If you have a budding interest in nursing and you want to kickstart your career in nursing, even if you are currently employed or cannot afford the tuition fee of nursing programs, then this blog post on the best free online nursing courses with certificates is for you. Stay tuned as I curate them here.
Nursing is one of the highest-paying careers in the medical field with a high rate of employment across countries. It has stood out from other medical professions because of its approach to patient care, training, practicing, etc. and it has been noted that nurses constitute a greater percentage of the healthcare environment, notwithstanding the international scarcity of qualified nurses.
The above is a good review of the profession and I know you are very much interested and can’t wait to become a nurse. However, you are now considering changing careers because of the tuition fees, and other things involved.
I bring you good news from our platform today that there are other options to consider in the cases of not being financially buoyant. One of these options is enrolling in nursing schools without tuition fees.
In some cases, one can still enroll in fast-track programs in nursing, and move on to get advanced degrees as that is important too.
Now, let’s have a review of what nursing is all about. Nursing is one of the healthcare professions that take care of individuals, families, villages, or communities to attain or recover optimal health and general quality of life.
Nurses work together with doctors, physicians, therapists, patients’ families, etc. to achieve their aim which is treating illness and recovering optimal health. However, there are still some jurisdictions that allow nurses to treat patients independently in some settings.
There are diverse categories in the nursing career but we can say that nursing is generally divided into the need of the patient that is being taken care of. These specialties include; Cardiac nursing, palliative care, orthopedic nursing, oncology nursing, perioperative nursing, obstetrical nursing, nursing informatics, telenursing, radiology, emergency nursing, etc.
Nurses can choose to work part-time or full-time in any of these sectors; acute care hospitals, communities/public, neonatal, family/individuals across the lifespan, mental health, women’s health, school/ college infirmaries, ambulatory settings, informatics, pediatrics, Adult- gerontology, etc.
Are you still pondering the benefits of studying nursing? Okay, let’s take a proper look at it. Research has revealed that everyone who studied nursing including single moms experiences financial breakthroughs. An average registered nurse in the United States according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earns about $75,330 per year or around $36.22 per hour. This makes the career more interesting, and fascinating.
Other benefits include:
- Nurses are in high demand in different parts of the world; hence, job security is assured.
- Nursing as a career is one of the professionally fulfilling jobs that is personally rewarding.
- In nursing, there is room for advancement. This advancement gives rise to professional development.
- Being a qualified nurse leaves you with the chance of getting employed internationally, just as in Australia, there are many visas offered to emigrate nurses.
- Nurses enjoy flexibility in work as they don’t work always, instead, they make use of shifting.
- It is a respected career recognized all over the globe.
- The option of overtime can come in too when you feel like working for more hours to earn more.
- There are many varieties where nurses can work depending on their interests, choices, and experiences one has.
Having seen the overview of nursing, the benefits, and career opportunities, let’s move to the free online nursing courses with certificates. You don’t need to pay to access this. Accessing the internet with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and having a zeal/ interest in nursing are the requirements to get started. Follow me closely as I list and explain them.
Free Online Nursing Courses With Certificates
Below is the list of free online nursing courses with certificates.
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Phlebotomist Training Course
- Nursing Studies- The Nurse As A Team Leader And Teacher
- Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- CPR, AED and First Aid
- Nursing Studies- The Role Of Nurse In Surgical Care
- Nursing Studies – Patient Care and Hygiene
- Nursing Studies- Clinical Skills: Caring For Respiratory Patients
- Nursing Studies- Clinical Skills: Digestive System- Revised
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards – DoLS Training
- Nursing and the Elderly
- Nursing Studies – Role of Nurse in Surgical Care
- Nursing Studies – Clinical Skills: Caring for Cardiovascular Patients
- Coaching and Mentoring in Healthcare
- Nursing Studies – Clinical Skills: Neurological Disorders
- Phlebotomy: Basic Principles and Practices
- Introduction to Nursery Nursing
- End-of-Life and Palliative Care
- Fundamentals of Paediatric Nursing
1. Basic Life Support (BLS)
Basic life support (BLS) is one of the free online nursing courses with certificates designed to equip you with the general concepts of basic life support, and changes made in the basic life support guidelines from 2010 to 2015. It also explores how to provide high-quality CPR and how to start the chain of survival in adults, children, and infants. The syllabus includes; general concepts of basic life, initiating a chain of survival, one rescuer BLS/CPR for adults, adult mouth-to-mask and bag-mask ventilation, etc. The course contains 4 modules with 23 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 4- 5 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
2. Phlebotomist Training Course
Phlebotomist Training Course is one of the free online nursing courses with certificates that aims at teaching you the basics of blood, the circulatory system, and venipuncture. The course explores the introduction to phlebotomy which includes the anatomy and physiology of the veins and the techniques required for safe and effective venipuncture for the process of blood sampling. Introduction to the equipment used in venipuncture procedures and documentation that should be completed will also be taught in the course. The syllabus includes; phlebotomist training, introduction to phlebotomists, venipuncture and dermal puncture, special blood and infection control, etc. The course contains 2 modules with 6 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
3. Nursing Studies- The Nurse As A Team Leader And Teacher
Nursing Studies- The Nurse as a Team Leader and Teacher is also among the free online nursing courses with certificates designed to help you gain mastery in the roles of a practical nurse as a team leader, how to adopt a team approach to nursing, the facts that define team nursing, basic elements of team nursing, etc.
