Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 1(3) 8 

Editorial 

Education Issues:  Education at a Distance 

Elvira Szigeti, PhD, RN, Editorial Board Member 

 

In the past I have spoken about the shortage of both nurses and faculty for schools of 

nursing.  In fact, federal officials as well as nursing leaders agree that an acute nursing shortage 

will occur in 2010 when the Baby Boomers begin to retire.  Fewer young people are taking up 

the profession and those in nursing are moving to other professions such as business and law.   

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.  For example, some upper division nursing programs for associate graduates provide 

general education as well as nursing courses online for students such that the students do the 

work at a time convenient to them—late at night, early morning, midday.  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 



Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 1(3) 9 

doctoral programs for these potential students.  Depending on the type of doctoral program (and 

finances), nurses can choose a program where they never go to the campus—all courses are via 

the internet or two way video.  Other programs are designed for nurses to go to campus for 

several weeks in the summer to learn in a group format and return home for coursework the rest 

of the year via internet.  These programs, taught at a distance, are for the part time learner and I 

view these programs as designed especially with the rural nurse in mind. 

Nurses in rural settings can continue their professional nursing education in the same 

manner as their urban counterparts.  Through the use of advanced technology, they can be in 

classes with their urban counterparts as well as colleagues from any state.  Having the 

appropriate degree for the nursing positions is paramount and distance today should not be a 

factor.  Rural nurses have always gone the extra mile to become educated; the fact that Colleges 

of Nursing have addressed the need for access should help, especially in preparing rural nurses 

for faculty positions.  

For more information: e-mail szigetie@upstate.edu.