A-BSN program for 12 months straight, or 15 month program w/ summer off?

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For people in Accelerated BSN programs-

Would you think it a better idea to:

1. Enter a 12 month A-BSN program that had no breaks (and get into the workforce sooner)

Or

2. Enter a 15 month A-BSN program with the summer off (And the opportunity for a mental break and internship... and the internship hopefully leading to a fast job placement)

Thoughts appreciated, especially from those who have been there/done that! :)

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Hmmm...I don't know. Do you get a winter break in the 12 month program? I am in an accelerated 15 month program now (without summer breaks) and it goes from May of one year to August of the next year. I would love to be done in May instead of August because time is precious to me and 3 months is a lot, but on the other hand, I don't know if I would have survived without the Christmas break I got!

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I do think the 12 month program has a winter break.

I suppose my biggest questions are: do you think a mental break would be appreciated, or knowing that you're done in 12 months is enough motivation to get through without a (summer) break? And do you think it would be beneficial to have a free summer in order to get an internship that might help land a job after graduation?

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It's really subjective to your own feelings, I mean, you know yourself better than anyone!

For me, knowing I'm done in 12 months feels a lot better than 15 months! Even now, with 6 months to go, I am wishing I was in a 12 month program and not a 15 month, so I'd only have 3 months left. :p And the way I see it is why get an internship when you could have a real job that pays better?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I'm currently in a 15-month accelerated program and definitely can't wait for the 2 wks break in the summer. I was also interested in a 12-month program and my professor happened to tell me he went through a 12-month accelerated program many years ago and it was brutal.

I'm glad I didn't go the 12 month route. To each is own. The 12-month program I was also interested in had a lower NCLEX pass rate than my 15-month program. Hmm, wonder why?

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I'm halfway done a 12mo ABSN program. I say go the 12mo route. Yes, it's crazy demanding of your time and energy, but I'll also be done 3 months earlier than if I had gone with a 15mo program. That's 3 months that I'll be able to spend preparing for the NCLEX and hopefully working.

My program has all the days off that traditional students have with the exception of summer break. We got a few days off in the fall for a "Fall study break", a few weeks off over Christmas, a week off for spring break and then we'll get a week off between winter and spring semesters. Oh, and holidays (obviously). The breaks that we get are just enough to allow me to recharge my batteries and then continue to trudge along. It's hard, but very do-able. And my 12-mo program has high NCLEX passing rates. It was a no-brainer for me. BUT, like the PP said, to each their own.

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I thought 15 month programs also ran through much of the summer. So I'm curious how long the break is.

Do you know what the possibility is of lining up some kind of experience over a summer break? Obviously, having the time available for an internship doesn't mean much if there aren't any internships to be had. What's the job market like where you are? If it's very tight, any increased networking/experience certainly couldn't hurt and any chance to get a foot in the door helps.

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The 12-month program I was also interested in had a lower NCLEX pass rate than my 15-month program. Hmm, wonder why?

This is a very good point the OP should consider! Even though I said I would prefer to be in school for a shorter amount of time, if the 12 month program you're looking at has a lower NCLEX pass rate than the 15 month program, I might go with the 15 month.

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I'd go with option 2. It seems as though that a longer program might be easier assuming that classes are more spread out and less bundled together. Plus, your brain would enjoy sometime to relax and just watch mindless tv to get away from the pressure of nursing school.

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I'd most def. go with option 2.

If your program is as intense as mine is, you're going to want/need that summer break.

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When do the programs end, and how does that line up with the new grad hiring schedules of area hospitals?

For example, most of the new grad programs here in Virginia start in the summer (and are timed around the May grads). There were very few openings for December grads this year. Two major Level 1 medical centers had 60-70 openings each for May BSN grads, and only 10 openings for December BSN grads.

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I'm in a 15 month program and can say that the month off in the summer was certainly appreciated, when comparing programs I also found the NCLEX pass rates corresponded to the length of the program

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