Regardless of one’s profession, the benefits of lifelong education and development cannot be denied. In a constantly changing workplace environment like that in which nursing is based, new skills will always be needed by the workforce, and advanced skills and knowledge would certainly give you a competitive edge over others. The internet has opened up many opportunities for people from all backgrounds to gain virtual access to high-quality education anytime and anywhere. These virtual and interactive courses make learning a fun and exciting process for everyone. For nurses, online courses in nursing offer the possibility of enhancing skills and knowledge, as well as helping in career advancement. Here are three great online learning resources that all nurses should know about: 1. Coursera Coursera has become one of the most renowned and reputable platforms for virtual learning. Partnering with top universities and organisations around the world, the website currently offers thousands of courses in nearly all subjects and specializations. Many of their interactive courses feature quizzes, projects and peer assessments to evaluate learners’ progress in a certain subject. The majority of their courses are offered in English, but subtitles in other languages are also available for certain courses. Nurses can find related courses such as healthcare quality and safety, medical technology, personalized medicine and many more. Upon successful completion, learners also earn an official recognition in the form of certificates.[1] 2. EdX EdX is an online education platform founded in 2012 by Harvard University and MIT, offering top quality courses from many universities and institutions worldwide with no applications necessary. They currently offer three different programs: MicroMasters, Professional Certificate and Xseries. EdX also offers course credits that you can use for university applications or professional development in the future. Some courses are offered on specific dates, but many courses do not have prerequisites and are self-paced. Some of the topics offered in healthcare include ethics in healthcare, improving global health, and more. EdX also lets learners connect with each other through their user-friendly discussion forums.[2] 3. Alison Compared to Coursera and EdX, Alison probably has received much less attention, but this website is nevertheless an amazing resource for virtual learning. Founded in 2007, the website currently has over 8 million learners from more than 250 countries. Some of their Diploma-level courses in nursing have over 60,000 enrolled participants. Their course materials are obtained from subject matter experts, including the World Health Organization. They also offer certification and course participants can generate a complete resume. Their unique education model has earned them various awards and recognition, such as the UNESCO Award for Innovation in ICT for Education, among others. [3] Nurses should take advantage of the vast learning opportunities that the Internet has to offer. Open source learning has made it very convenient to gain access to high quality education at no charge. Many people have chosen online learning as an alternative to pursuing further education. With so many subjects being offered, nurses not only have access to courses related to medicine and healthcare, but also can look into other fields to broaden their horizon such as in personal development, management, social sciences and many more. Source