The course also explores the nursing care plan, leadership styles, leadership skills, and leadership qualities. The syllabus includes; an introduction to practical nurses as team leaders, team leader responsibilities, factors influencing productivity, steps in the learning processes, etc. The course contains 3 modules with 8 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
4. Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) is among the free online nursing courses with certificates that give you an in-depth understanding of bloodborne pathogens, protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens, respond to blood exposure, clean up the mess, and report exposure to blood.
The course explores the Bbp and outlines precautionary measures to identify, protect, and respond to exposure to Bbps. The syllabus includes; an introduction to bloodborne pathogens, protecting yourself from bloodborne pathogens, getting into contact with blood, cleaning up the messes, reporting exposure to blood, etc. The course contains 2 modules with 10 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
5. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Pediatric advanced life support (PALS) is one of the free online nursing courses with certificates designed to equip you with the step-by-step skills required for quick response to save lives in children and infants. The syllabus includes; an introduction to pediatric advanced life support, resuscitation, PALS basic life support, pediatric advanced life support, respiratory distress and post-resuscitation care, PALS skill training, etc. The course contains 4 modules with 20 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
6. CPR, AED and First Aid
This training course begins with first aid basics such as how to check responsiveness and recognize common symptoms before they will show you how to treat injuries and cardiac arrest. They explain how to handle choking and how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or use an automated external defibrillator (AED). This course offers global accreditation of your new life-saving skills so sign up to become a qualified safety officer. The course contains 3 modules with 13 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
7. Nursing Studies- The Role Of Nurse In Surgical Care
Nursing Studies- The Role of the Nurse in Surgical Care is also one of the free online nursing courses with certificates designed to give you an in-depth understanding of the role of the nurse in the surgical care of the patient during all phases of the surgical cycle. The course explores peri and pre-operative patient care, what peri-operative and pre-operative patient care are all about, the facts related to the surgical experience, the impact of surgical intervention on the patient, and the various types and classifications of surgery. The syllabus includes; peri-operative patient care, pre-operative patient care, the intra-operative phase, the recovery room phase, etc. The course contains 4 modules with 9 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
8. Nursing Studies – Patient Care and Hygiene
This free online Nursing Studies course from Alison covers patient care and hygiene. A nursing team is responsible for protecting the patient from any additional injury or illness. With this course, you will learn proper techniques for completing these duties. You will also study advanced patient hygiene procedures and environmental health and safety awareness, as well as how to ensure patient safety and comfort in the care setting. The course contains 4 modules with 16 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
9. Nursing Studies- Clinical Skills: Caring For Respiratory Patients
Nursing studies- clinical skills: caring for respiratory patients is among the free online nursing courses with certificates designed to teach you how the respiratory system functions and how to perform physical examinations and procedures to determine when it is deteriorating.
The course explores the respiratory system as it supplies it with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide to be able to sustain life. The syllabus includes; nursing and the respiratory system, anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system, performing a physical examination, performing physical procedures, etc. The course contains 3 modules with 11 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
10. Nursing Studies- Clinical Skills: Digestive System- Revised
Nursing Studies- Clinical Skills: Digestive System- revised is one of the free online nursing courses with certificates that equip you with the key clinical nursing skills and techniques needed to care for patients with gastrointestinal illnesses. The course also explores the function of the digestive system and metabolism, the proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids, how they provide fuel for the body’s metabolism, etc. The course contains 4 modules with 16 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: Hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
11. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards – DoLS Training
This caregiving course explains how the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are applied in hospitals or care homes in the UK and outlines the responsibilities of key stakeholders in the application process. They provide an overview of the DoLS, the Mental Capacity Act, and other related legislation.
