If you’re a nurse aspiring to become one, you know that nursing education doesn’t come cheap. But what about a great free nursing course online that could help you get ahead in your career? This blog post will share the top 13 picks for the best free nursing courses.
From beginner to advanced levels, we have something for everyone. And if you’re already a nurse, plenty of courses will help you keep your skills sharp. So, let’s get started!
How Long Does A Nursing Course Take?
A nursing course generally takes four years to complete if the student is enrolled full-time. However, many students choose to take a lighter course load and take longer to finish their degree.
Some students may also pursue an accelerated nursing program, allowing them to complete their nursing degree in as little as two years. Many different factors can affect how long it takes a student to complete a nursing course.
Top 13 Free Nursing Courses Online
Now let’s get into our top 13 free nursing courses online!
1. Introduction To Integrative Nursing | Coursera
Offered By: University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota is offering a free online nursing course at Coursera. The course covers introductory topics and three different instructors from the school teach it all, making for an easy-to-learn specialization!
Nurses who are drawn to practice differently will find this course rewarding. You’ll learn about the principles and practices of Integrative Nursing and how you can be an empowering presence for patients with symptom management and overall outcomes.
Then there’s an integrative assessment which shows where there might need some work when it comes down to helping people get better faster or focusing on their individual needs more precisely. Finally, you will create new patient care models based on what you have learned!
Check out this article “Take free online courses from edX.”
2. Improving Global Health: Focusing On Quality And Safety | edX
Offered By: Harvard University
In this course on improving access to healthcare, you will learn how we define quality and measure it. You’ll also explore how people have successfully changed their communities’ attitudes toward better care for all patients.
The course is designed to empower you with concrete tools that students in any field can use. Each session will provide interactive learning and enable participants to think critically about their health care and raise questions for those running organizations or countries’ healthcare systems!
You will also cover quality and population health. Quality is crucial because it helps us deliver the right services to each person in need at the right time. However, if not done properly, there can still be a lot of downsides for both providers and consumers who end up without needed care or even worse!
Check this article before taking the course: Guide For The Coursera Free Courses

3. Understanding Clinical Research: Behind The Statistics | Coursera
Offered By: University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town on Coursera offers a free online course that will prepare you for being an informed medical professional. This seven-hour self-paced course focuses heavily on understanding clinical research and statistics, which can be very useful when making patient care decisions!
Medical professionals need to be able to understand research results so they can give patients the best care possible. Unfortunately, many people find statistics and analysis difficult because it goes beyond what we typically use in our day-to-day lives outside of medicine or teaching students how things work with numbers on paper.
But it’s essential, so if you’re one of those who struggles when faced with Clinical Statisticians every single day (or if reading about them makes your heart race), then this course will ease your tension! A shareable certificate is available after completing this fantastic course!
4. Global Public Health | edX
Offered By: SDG AcademyX
Global public health is not just about treating diseases and improving individuals’ wellness. It also impacts our environment, food systems (which affect healthcare), energy security, and transportation networks, among many other things that make up your everyday life!
The global impact on health is immense and cannot be ignored. It has the power to transform our world into an improved, more peaceful place where everyone can thrive – but only if we take care! In this course, you’ll learn how investing in your well-being will pay off not just financially (with increased productivity) or emotionally.
There are also many other benefits, including economic development through job creation and social stability, which directly back down the range onto personal happiness levels. This course is designed for graduate students and advanced undergraduates studying public health, international development, or any other field that involves global thinking.
5. The Arts And Sciences of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs | Coursera
Offered By: University of Toronto
This free online nursing course from the University of Toronto is designed to help you better understand how your patients feel and what they need. You’ll learn about The Strategies and Skills Learning & Development System (SSLD), which provides a framework for understanding all aspects of patient care!
This free online course gives you the skills to provide compassionate care for your patients. It comprises three modules: relationships in our lives, strategies & skills, learning & development communications building healthy connections that work!

