[BrittRN2b]

• Do you feel you are as prepared as you would have been if you had done a traditional program? I've heard it is common to feel unprepared as a graduate nurse, but I wondered if you feel a large difference in the level of preparedness.
• Were your theory/didactic courses taught online or did you go to class? If online, do you think you missed out on anything?
• length of the program (12 mo, 15 mo, 18 mo?)
• Is an accelerated program as good a preparation for eventual graduate studies?
• Did you find it hard to maintain a decent GPA or think you could have had a higher GPA in a traditional program?

[hermosa]

I'm about to start an accelerated program so I can't speak from experience but I was recently talking to my physiology professor about whether or not to go for an accelerated vs a generic BSN. He said he's talked to some friends who are doctors in the local hospitals. He mentioned that they generally recognize that the students coming out of the ABSN programs need a little more time after they get out to train and get adjusted to their skills but that they are still good nurses.

As my professor pointed out - start two nursing students out at the same time - one in a BSN program and one in a ABSN program. Three years later one has 18 months of school and 18 of actual work experience while the other has nothing but 36 months of school experience. Also, a student with an ABSN also has previous work experience in something else and a previous career which makes them a more mature worker anyway.

[mbb21]

Originally Posted by BrittRN2b

• Do you feel you are as prepared as you would have been if you had done a traditional program? I've heard it is common to feel unprepared as a graduate nurse, but I wondered if you feel a large difference in the level of preparedness.
• Were your theory/didactic courses taught online or did you go to class? If online, do you think you missed out on anything?
• length of the program (12 mo, 15 mo, 18 mo?)
• Is an accelerated program as good a preparation for eventual graduate studies?
• Did you find it hard to maintain a decent GPA or think you could have had a higher GPA in a traditional program?

Hey BrittRN2b!
I thought a lot of the same things you're saying not too long ago. I applied to the generic BSN program, but since I have a pretty good GPA, the dean of the program wanted me to try out the ABSN program. The thing is, I don't have a bachelors degree at all (I'm only 20!). At first, I thought it would be okay and I was all for it. Then I spoke with a number of people and if you can spare the time, it's well worth it to go through the regular BSN program. I was told by numerous advisors (as well as nurses) that nursing school is hard enough as it is and cramming into 18 mos. (or less) makes it even harder. I'm sure plenty of people have done it successfully and are GREAT nurses, but it depends on YOU. How do you learn? My mom is a registered nurse and has trained many student nurses. According to her, she has found that they are sometimes not as prepared as regular student nurses. But, like I said, it all depends on the individual. As for me personally, I want to learn as much as I can without feeling so rushed, but if you can handle it...More power to you !! Good luck!

[line just line]

1. Do you feel you are as prepared as you would have been if you had done a traditional program? I've heard it is common to feel unprepared as a graduate nurse, but I wondered if you feel a large difference in the level of preparedness.

It's hard to answer that question since I've never completed a traditional program, only accelerated. I can say that we have both types of students in my cohort, and we all feel equally unprepared to enter the real world. In all seriousness, I feel great about my education and I'd do it the same way all over again. The accelerated program fits me, my life, and my personality. I'm faced paced, a quick learner, and fairly impatient. It works perfectly for my learning style. It's a very personal choice and you do need to be honest with yourself when deciding. All the traditional students I know say that they think we're insane and would never want to be accelerated. All the accelerated students I know say they would hate to be traditional. So there.

Were your theory/didactic courses taught online or did you go to class? If online, do you think you missed out on anything?

We have both online and in-person classes. So do the traditional students. Most of the online classes are theory. All clinicals are in person, except the classroom part of our senior practicum. And of course, all our clinicals are at hospitals in the area. I pretty much hate online classes, no matter what subject. I do think online classes cause you to miss out on the good, solid, and spontaneous conversations and debates that can only come from being in class together. If I had to choose, I'd nix all online classes and degrees, but no one asked me...

3. Length of the program (12 mo, 15 mo, 18 mo?)Ours is 18 months. Some of us start in June and graduate the following December. Some of us start in January and graduate the following May. We're on a semester system.

4. Is an accelerated program as good a preparation for eventual graduate studies?
A BSN program of any sort is what you need for graduate studies, regardless of whether it's a bridge, traditional, or accelerated program. Again, the choice to accelerate or not is very personal but I don't feel like it affects the level of education you get. We take all the same (EXACT) classes as the traditional students at our school, it's just that we take them at a slightly faster pace. I imagine there are some employers/admissions committees who would look more favorably upon grads of an ABSN program, just as there are those who think the exact opposite. For me and my learning style, the program has been perfect. But I don't have kids, or have to work while I'm in school, or any number of commitments that others have. I know that many of my colleagues in traditional programs will go onto graduate school without any problems, just as I probably will someday, too. Heck, I'll probably have graduate classes with half of them.

