As the demand for qualified nurses continues to rise, individuals who earn general nursing degrees will see improved job prospects in the coming months. However, this projected need has created a great deal of competition at nursing colleges.

The latest figures from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reveal that more than 49,000 applicants to undergraduate- and graduate-level nursing programs were turned away from campus-based schools in 2008 because these institutions had faculty shortages, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Furthermore, experts say that more than 260,000 nurses will be needed in the U.S. over the next 15 years, and that healthcare providers will need to offer more internship and residency opportunities to prepare students for these positions.

As a result, students who wish to earn a nursing license RN while gaining experience in the field may want to consider completing their college programs online, as these courses of study could enable them to work while they earn a degree.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for registered nurses is expected to increase by 22 percent over the next eight years.