They will also cover the different types of authorization and assessment processes used to protect the well-being and dignity of vulnerable people. The course contains 2 modules with 11 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
12. Nursing and the Elderly
This aged care course explains how to interact with and provide care to elderly people. They will explore the positive aspects of aging and establish the importance of fostering strong relationships with seniors. They will then lay out the common challenges faced by seniors, including serious mental health issues and their underlying causes. Finally, they delve into the causes of anger felt by old people and provide strategies for providing effective elder care. The course contains 2 modules with 8 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
13. Nursing Studies – Role of Nurse in Surgical Care
In this free online nursing studies course, you will learn about the vital roles performed by the nurse during surgical care. Nursing staff provide essential support during all phases of the surgical cycle, which encompasses the peri-operative, pre-operative, intra-operative, and recovery room phases. The course will also teach you about some of the most essential surgical interventions that nurses are regularly involved in. The course contains 4 modules with 9 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
14. Nursing Studies – Clinical Skills: Caring for Cardiovascular Patients
This free online course will teach you the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective clinical care to patients who are suffering from cardiovascular diseases. You will study the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system and the role that each organ plays within it. You will also learn the most common factors that cause these organs to become diseased and the common complications that can arise after cardiovascular surgery. The course contains 3 modules with 11 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
15. Coaching and Mentoring in Healthcare
If you want to coach or mentor others in the medical field, this counseling course offers an opportunity to master the principles and techniques you need to succeed in either role. They will explain how to start and maintain the relationship between counselors and those receiving their advice. The skills provided in this course will enable you to guide others toward making better decisions that improve the quality of care and health systems. The course contains 3 modules with 7 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
16. Nursing Studies – Clinical Skills: Neurological Disorders
This free online nursing studies course teaches you about the clinical care of patients with neurological disorders. It will teach you the function and structure of the central nervous system, the symptoms, disorders, and treatments associated with various neurological disorders, as well as teaching you the related assessments and how to accurately evaluate a patient’s vital signs, mental status, sensory functions, and level of consciousness. The course contains 4 modules with 16 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
17. Phlebotomy: Basic Principles and Practices
Are you curious about the process of drawing blood from the veins, called phlebotomy, and how it’s done? This course covers phlebotomy principles and expands on the role of a phlebotomist beyond just drawing blood. You’ll learn how to select and prepare puncture sites, collect and prepare samples for testing, set up equipment, care for the patient after specimen collection, and establish a professional relationship with your patients. The course contains 2 modules with 6 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
18. Introduction to Nursery Nursing
Parents may not always have the time to guide and watch over their children and may require the help of a neonatal nurse to provide quality care. Do you love being around infants and interacting with them? They will teach you the daily tasks and the attributes of a nursery nurse required to make babies and children feel secure, included, happy, and valued. In addition, you’ll learn about the protection, healthcare, and safety of children. The course contains 2 modules with 6 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
19. End-of-Life and Palliative Care
Caring for the terminally ill and the elderly is an emotional, complex, challenging, and rewarding profession. The job requires trained, compassionate caregivers to handle the situation with grace and sensitivity. This caregiving course explains how to supply quality care to those who are suffering in the grip of illness or are approaching the end of their lives. They also show you how to provide support and comfort to worried and grieving families. The course contains 3 modules with 11 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
20. Fundamentals of Paediatric Nursing
This nursing course provides the knowledge and skills required to excel in pediatric nursing. They discuss the roles and responsibilities of pediatric nurses and go over pediatric assessment techniques used to diagnose common disorders. They also explain how to administer medication to children and cover common emergencies, life support, and pediatric pharmacology. Sign up to learn how to provide compassionate and quality care to young patients. The course contains 3 modules with 11 topics to offer all its contents for better understanding effectively.
Price: Free
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Platform: Alison
Language: English
Free Online Nursing Courses With Certificates – FAQs
Below are some of the frequently asked questions about the free online nursing courses with certificates.
Can Someone Study Nursing Online?
Yes, you can study nursing online through the platforms offering online nursing courses, however, you may still be required to complete in-person clinical hours at a physical site.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse?
It takes about 16 months to four years to become a nurse, depending on the program you registered for.
How Much Do Nurses Make?
According to payscale.com, an average registered nurse makes about NGN822,397.00 annually.