Accelerated BSN programs

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Jan 23, 2012

I completed an accelerated program in 14 months. It was tough. A typical day was…classes on campus for three days…then 12-hour clinical for two or three days (3 days during the summer. Yes, we received Sundays off during the summer). The school I attended did not incorporate any adult learning theories. The courses were conducted the same as traditional course, only at a much quicker rate. I did not have any kind of life for the 14 months except for Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. If I had it all to do again, I would! I love what I do.

CDEWannaBe · Jan 23, 2012

I'm preparing to apply to an accelerated program. I've been picking away at prereqs at a community college, where classes are cheaper and there are more evening and online options.

It's different being an older student. As an adult I've learned not to procrastinate and to keep up with the classwork. Was a mediocre student in my 20's. Am a straight A student now in my late 30's.

If you go back to school I really recommend renting books from www.Chegg.com. Saves you a ton of money for books you don't need to keep.

leenak · Jan 23, 2012

That is funny about being a mediocre student in your 20s. I was the same way. In my 20s, grades and school weren't a top prioririty. So much has changed. Now I'm an A student in my 30s. I've applied to one accelerated BSN program for the Fall. I hope I get in :)

iPink, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2012

I'm graduating from an ABSN program. Every program is different, but mine has certainly kicked my butt. All my time and energy was poured into studying, reading, writing care plans, and group projects. I definitely couldn't have worked a full-time job and be a successful student in this program. If I could do it all again, I wouldn't have gone through an ABSN program, instead I would have liked to have stuck to the path of being an RN or PA back when I first entered college.

In my program of about 40+ students who started, we lost about a dozen students who either failed out, quit school entirely, dropped the program or dropped to a part-time basis.

ABSNs are doable, just learn time management. You can be successful in these programs even if you were an "average" student during your first degree. Good luck to everyone.

thecareerchanger, BSN · Jan 24, 2012

Thanks for the replies. Funny enough I considered a nursing career in my late teens and even got my CNA although I never used it because I was kind of grossed out by certain things (namely during my internships working in a nursing home). Anyway, almost 14 years later with a lot of life experience under my belt, my job is no longer fullfilling to me (I am a new supervisor in a welfare center) and an experience with my youngest child in the hospital made me to once again toseriously consider nursing. Initially I wanted to get my MSW but stopped matriculating because I was not sure if it made financial sense to continue (entry level MSWs make close to what I make now as a supervisor without a master's and the program I was in was very expensive) and I feel that I would have more flexibility in the health field with an RN license than a LMSW license (I wanted to be a medical or health social worker). As an undergrad I had a 3.2 gpa but in my grad program I had a 4.0 gpa for the 2 semesters I completed so I guess I am like the rest of you in that I feel more serious and focused in my 30s than I was in my 20s. My husband seems very supportive of the nursing thing although it would be a little bit difficult financially when in school because I would need to leave my job. If I had to do it again I would have just stuck to nursing but maybe by me having the experience I have now (both personally and professionally) I can add something to the field that I would not have been able to do otherwise.

leenak · Jan 25, 2012

Well if you think a MSW is something you'd like, I'd still think about it before making the BSN plunge. I don't know what MSWs make but I know a RN makes a lot less than I make now. It makes no financial sense for me at all to make a career change but it makes sense to me emotionally.

Annaiya, NP · Jan 25, 2012

I did an ABSN and I think they are the way to go for adult students. It would have been a complete waste of my time to do a traditional program where you aren't in school in the summer. This way you can just focus for the duration of the program and then be done and out on your own. Nursing is a wonderful, rewarding career, but keep in mind that you generally work your a** off. I like to be up and busy at work, but I am so exhausted after 13 hours of non-stop working that I am useless when I get home. I am in my mid-thirties and already know I can't keep this pace forever.