Annoyed!....When did accelerated BSN programs come about?

Dreamer-RN · Mar 14, 2009

Last semester, for my Research Design paper, I've written a paper on second career nurses. It included researching various literature that addressed my inquiry. According to one of the journal articles, second accelerated programs have been in existence since 1971 (Seldomridge & DiBartolo, 2005). They were originally created for individuals having a bachelor's degree and desiring an accelerated route to becoming an RN (Seldomridge & DiBartolo, 2005). I've also read an article mentioning the recruitment of non-traditional nurses for addressing the nursing shortage at that time (Lerner et al., 1994). I think these factors have contributed to the increasing numbers of accelerated programs over the years and of course, career changers entering the field.

The reason it takes less time to become a nurse is due to the fact these students have completed the General Education requirements typical to baccalaureate programs. Why should they be required to repeat these requirements? It makes sense to transfer these courses and permit them to focus on core nursing courses. However, accelerated students have to complete nursing pre-requisites if the required courses were not satisfied by their first bachelor's degree. So, technically, it can take these students between 2.5 to 3.5 years to complete (assuming they have to complete the pre-reqs). Otherwise, if the pre-req courses were met, individuals can become an RN between one to two years. I am unsure on the total clinical hours, but I would expect the clinical hours are comparable for accredited programs.

Some career changers do enter the nursing fields according to the reasons you have mentioned. However, being a non-traditional nursing student, I did not enter the field for good pay because I am coming from a high-paying career/position. The hours worked in my previous career were flexible too. As long as the work was getting done and I was putting in the required hours per week, I pretty much made my own schedule (had some good managers who trusted their employees were not abusing their hours). I entered nursing because I wanted more out of my career than what the corporate world was providing and because of my strong desire to make an impact on individuals’ lives and humanity as a whole. Therefore, if the assumption was made, do not assume all career changers enter nursing for money, flexibility, etc. Even if they did, it does not equate to being a bad nurse. They may well become a great nurse.

Reference(s):

Lerner, D. J., D'Agostino, R. B., Musolino, J., & Malspeis, S. (1994). Breaking with tradition: the new groups in professional nursing. Medical Care, 32(1), 67-80.

Seldomridge, L. A., & Dibartolo, M. C. (2005). A profile of accelerated second bachelor's degree nursing students. Nurse Educator, 30(2), 65-68.

cruisin_woodward · Mar 15, 2009

I an sure that some BSN grads feel the same way about ADNs making the same money as BSNs for less schooling...I have more of an issue with on line program with no clinical component...I don't care if you were a CNA before....I wouldn't want you as my nurse!

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 15, 2009

My accelerated BSN program is 60 credits not including pre-reqs, and is completed in 15 months. Most ADN programs are also 60 credits and DO include pre-reqs like English, Psych, Math, Chem and A&P. So the accelerated BSN program actually covers more, they just squeeze it into less time.

We take classes all through the summer and have very short vacations, and the school day is very long, depending on the term. I'm not sure how many clinical hours ADN students take, but I'll be doing 2 8hour days in clinical per week.

Prettyladie · Mar 15, 2009

ive been told the reason for the accelerated program is because they feel that if you can handle completing a four year degree they know you have what it takes to succeed. so that is why they allow for the accelerated program in a year. thats what many teachers have told me.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 15, 2009

ive been told the reason for the accelerated program is because they feel that if you can handle completing a four year degree they know you have what it takes to succeed. so that is why they allow for the accelerated program in a year. thats what many teachers have told me.

I think that's a very weak argument. Not all bachelor's degrees are created the same... Just because you had what it takes to earn a bachelor's in psych or in art history or computer science, it does NOT mean you're cut out for nursing.

Nevertheless, I think accelerated degrees do have their place, because as already mentioned, they're only accelerated because you have to do all the pre-reqs before you enter. You still have to do all the same nursing courses that regular BSN's do.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

They've already spent 4 years in college. So the time you spent gathering your pre-reqs, they've done their time. Often after the four years of college they have a few semesters of pre-reqs to take such as A&P, Microbiology, if their first degree didn't include these. Then they apply to competative program and might have to get on a wating list.

Then they do an intense program of putting two years of nursing school that the same clinical requirements as the rest of us, in one year.

It's no cake walk and their requirements for graduation are no less that yours or any other BSN/ADN nurse.

