Although almost all nursing programs today blend online with practical experience, the AACN is quick to acknowledge the growing importance of going digital. In some colleges and universities that offer nursing courses online, lectures have been eliminated or replaced with interactive seminars. Some online nursing programs, for example, provide interactive seminars to students in all nursing courses. Seminars have multiple uses, including providing a platform for faculty to present information not yet available in a textbook, addressing topics that students have expressed an interest in, or answering questions on course content. Use of online seminars helps learners make connections among readings, online discussion, and written assignments.The instructor promotes these connections by clarifying concepts or helping learners think more deeply about a particular issue. Through this process, learners don’t simply memorize material for the sake of later “regurgitating” it on an exam. Instead, they must demonstrate mastery of the material, which faculty evaluates based on student posts on interactive discussion boards and written papers. In short, distance education provides a deeper cognitive exercise. Online courses from an accredited online nursing program are just as rigorous as you would expect traditional courses to be. Do not expect earning your nursing degree online to be any easier than in a brick-and-mortar institution. Online colleges and traditional colleges are accredited in the same way — they both must meet the criteria set by independent accrediting bodies to receive recognition by that body. One last word of caution: Make absolutely sure the online nursing program you’re considering is accredited by one of the two Department of Education-recognized nursing accreditors: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation by any other agency does not count. Accreditation by the Department of Education- recognized nursing program accreditors may not only ensure your freedom from online scams, but it may also make you eligible for student loans, tuition reimbursement programs, and many types of scholarships and grants. Online nursing degrees are legitimate so long as they are earned through an online learning institution that is accredited. Conduct plenty of research before you enroll in a school or program. This way you are reassuring your future employer that you received both a quality education and the training, knowledge and skills needed to excel in the nursing field. And, by the way, this also will mean you didn’t waste several years of time and money to receive a fake degree that most employers will likely not accept.