Did you find it hard to maintain a decent GPA or think you could have had a higher GPA in a traditional program?
No. I have straight A's. Of course, I don't have a 4.0 because I have a couple of A minuses, but that's okay. The bottom line is that I have a decent GPA. My class of accelerated students is filled with some of the most type A, driven students I have ever met in my life. They actually make me look laid back which is shocking. However, there are probably people in the traditional program who have good grades, too. I actually think it has less to do with studying and more to do with "getting it." I understand the concepts of nursing, and I'm learning to applying them in lots of different ways. I haven't been forced to memorize a million pointless details because that isn't what our professors test us on. So no, I don't find it hard to maintain my GPA. There are definitely some challenges, yes, but overall, it's not been terribly challenging to remain a straight A student. Of course, I don't graduate until December, so now that my motivation in waning, you may see a sudden change in that attitude.

[ffweste]

Do you feel you are as prepared as you would have been if you had done a traditional program? I've heard it is common to feel unprepared as a graduate nurse, but I wondered if you feel a large difference in the level of preparedness.

Yes, I feel prepared. I am ready to get going, start work, pass my boards.

Were your theory/didactic courses taught online or did you go to class? If online, do you think you missed out on anything?
length of the program (12 mo, 15 mo, 18 mo?)
I am in a 15 month program - we had online and we went to class. I don't think that we missed anything. In our program - the only major difference between accelerated students and traditional was - we went to class over breaks. We had a regular course load during the semester. We just had summer classes, a winter inter-session, a May intersession, and summer classes again.

Is an accelerated program as good a preparation for eventual graduate studies?
Not sure, haven't even applied to grad schools - think I will work for a few years first.

Did you find it hard to maintain a decent GPA or think you could have had a higher GPA in a traditional program?
No, not really. As I said my program wasn't really loaded to make it anymore difficult for us than the traditional students.

[FriendlyGhost87]

Originally Posted by mbb21

Hey BrittRN2b!
I thought a lot of the same things you're saying not too long ago. I applied to the generic BSN program, but since I have a pretty good GPA, the dean of the program wanted me to try out the ABSN program. The thing is, I don't have a bachelors degree at all (I'm only 20!). At first, I thought it would be okay and I was all for it. Then I spoke with a number of people and if you can spare the time, it's well worth it to go through the regular BSN program. I was told by numerous advisors (as well as nurses) that nursing school is hard enough as it is and cramming into 18 mos. (or less) makes it even harder. I'm sure plenty of people have done it successfully and are GREAT nurses, but it depends on YOU. How do you learn? My mom is a registered nurse and has trained many student nurses. According to her, she has found that they are sometimes not as prepared as regular student nurses. But, like I said, it all depends on the individual. As for me personally, I want to learn as much as I can without feeling so rushed, but if you can handle it...More power to you !! Good luck!

Sounds like you and I had the same situation...only I chose a different path! I am also 20, but I chose to take the Accelerated route. I start May 12th (I CANNOT believe that's less than a month from now already!!...where did that time go??) I think everyone is different in how they retain and use information they learn. I personally LOVE a good challenge, love working fast paced, and love working under pressure...so I'm hoping these are qualities that will work on my side when it comes time for nursing school! I would have never even thought to apply to the ABSN program I'm about to start if it weren't for the nursing advisor at the school who told me I should...what intimidates me the most is my lack of experience, but I'm sure that everyone in the accelerated programs is in the same boat with that. I just want to say "thank you" to the people who are currently in accelerated programs now because it is nice to hear some insight. I'll be doing the 15 month program...it's only accelerated because we don't get summer breaks. Otherwise, in the fall and spring semesters, our classes are the same length as the traditional program! Anyways, this post was much too long! Sorry! Have a nice day everyone!

[mbb21]

Originally Posted by FriendlyGhost87

Sounds like you and I had the same situation...only I chose a different path! I am also 20, but I chose to take the Accelerated route. I start May 12th (I CANNOT believe that's less than a month from now already!!...where did that time go??) I think everyone is different in how they retain and use information they learn. I personally LOVE a good challenge, love working fast paced, and love working under pressure...so I'm hoping these are qualities that will work on my side when it comes time for nursing school! I would have never even thought to apply to the ABSN program I'm about to start if it weren't for the nursing advisor at the school who told me I should...what intimidates me the most is my lack of experience, but I'm sure that everyone in the accelerated programs is in the same boat with that. I just want to say "thank you" to the people who are currently in accelerated programs now because it is nice to hear some insight. I'll be doing the 15 month program...it's only accelerated because we don't get summer breaks. Otherwise, in the fall and spring semesters, our classes are the same length as the traditional program! Anyways, this post was much too long! Sorry! Have a nice day everyone!

Good luck to you! I don't want to sound discouraging to anyone going thru the ABSN program... Like I said I'm sure there are many nurses that have done it successfully!