Are Accelerated BSN programs really that sleep depriving? I was a straight A student and had my fair share of sleep (3 and 4 hrs) deprivation and regularly functioned on 6 hrs of sleep but I am boggled at how it is realistically possible to memorize, listen, and function safely (ie. clinicals) after a week of 4 hrs of sleep per night. At the 4 hr mark I could tangibly feel myself all but stop retaining no matter how hard I tried. I could do several days in a row but after 3 or 4 nights I felt stupid. I may have the memorized answers but I could no longer extrapolate with them. I functioned best with an all day study schedules (weekends too) and 6 hrs of sleep with frequent breaks in undergrad but I wonder if even that can prepare me for what I am about to endure.
What is a firm and very possible sleep schedule going to be for the average week? hard week? easy week?
To answer the not sleeping question, I was prematurely guessing, based off of what I have heard about these programs that sleep become a luxury as opposed to a necessity.
I had one semester which required constant 5 or 6 hour sleep nights (weekends included) in order to get an A with one-three day breaks maybe once every 2 or three weeks depending on the material. I had not taken the prerequisites and wanted to see if I could do it. It was an advanced physiology course (had not taken the A&P I and II prerequisites. I was also taking a genetics and economics course and working about 20-25 hours a week.
I was assuming an accelerated nursing program would be a repeat or worse of this.
i think its great to reallize it can be intense..... but at least in my program NOBODY dropped out .. (athough the first month in a few thought about it) But the fact we all made it speaks to the fact that it is doable . When you go in with an attitude that it will consume everything i think its a good thing because you are pleasantly surprised whereas those that thought the hype was excessive got upset sometimes when it did get intense at times. good luck
lkwashington
557 Posts
This is a good question.