So the idea that they get a degree in one year is laughable becuase it took them many years of school to get there.

I admire those who can handle the rigors of an accellerated program. USF's accelerated students do clinicals at my facility and they graduate fine nurses.

cruisin_woodward · Mar 18, 2009

They've already spent 4 years in college. So the time you spent gathering your pre-reqs, they've done their time. Often after the four years of college they have a few semesters of pre-reqs to take such as A&P, Microbiology, if their first degree didn't include these. Then they apply to competative program and might have to get on a wating list.
Then they do an intense program of putting two years of nursing school that the same clinical requirements as the rest of us, in one year.
It's no cake walk and their requirements for graduation are no less that yours or any other BSN/ADN nurse.
So the idea that they get a degree in one year is laughable becuase it took them many years of school to get there.
I admire those who can handle the rigors of an accellerated program. USF's accelerated students do clinicals at my facility and they graduate fine nurses.

Thank you! I used to think they watered down the program...how could they learn everything so fast? But they do not water it down. They are responsible fir the same content we learned in 16 weeks in 4. AND on average (where I went) they blew us out of the water as far as GPAs go. I have worked with quite a few, and they were excellent!

laughoutloud8 · Nov 12, 2009

This is a random question, that I am intrested in knowing. Have accelerated BSN nursing programs always existed, the one for career changers? Or have the just recently(say in the past 10 yrs) come about? And if so did they come about due to the nursing shortage. I started nursing school in 2002, but had never really heard of them until around 2005-2006. And now they seem to be all over the place.
It really annoys me, they say in less than 1 year you can become a RN. I went to an Associate degree program had two years of Nursing. And a year and half of pre req, so basically I was in school full time for 4 years for my associate degree in nursing. At first this didn't bother me b/c I started pre reqs the fall after i graduated HS, and graduated with my ADN when I was only 22. But why b/c someone has a BA in another field does it take them less time to get their BSN, when what they did before has nothing to do with nursing. I understand the pre req credits go towards the degree, but nursing? Some say become a nurse in 1 yr, I had 2 years of clinical. Do they t put in the same amount of clinical hours. And because they get a BSN they are looked as begin more educated than someone with an adn. I guess thats my fault, I should of went to a 4yr school from the begining, I would of graduated the same time but with a BSN instead. It p*sses me off. The ones that I have encountered,... I don't even think really like nursing at all, they just thought the pay was good and liked fllexable hours, which to me makes a bad nurse.

What I get from this post is your angry about your very own educational choices you have made. 4 years for an associates full time is crazy to me but that is the route you choose so I wonder did you have a high gpa after the pre reqs were finished to transfer to a University?

Would I say I am more educated than you along with the admission folks, sure. The only reason I say that is because I have a discipline in another field not directly related to nursing.

Now if you went to school full-time at a 4 year University like I did and ended up not doing what you liked at a higher tuition cost and finally find you have humanitarian drive now instead of the montarian drive you would want to get out ASAP too. Hell there are people who think they want to do nursing their whole life, hate it and go pursue a Business degree.

Everyone learns a lesson while attending higher education. With your RN and associate there are some master programs available to you. Accelerated programs have been around since the 90's. My suggestion for you and to all, is to research all you options because there is always more than one way to go about things.

elkpark · Nov 12, 2009

In every US state, the BON mandates the requirements, including specific number of clinical hours in different clinical areas, to be eligible for licensure. If the program doesn't meet those requirements, the BON doesn't approve it. Accelerated BSN students complete the same educational and clinical requirements as diploma, ADN, and "regular" BSN programs -- they just have the same amount of school crammed into a shorter, more intense, faster-paced time frame.

UVA Grad Nursing · Nov 17, 2009

My University opened its accelerated BSN program for those who had already completed BS/BA degrees in other subjects in 1988. Now we offer a Direct Entry MSN program for those with non-nursing degrees.

We have been offering traditional BSN preparation (a 4-year program) since the early 1950s.

Charmin Collins · Dec 4, 2009

I really do understand your frustration because I would feel the same way in your situation, but there is really nothing you can do about it now. Count your blessings and be proud of your personal growth as a person and as a nurse.To answer your question they are fairly new to me too, I have only heard of a few in my area. I hear that they are pretty hard and time consuming as compared to an average paced nursing school. :heartbeat:redbeathe