Accelerated BSN Programs For Those Who Want To Move Into Nursing
Accelerated BSN programs are an innovative approach to nursing education, available for individuals who hold a non-nursing bachelor's or higher degree and who are interested in moving into the field of nursing.
Accelerated BSN programs are an innovative approach to nursing education, available for individuals who hold a non-nursing bachelor's or higher degree and who are interested in moving into the field of nursing. Approximately 205 of these type programs are currently available nationwide.
Direct-entry MSN programs in nursing are also available for people with a bachelor's or higher degree in another profession, but this is the subject of another blog.
Accelerated BSN programs typically run 12 to 18 months, assuming all science and other prerequisites have been satisfied. These programs furnish the fastest route to a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Students take the same nursing courses and must undergo the same clinical hour requirements as traditional BSN programs, but the curriculum is much more compact, rigorous, and intellectually and physically demanding.
Admission standards for Accelerated BSN programs are competitive with programs typically requiring at least a 3.0 gpa and a meticulous prescreening process.
Accelerated programs do require prerequisites. Applicants with a prior degree almost always meet the liberal arts and social sciences requirements. However, many students do not meet the natural or mathematical sciences requirements, including statistics, microbiology, anatomy, and physiology.
Accelerated BSN programs are a full-time commitment: students should not work during the duration of the program. This requires keen financial planning and strategizing. Sufficient funding to cover school and living expenses must be acquired before starting these programs. Four years of full-time nursing school are compressed into an average of 15 months, with a very challenging credit load and intense clinical experiences. This leaves no time for outside employment.
Typical second-degree students are older, seasoned, responsible, motivated, and hold high academic expectations. Some are recent college graduates who are looking for the quickest route to the BSN. Accelerated students tend to excel in classroom theory and are eager in the clinical arena to gain practical experiences. They bring to nursing rich life experiences, diverse perspectives, unique skills sets, and prior education. These students take accountability for their own learning, maintain high-grade point averages, and almost always pass the nclex-RN on the first attempt.
