According to the US Department of Labor Statistics more than one million new and replacement nurses are needed by 2016. Yet nursing schools are turning away students because of a lack of qualified faculty, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Online nursing degree programs are one way of addressing this issue.

An online nursing education program can deliver assignments to a multitude of students. The students can then complete on their own schedule. This means that a practicing RN can complete an RN to BSN or an RN to MSN program while continuing to work in their profession. Nurses with a bachelor's degree average an annual salary of $60,000. Nurses who continue on and earn a master's degree earn typically $80,000 according to the American Assoication of Colleges of Nursing.