6 Hypertension In Primary Care – Improving Control And Reducing Risk | edX
Offered By: Stanford Online
CME activity shows critical info in diagnosing and managing hypertension through interactive cases. These presentations cover common challenges with patient care, like knowing when to refer them for special treatment or if their condition is too complex without help from a specialist!
The course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to help your practice grow. You’ll understand how to optimize your workflow to get the most out of your time with each patient.
7. Disability Awareness And Support | Coursera
Offered By: University of Pittsburgh
This free online course teaches disability awareness to nurses. Created by the University of Pittsburgh, this seven-hour program is handy to aspiring and working professionals in nursing; you can expect a lot from it!
The format allows participants full control over when they would like their learning experience. This course aims to help participants gain the knowledge and skills needed for a fulfilling career, regardless of their disability or physical limitations!
8. Knowledge And Skills For Dementia Care | Coursera
Offered By: University of Toronto
This free online nursing course is also offered on Coursera and utilizes SSLD. This course takes what you’ve learned in the prior courses to help teach applied skills for caring for those with dementia, making it very valuable as an educational opportunity that can lead to future career paths!
With a dementia diagnosis comes many challenges; it’s not just about understanding the disease but also providing care for your loved one. This course will teach you everything from what community services are available to help people with memory loss, how private home nursing can improve the quality of life in long-term homes or Alzheimer’s facilities, and much more!
9. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship Primary Care | Coursera
Offered By: Stanford University
The Stanford University course, which only takes about two hours to complete and can be accessed online via Coursera, is designed for cancer survivors looking after their health in preparation for life after treatment.
The program offers the best nursing practices with an intermediate-level scope, so it’s perfect if you’re currently working as a nurse! This course will teach you the skills needed to provide cancer survivors with the necessary care. You’ll learn how primary caregivers should assess their unique needs and Return them to society as ordinarily possible!
10. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas, And Islet Transplantation | Coursera
Offered By: Leiden University
This course emphasizes kidney, pancreas, and islet transplantation. It will teach nurses how to be more helpful during this challenging time by offering a better understanding of what happens in your body when you undergo one of these surgeries or procedures.
This course is an introduction to kidney, pancreas, and islet transplantation. You will study Before The Transplant, which covers how organs are grown before being transplanted into someone else’s body. Moreover, you’ll also look at a surgery prep procedure where we take care not only of our health but any other individuals involved in this process!

11. Anatomy: Musculoskeletal And Integumentary Systems | Coursera
Offered By: University of Michigan
This free online nursing course is an excellent option for students as it teaches lessons regarding major parts of human anatomy. The first four videos describe what we know so far about bones, joints, muscles, and skin: while providing some background information regarding their functions about one.
Students will be able to learn more through reading assignments which include short biographies from famous scientists or doctors who specialize in specific fields explicitly related to medicine, such as surgery, etc.
12. Palliative Care: It’s Not Just Hospice Anymore | Coursera
Offered By: University of Colorado
By the end of this course, you’ll know how to comfort patients preparing for death and provide them with compassionate care. You will also learn about pain management techniques that can ease physical symptoms as well as psychosocial issues, such as spiritual guidance when it’s needed most in palliative medicine practices worldwide
You’re going through so much hard work on behalf of these loved ones – thank goodness we have sessions open now (insert contact info)! After taking our Easing Physical Symptoms lesson last week, things changed totally because I finally understood what truly makes people sick!
13. Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us | Coursera
Offered By: University of Pennsylvania
This six-part course will discuss anatomy and physiology for developing a systematic, integrated understanding of how your body functions. Relevant systems are reviewed, including cardiovascular respiration, followed by explanations of what they do about measuring one’s or someone else’s temperature via skin pores – hot spots!
Is Becoming A Nurse Hard?
There is no one answer to this question, as the difficulty of becoming a nurse varies depending on many factors. However, becoming a nurse generally requires completing an accredited nursing program, passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), and obtaining a nursing license from your state board of nursing.
While these requirements may seem daunting initially, many students find that the nursing program they choose provides them with the necessary support and guidance to succeed. In addition, many resources are available to help students prepare for the NCLEX and navigate the licensure process.
So while becoming a nurse may require hard work and dedication, it is ultimately a rewarding career choice that offers tremendous personal and professional growth opportunities.

What Are The Different Types Of Nursing?
Nursing is a vital profession that offers a unique blend of physical and emotional care to patients of all ages. Although the scope of nursing practice has expanded in recent years, there are still three main types of nursing: medical-surgical, critical care, and maternal-child.
Medical-surgical nurses care for various conditions, from broken bones to chronic illnesses. They work in hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices and often collaborate with other healthcare team members.
Critical care nurses specialize in caring for critically ill or injured patients. They work in intensive care units and provide around-the-clock care. Maternal-child nurses focus on the care of women during pregnancy, labor, and care of newborns and young children.
Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, and the different types of nursing allow them to specialize in caring for specific populations.
Do You Get Paid To Train As A Nurse?
Although the training process for nurses can be long and complex, the financial rewards can be well worth the effort. In many cases, nurses will receive a salary while completing their training.
In addition, many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs that can help offset the cost of education. As a result, nurses can often gain experience and financial stability while training.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – our top 13 free nursing courses online. We hope this list will help you find the perfect course for your needs and goals. And don’t forget that online nursing degrees are viable and affordable if you want to become a nurse but can’t afford to go back to school.
Now let’s find out if it’s worth taking free online courses with certificates and the ten best websites for online courses!