Gaining a Bachelor’s degree can open many new doors and opportunities for you. It can allow you to pursue a dream career, or it can let you take things to the next level. When studying online for a degree in healthcare, you can find that some aspects of the process differ from studying on campus. Understanding where these differences exist and seeing how you can move forward positively is essential.
Why You Should Study For a Bachelor’s Degree
Before you do anything else, it is essential to see why you should study for a Bachelor’s degree. If you have long held a dream or ambition to have a sustainable career in healthcare, then you will see the value and importance of education. When you can see what you gain from the process, you can enjoy every aspect just that little bit more.
Establishing the reasoning behind your studies will be crucial for your approach to learning and studying. It is also going to be tied to your mindset too. If you cannot see why you should be looking (or you cannot see the actual benefits), then you should head back to the drawing board before pushing forwards.
Getting the Right Mindset
After establishing the reason and reasoning behind your choice, and your decision to study, you need to work on your mindset. To fully envelop yourself in your studies, learning, and development, you must be sure your attitude is entirely focused. If your mood is not focused on growth and development, you will find that it will end up hindering you.
To get the right mindset, you must consider why you want to study and what you hope to get out of the process. Switching your perspective, or changing it completely, so that it is focused on learning, can be challenging. Making small (yet sustainable) changes to your mindset will be better in the long run. Looking at those that inspire you and those you study with will help you get the perspective you need to push forward.
Establishing Why You Want to Study Online
You know how significant a degree will be to your career and plans, but do you know why you should study online? Establishing the benefits early on is essential. For example, when you check online, you have more flexibility to create a study schedule that suits you and your lifestyle.
You also have more control over time management. You can lose a lot of time travelling back and forth to campus, and this is something that you can rule out with online learning (and it is time saved). Studying online allows you to work at your own pace, and it will enable you to get tailored support and help when you need it the most.
Studying Online versus Offline – What is the Difference?
You will notice differences when you study online instead of at a physical campus. For example, the social scene you may anticipate at college differs from online. There are still virtual and offline meetups for online learners; however, you will find you won’t get that social interaction each day.
When you study online instead of offline, you will have to be more focused, motivated, and dedicated. You will not have a professor or lecturer to keep pushing you in each class; instead, you will have to do this, especially if you want to get the desired results.
Choosing a University or College
Choosing a university or college is a big decision you should start processing as soon as possible. When you are choosing where to study, you will find there are lots of factors at work. For example, you may be thinking about how much a degree will cost you and how you will afford to pay. You may also be thinking about what online provisions and student support packages a college has for those online learners.
It is crucial to find a well-rounded college that supports students and helps them unlock their full potential. Looking at ratings, previous exam scores, and grades is not substantial enough, and it will not give you a clear picture of what is on offer. Reading former student reviews, reaching out and contacting a college, and comparing ratings will help you make that decision easier.
Seeing What Online Provisions and Support is Available
You know that online working can (and will) work for you; however, do you know what online provisions are already in place? For example, do you know what support packages colleges provide to online learners? Are there regular virtual get-togethers? Are you comfortable with the platforms being used and offered for online students? See if they are engaging enough, and see if they allow you to connect to other students. Studying online can be isolating if the correct provisions and support are unavailable.
Reaching out to the college you are interested in to talk to them about online support is going to be positive. You can get a lot of direct information about how they support students and what packages they put in place. Also, looking at what students (who studied online) have had to say is insightful and valuable in many ways. An excellent online provision will be regular contact with other students and college staff, who should offer support and many ways to contact the college or university – not to mention regular virtual meetups (organized by the college or provider).
Looking at the Degrees on Offer
You know you want to study for a healthcare degree, but do you know how many different ones are available? Are you aware of what each one entails and how it can help you get the career you want? There are lots of degrees to choose from, and you must begin narrowing down your selection (to ensure you are calm).
So, for example, if you want a role in the organization and managerial side of healthcare – one that’s less patient-facing and more administrative – then click here to look at an online healthcare administration degree. Or, decide if you want to start looking at nursing degrees that allow you to be more hands-on with patients and those in your care; looking at the myriads of nursing qualifications will benefit you.
Establishing what you see yourself doing in the future is always a good starting point to work from. Once you have done this, you can find a program tailored to your needs and requirements.
Finding a Suitable Program – Looking at the Content
Once you have narrowed your search criteria, it is time to start looking specifically at what content a program/degree offers. No two programs will be the same, and this is something you need to factor in. Looking at the schedule range will help you establish if it covers the areas and topics that interest you. Once you do this, you can then compare programs.
If the program covers what you want in further detail, will you get frustrated at your progress? When breaking down programs and degrees on offer, you must also look at the quality of the content on offer, not just the quantity. For instance, if the programs are being developed and offered by medical professionals and those in the industry, they will be more inclusive and engaging than those created solely by the colleges.
Focusing on Future Career Paths and Plans – What Do You See Yourself Doing?
Even though your attention and efforts have to be focused on studying for your bachelor’s degree, you also need to focus on longer-term goals and ambitions. Focusing on future career paths and plans will help you align your studying with your aims and objectives. This can be essential when you are studying and learning online.
Creating a healthcare care plan and looking at career paths for when you finish your degree will keep your attention and efforts focused on getting the best grades possible. When you are creating a career plan (and deciding what career path) is right for you, you must try to see what roles and positions reflect you and your abilities.
For instance, do you see yourself building a career in a hospital setting, offering support to doctors and other professionals? Or, would you like to be travelling out and about in the community in a role such as community nursing or as a healthcare assistant? Thinking about the future can be overwhelming; however, when you can do this, you can always be sure you are working and studying towards something you want.
Balancing Work, Life, and Studying
In those initial few weeks of studying online, you may need help to get the best balance you want in your life, work and studies. You must try and achieve a balance as much as possible. This way, you can sustain your studying and learning from home and online. You will also be able to maintain the lifestyle that you have worked so hard to build.
If you manage to study around work, you will need to strike a balance early on to ensure that your health and well-being are always maintained. To get credit, you need to be aware of your limitations. Know what you can and cannot do, and always be prepared to seek and accept support.
Establishing how much energy and effort you need to put into your work and studies will help you see where to split your time. When you first look at getting a balance, you will need help to prioritize your time and efforts. However, with practice, you will understand what you can achieve (and in what timeframe).
Creating a Productive Study Space
To enjoy studying online (and from home) and succeed at it, you will need a productive workspace. A workspace that allows you to work and study with minimal distractions is crucial. A well-lit study space and comfortable furniture and seating are vital. Whether looking for one hour or several hours, you need support from good office furniture.
If you are using makeshift furniture to study, you will find this will affect your mood and even your concentration levels. Studying in a well-ventilated area with some natural light is necessary. Even if you are looking at night (or in the evening), you want to feel that you are not closed off or completely isolated.
Establishing a Routine
You will need to establish a routine for studying, especially if your program lasts for two years plus. If you do not specify a way, you may not get as much enjoyment out of your studies as you hoped. You may also need more time to absorb everything you learn, read, or study.
Establishing a routine helps you manage any stress or pressure you may feel when juggling so much. Beginning by looking at the hours that you have in each given day or week is essential. The hours you are not working then need to be split between life and life commitments and studying.
It is important to include life commitments as you must take regular breaks from studying and enjoy what is happening around you in your home/family setting. When you are happier and more content within an established routine, you will notice the difference in how you study.
