Accelerated Nursing Programs

I'd check with the program you have in mind. My accelerated BSN program had about 20% students who had just graduated with their first degree when our program started. No way had they completed before they applied! I'm sure most accelerated programs are used to the question. Don't feel badly about asking questions of your intended program.

Do ask about how much of the program you can do in advance as pre-reqs. I was very jealous of my fellow students who had known to take pharmacology ahead of time! My school didn't encourage that as a pre-req but accepted it if you already had it.

It depends on when your chosen school has applications ready. Call the nursing dept of the school and ask them. If you are finishing in December, then you still need to look at what pre-reqs are required, AFTER your degree is completed. Almost all second degree people have pre-reqs to complete BEFORE you apply to the actual nursing program.

You need all the English, math (probably including statistics), history/philosophy/psychology type courses completed, then all of your clinical sciences including microbiology, pathophysiology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology; and many schools require a course in psych called lifespan development or something similar.

The school you are thinking about will have all the info in a packet. Call them and they will mail it to you. Or, you can go online to your chosen school and look up the info there. All the schools around the country have different application due dates.

Hope this helps.,

Yea im actually taking all the pre req courses under my BA degree in Biochem. I called but no one is picking up =/. This is for the StonyBrook Nursing program btw.

Apply. I have 3 classmates who finished their degree just as they started nursing school.

I just found out that not all ABSN programs require a previous degree.

Wow, which schools have this caro?

Georgia State University, Union University (TN), Lakeview College of Nursing (IL) (to name a few). On allnursingschools.com, there is a section that is specifically for accelerated BSN programs. They distinguish between the ABSN programs and the second degree programs.

Some are referred to as "Second Degree accelerated BSN", and others are referred to as "Accelerated BSN". Having said that, not all of the programs that don't include the term "second degree" are open to people with out a prior degree. I am surprised at the number of ABSN programs that don't require a degree. My school is discussing having summer semesters, and they are going to refer to it as "accelerated". I really hope they can get enough the faculty to go along with it.

Here is a list of some other ABSN programs: http://www.allnursingschools.com/featured/accelerated-bsn/

There are others that don't require a previous degree that are not on that list.

Processing........

caro3334Re: Accelerated Nursing Programs

I just found out that not all ABSN programs require a previous degree

Many of my fellow soldiers called the accelerated nursing program as a "Shake and Bake" program. The schools will let you in the program and spin your head with lots of info in such a short time without really absorbing it in your head-- sure you'll have clinicals too,but these do not mean you are really learning. Then when you become an RN, you barely have a clue what you are doing because you are still dizzy and did not really have time to process the info to turn it into knowledge. I have worked both in civilian and military hospitals and I never failed to identify who just came out from the shake and bake schools.

YOu might not like the fact, but the harsh reality is out there waiting for you when you come out from that kind of schools because this program is designed to desperately fill the gap in the nursing shortage, but not to protect you from knowing very little.

Traditional BSN program will accept your credits too if you already have a college degree, so why not go there or ADN program which is known for instilling critical thinking and excellent nursing skills.

Many of my fellow soldiers called the accelerated nursing program as a "Shake and Bake" program. The schools will let you in the program and spin your head with lots of info in such a short time without really absorbing it in your head-- sure you'll have clinicals too,but these do not mean you are really learning. Then when you become an RN, you barely have a clue what you are doing because you are still dizzy and did not really have time to process the info to turn it into knowledge. I have worked both in civilian and military hospitals and I never failed to identify who just came out from the shake and bake schools.

This was not my experience. I am 21 years out of my 2nd degree accelerated BSN program. I received a fabulous education that well prepared me for my nursing career. In addition, my program made sure I got clinical experiences that nurses I knew from other schools could only dream about....community health, home health, Peds, PICU, school nursing...plus I was able to run a support group for displaced farm wives and do visiting nurse work for deaf clients in my school's region (I'm an interpreter). The school worked very hard to make sure my education was the finest possible and tailored experiences to my skills. When I got my first hospital job, I was quite ready.

Was it easy? No it wasn't. But as a self supporting adult with no financial backing from anyone, it was (at the time) the only way I could become a nurse and get back to full employment as quickly as possible. An ADN or a traditional BSN program would have had staggering opportunity costs for me.

I've spoken on the topic of accelerated programs for years. I know they are not all equal. It definitely pays to investigate before you commit. However, for the right student? They can be a wonderful tool.

caro3334Re: Accelerated Nursing Programs

I just found out that not all ABSN programs require a previous degree

Many of my fellow soldiers called the accelerated nursing program as a "Shake and Bake" program. The schools will let you in the program and spin your head with lots of info in such a short time without really absorbing it in your head-- sure you'll have clinicals too,but these do not mean you are really learning. Then when you become an RN, you barely have a clue what you are doing because you are still dizzy and did not really have time to process the info to turn it into knowledge. I have worked both in civilian and military hospitals and I never failed to identify who just came out from the shake and bake schools.

YOu might not like the fact, but the harsh reality is out there waiting for you when you come out from that kind of schools because this program is designed to desperately fill the gap in the nursing shortage, but not to protect you from knowing very little.

Traditional BSN program will accept your credits too if you already have a college degree, so why not go there or ADN program which is known for instilling critical thinking and excellent nursing skills.

?

I am already in the second semester of a traditional BSN program. :) My school is planning on having a summer semester and they refer to it as "accelerated". I hope and pray it works out.