Accelerated BSN Degrees (clarification)

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 10, 2015

Accelerated programs came about to help those who already have a bachelors degree change professions. I am unaware of any accelerated programs for prelicensure education without another prior degree. However, you can see if any of your AP classes will count for college credits or try to CLEP out of courses to spend less time on prerequisites for the nursing program.

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 10, 2015

No ABSN programs without a previous degree. You should be able to use your AP classes (did you take the exams, and if so, did you score a 4 or 5?) and enter university as a sophomore, essentially shaving a year off the program.

Good luck! I wish my high school junior was as motivated as you appear to be!

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 10, 2015

If you're this motivated, I'm curious why you don't go to med school and become an anesthesiologist? Why CRNA?

DoGoodThenGo · Jan 11, 2015

Second degree/accelerated BSN programs are basically over glorified transfer schemes.

In lieu of requiring students with previous four year degrees from having to apply to undergraduate and complete two years of "pre-nursing" credits, ABSN courses accept the previous four year degree of credits as the pre-nursing component. Those courses take care of the general education and other non-nursing distribution requirements. Thus all you have left are the nursing and perhaps a few related classes to make up the rest of the 120 or whatever number of credits needed for second four year degree.

If you are a high school student there is nothing stopping you from simply taking college credits soon as a local college will allow (here in NYC high school senior and even juniors can take courses at many colleges). This will knock off some of the lower level "pre-nursing" classes required before applying to a undergraduate BSN program.

In fact for highly motivated/academically gifted students much of the lower division requirements can be completed in under two years by taking more than twelve credits each semester and or taking classes during winter and summer sessions. The only hold ups would be courses that must be taken in sequence such as the sciences. Their you will need two semesters regardless.

You say you've taken AP anatomy already. Just note for nursing school purposes requirements are for human anatomy and physiology with a lab component. Same for general and organic chemistry.

flyersfan88 · Jan 11, 2015

Second degree/accelerated BSN programs are basically over glorified transfer schemes.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by scheme? Just curious about your choice of words.

Signed,

An ABSN graduate with an awesome job.

DoGoodThenGo · Jan 11, 2015

Can you elaborate on what you mean by scheme? Just curious about your choice of words.
Signed,
An ABSN graduate with an awesome job.

Was not implying there is anything wrong with the concept and perhaps the word "scheme" carries nefarious connotations. Just that the whole plan of ABSN programs replaces what people did before they existed; you enrolled at a college or university and transferred previous credits, took what was remaining for "pre-nursing" then applied to that program proper.

Second degree BSN programs eliminate much if not most of the uncertainty of that process because if accepted your previous course work is a given, long as it meets the requirements and so forth.

Prior to ABSN programs popping up all over most persons one knows with four year or even graduate degrees went to an ADN program.

adrag · Jan 13, 2015

Thank you for the wishes. I scored a 5 on all except the Statistics i scored a 4 on which is still good enough to be considered for college credit. However if its not to much trouble i have a question about "good" CRNA schools, and i used the quotes on good because all of websites i checked said that the scoring system for CRNA schools is rated 1 to 5 which is fine but my concern came when i read that these scores are very opinion based. Which is very confusing for me because one school could be better than another but due to the opinions it could have a lower rank if that makes sense. Thank you again.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jan 13, 2015

Before you would be eligible for a CRNA program, you would first have to be a licensed, working RN. At this point, you are looking for a good BSN program, one that would prepare you well to pass the NCLEX (licensing exam for all RNs), not a CRNA program.

Typically CRNA programs ask for a minimum of a couple of years of acute/critical care experience: ED/ICU/Trauma care. In other words, an RN who already knows his or her way around critical care.

Step One: BSN program :)

Then go to step two!

advsmuch08 · Jan 14, 2015

If it were me, I'd slow down and focus on the BSN first. Talk to your advisor and get a plan in place to graduate on time. For non-nursing classes pick a wide variety to explore interests and broaden horizons. Join campus organizations. Volunteer in a variety of settings to see the various facets of healthcare. Consider working part time as a nurse aide. Slow down and enjoy the process. Best wishes!

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jan 14, 2015

Have you applied to any schools yet? If not, you need to get on it. When you go on college visits, there are advisors there who can tell you how many credits you have with AP classes and which they accept. My daughter entered college as a sophomore because she did college

level classes that transferred.

Like I said, you need to get apps in, your parents need to do the FAFSA, and you go from there. Early acceptance is a key for scholarships, etc. There are no shortcuts, you will have to get your BSN first, get a job in critical care for 2 years and then apply to CRNA school. Good luck!