Nurses are in demand nationwide, and even more so in Alaska. The greatest need is for nurses to work in Alaska's rural and more remote communities. With Alaska nursing schools online, students can avoid travel and weather challenges by studying at home.

Top hospitals in Alaska are always on the lookout for registered nurses who wish to live and work in the largest, northernmost state in the nation. Because of the demand, nurses in Alaska can command higher salaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses in Alaska earned a mean annual salary of $79,350 as of May 2010. That's quite a bit higher than the national mean annual wage for RNs of $67,720; Alaska was the state paying the fourth highest rates for RNs in 2010.

Alaska school scholarships

To help lure students to Alaska, a number of different grants and scholarships are available to assist them with paying their tuition. Among these, the Cherokee Uniform Company offers scholarships for prospective nursing students. Other scholarships available include the Medical Professionals of Tomorrow Scholarship from U.S. Medical Supplies, the NBNA Scholarship Program, the Alaskan Native Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship, and the Career Mobility Scholarship Award.

The University of Alaska in Anchorage has an on-campus nursing degree program, but students can complete required nursing courses from 13 different communities across the state. These Outreach Program sites are found in Bethel, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Mat-Su, Nome, Sitka, and Valdez/Cordova. Some nursing courses are offered online (via distance delivery). For example, the Nursing Education specialty is an online program.

Career opportunities for graduates of online nursing schools in Alaska

Alaska nursing grads can seek career opportunities in a number of different directions. In addition to direct patient care, they might also find rewarding jobs in administration, academics, research and policy-making. Students with advanced degrees in nursing should have the widest choices and be most in demand.

Because of its unusual terrain, the state poses unique challenges to students who wish to become nurses, offering adventure as well as potential employment opportunities for those who attend Alaska nursing schools online.