“I don’t want to die,” is what is racing through most people’s mind when they are in a hospital. You are asking yourself why did something like this happen to me, or how did I get in this mess in the first place, because everything started out normally? You were just strolling down the neighborhood park, minding your own business, but of all of-a- sudden you get a jolt of adrenaline running through your thoracic region, myocardial infarction or heart attack in plain English. Screaming in agony and scared for your life, the paramedics drag you onto the ambulance and send you straight to the OR. Once there, that sense of initial relief diminishes as soon as you see one worker faint and another scrambling through a textbook unsure of what to do. The exceptional scores attained by these workers in their online courses count for not their ability to handle actual situation, rather their ability to read. Though, some health care agencies have proposed for online courses for certain health care jobs to satisfy the demand because of shortages. But because of the quality of education provided by these online courses and the competency of some students, the overall quality-of-care is bound to lower. This essay will highlight some of the reasons for health care professionals should not obtain their degrees from online institutions, including the need to connect to broadband, false accreditation of some schools, and lack potency of some individuals and clinical experience.
Though a lot of students these days can access the internet from almost anywhere, there are quite a number of people who either cannot or do not have internet access. In a study released by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), it was reported that, “14 to 24 million Americans still lack access to broadband, and the immediate prospects of deployment to them are bleak.” (Wigfield) Those 14 to 24 million Americans are potentially lacking financially. In other words, they can’t afford the broadband service or the tools required to access it, nor the knowledge to operate one. The FCC stated in their news release that “Many of these Americans [that live without broadband] are poor or live in rural areas that will remain unserved without reform of the universal service program and other changes to U.S. broadband policy that spur investment in broadband networks by lowering the cost of deployment.” (Wigfield) With the economy in tough times as it is, the possibility of broadband service deployment prices falling to a respectable, affordable level that these poor Americans can afford is low to none. Thus, an individual who would wish to pursue an online degree must be connected to broadband, which would require them pay that additional price along with the sky- rocketing tuition for an awful education.
It’s not easy to tell if something on the internet is genuine, especially if it’s flamboyant. The question of accreditation does not often appear on the “questions to ask,” list of a person reviewing an online education program. The Department of Corporations warns internet surfers of some of the more common phrases and techniques companies use to attract customers like, “Excellent and helpful advisors,” (Education & Outreach — Internet Scams & Hoaxes) and, "sign up now or the price will increase." (Education & Outreach — Internet Scams & Hoaxes) Through this, the internet provider is utilizing appeals, diverting attention of student, to make the site seem credible. It's no different than dealing with door to door salespeople.
Florence Nightingale once said, “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work...” (Southall) This necessary devotion described by Nightingale should begin from initial studies and education. There are numerous distractions that are scattered throughout an online student’s home, especially if there are small children, a