Individuals who hold a general nursing degree are expected to see favorable job prospects in the future, as the medical field will experience many strains in the coming years. However, chances to the healthcare system could soon make their certifications obsolete.

As a result, nurses at all points in their careers may want to consider updating their educational qualifications in order to stay abreast of emerging trends in their industry. Fortunately, many campus-based and online schools are recognizing the need for higher learning options for working nurses by creating convenient and flexible programs.

For instance, a Colorado-based school recently announced the launch of an online master’s program in nursing, which is intended to give professionals who work in underserved areas better access to higher education, the Aurora Sentinel reports.

School officials told the news source that urban and rural areas are expected to see the greatest shortages of nurses over the next few years, so the demand for educated nurses whose skill sets are up-to-date will be high in these areas.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, career prospects for nurses with advanced specialized training will be particularly high over the next eight years.