There is a shortage of nurses and so there is a push for nursing students in the US.  Many people interested in getting a nursing license are beginning to turn to an online nursing school.  Although it may seem a bit difficult to complete a nursing degree online because there is no way to complete the clinical portion of the program,  most online courses are partnered with a medical facility in your area.  

The structure of the program at an online nursing school will vary from site to site, but in generally the coursework is hosted on the nursing school site.  The instructors will post the lectures and assignments on the site and there is usually a message board for students to post comments and questions.  Completed assignments are emailed to the instructors and examinations may or may not be offered online.  When they are not offered online the students may be directed to a facility where they can take a proctored exam. 

A common question asked with online learning is whether or not the coursework can be completed at a self-pace.  While you may find an online nursing school that allows you to complete the work at self-pace, most schools have assignments that are on a fixed schedule that allow a class to be completed in 6 to 8 weeks.    If you do find an online nursing school that has a self-pace program, another benefit is that you will be able to start the course at just about any time.   Most schools, however, will be set up like a traditional school and have a set period for enrollment groups of students will go through the program together.  

The biggest benefit of online learning is, of course, the flexibility of being able to work in your spare time.  The materials for an online nursing school are the same as a traditional school, and though there is no personal interaction with other students and the instructors, a huge benefit of online learning is having the instructors lecture in a written format.  That means that you are no longer relying on your own notes when it comes time to review the materials.