
21. The Child in Time: This blog is an excellent place to learn more about child development.
22. Teen Mental Health: Blogger Laura Birk shares insights into teenage mental health on this blog.

Policy

Check out these sites to see what's going on in the field of health care policy, with a special focus on how it impacts children.

23. Say Ahhh!: This children's health policy blog is the perfect place to keep up with the politics that affect your job.
24. Wisconsin Council on Children and Families: Even if you don't live or work in Wisconsin, you can still appreciate the policy information you'll find on this site.
25. MomsRising Blog: Hear from parents, professionals and more on this blog, all fighting for better healthcare for kids.
26. Health Policy Hub: This general health policy blog offers up news on healthcare as a whole as well as articles more specifically geared towards care for kids.

Conditions

These blogs offer you the chance to learn more about some of the conditions your patients may be living with as well as infectious diseases and other illnesses you'll see as a school nurse.

27. Asthma Blog: This About.com blog can be a helpful resource when treating students suffering from asthma– a common childhood ailment.
28. CHADD Blogs: You'll find a number of excellent sites through the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder site.
29. Getting Rid of the ED: Eating disorders aren't just something that show up in TV dramas– thousands of young men and women struggle with them. Learn the signs and how to help young people seek treatment from this blog of a mom helping her daughter through anorexia.
30. JDRF News Blog: Find out more about juvenile diabetes on this excellent site.
31. Rare Disease Blogs: Have a student with a rare condition? Research it through this blog.
32. The Autism Advocate: Through this blog you can learn more about how to treat and care for students who may be suffering from mild to severe autism.
33. Pills Don't Teach Skills: Learn why medications like Ritalin may not always be the solution for kids with ADD on this blog.
34. Cystic Fibrosis Blogs: Search through a number of great blogs about cystic fibrosis on this site.
35. Flu News Blog: Stay abreast of the latest outbreaks of flu and related news so you'll be ready and able to care for patients when it comes your way.
36. Infectious Diseases Blog: This blog is an excellent place to learn more about many of infectious diseases that are spread around your school.
37. E is for Epilepsy: Learn firsthand what it's like to live with epilepsy from this blog.

Nutrition and Food

Childhood obesity is a national crisis. Help educate your students with help from these blogs.

38. Childhood Obesity News: Professionals, parents, teachers and more can learn about ways to fight childhood obesity on this blog.
39. School Nutrition Association: Through this blog, you can learn more about how to get your school to serve healthier lunches.
40. The Lunch Tray: This blog is full of news on healthy eating for school kids.
41. Dr. Susan's Better School Food Blog: Dr. Susan Rubin shares her expertise on nutrition through this blog.
42. The Lunch Box Blog: Need some assistance in getting your school motivated to provide students with healthier foods? This blog is the place to do it.
43. Kids Food Allergies: Food allergies are increasingly common in children, so make sure you know what's what when it comes to treating kids with the help of a blog like this one.
44. Fooducate: Learn more about the foods being served at your school and to your students from this blog.

Pediatrics

These blogs offer a chance to learn more about pediatrics from experts in the field.

45. Pediatrics Blog: This general site is a good place to start learning about issues that will affect the majority of the students under your care, both at school and at home.
46. Pediatric SuperSite: Here you'll find a blog that features some of the latest advancements and research in the field of pediatrics.
47. Dr. Gwenn Is In: This pediatrician and mom shares her thoughts on work, life and everything in between on this blog.
48. PediaCast: Follow along with this podcast through this site and you'll be able to learn about topics like bullying, constipation, flu vaccination, food allergies and much more.
49. Dr. David's Blog: Pediatric oncologist David Loeb shares stories of his work with young patients on this blog.
50. Pediatric Education: This site is an excellent resource for school nurses who want to learn more about new research in pediatrics, medical care issues and policy problems.

Students that have looked into online nursing schools know that there are plenty of schools to choose from. Because getting into and receiving a degree from a top nursing school is ideal, many students search for such schools. According to the Distance Learning College Guide Online, some of the top online nursing schools in the U.S. include the University of Phoenix, Chamberlain College of Nursing, and South University, which all have nursing programs within their schools.

The University of Phoenix is the largest private university that is accredited, and is well known for their academics on the online community. The nursing program at the University of Phoenix offers students a number of degree programs in nursing. They offer transition programs such as RN to BSN, which allows registered nurses to pursue a bachelor degree in nursing, and also offer bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees in nursing. Their degree programs also have different concentrations such as Health Care Education, Integrative Health Care, and Health Administration.

Chamberlain College of Nursing is also a top online nursing school with many programs to offer students interested in nursing. The school is a member of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The school offers a degree program for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

South University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges, the Southern Associations of College and Schools. This school offers nursing programs with bachelor and master degrees in nursing. Additionally, the bachelor degree program at South University, which also includes transition programs for RNs who wish to receive a bachelor degree while working, is nationally accredited by the Collegiate Nursing Education Program.