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.
Accelerated BSN programs are really nothing more than granting a someone whom already holds a BA or BS degree "transfer" status by accepting their previously completed undergrad work. However this only applies to core and liberal arts courses. Any pre-nursing and nursing related courses (A&P,Chem, Organic Chem, Micro, etc), must be completed either before or after being admitted to the progam (depending upon the school). Also not all programs give a blank slate to all courses. Some have a time limit for how far back previous classes (mainly science and math) could have been taken. If one took A&P I and II back in the 1980's, rest assured you will have to take them again.
In short depending upon the applicant's previous course work they may spend as much time as students without degree obtaining their BSN.
Those with a BA/BS in another field that go on for FNP/CNM at UCSF get their nursing degree in one year and move on to the masters program. They can do this, as some one else mentioned, because they already have a degree and have already taken the courses like undergrad and pre-reqs like you had to take; plus they have taken upper grad work as well. So in actuality they have done a lot more work. They can do this because the ONLY classes they take are nursing courses (because everything else is done), unlike the traditional ASN student that also has to take undergrad courses for their degree. Those students work their BUTTS off in that year.
...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.... 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..."
When I started my prereqs at the local junior college I was also planning on doing the ADN program. But when I found out - on my own - that it would take me 4 - 5 years (with all prereqs + divorce + court dates + 2 small kids + no help) to do the ADN program, I decided to just go for the BSN, Heck it was the same amount of time! The BIG BUTT about this is that the junior college counselors never told me about this...never. And when I brought it up they tried to keep me at junior college stating it was a shorter/faster course. I could not believe it. So, like you I was not privy to the information out there, but thankfully I found out and was able to transfer into BSN program.
But I still hate it when I ask questions to find out information about anything, but do not get the total inns and outs, because I do not know the right questions to ask! Even though it is their job to inform me of options. Argggg frustrating but I move on.
Have been all over UCSF's website and cannot find one single nursing program for BA/BS to BSN. Indeed cannot find even a straight ADN or BSN program. School of Nursing's website clearly states they do have a BA/BS to MSN/Masters program (in conjunction with another college), but does not offer a BSN program in any form.
Furthermore it seems (again, at least according to their website) UCSF has suspended it's BA/BS to MSN program as well.
When I was in a BSN program back in the early 90s there was no mention of accelerated programs. There were several advanced placement students in my program including a good number of RNs. They were only required to complete the final two semesters (out of six nursing semesters) and any other courses that they did not have from previous schools. I only learned about such programs recently when looking at program requirements and reading about the subject here.
Methinks "Accelerated BSN/Second Degree BSN" courses are rather a recent (say past ten years, give or take) incarnation brought about to deal with the nursing shortage.
When one considers for the most part back in the 1980's and early 1990's a majority of grads were still coming out of Diploma and Associate programs, there probably wasn't that much demand for persons seeking to enter nursing from career paths. Indeed from about the late 1980's through a good part of the 1990's nursing programs both hospital and college based were shutting down in large numbers due to lack of interest.
Far more common during either of the above periods would have been RN to BSN and or RN to MSN programs to help bridge the gap between the numerous Diploma and ADN/AAS nurses who wanted to move on, say to NPs or teaching.
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....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.
Um. No you would have not. I have been in a lot more hours than an ASN nurse, and a BS/BA to BSN puts in even more.
I did two years to get my pre-reqs AND transfer courses for the the University BSN program. The the program is three years. So two years plus three years equals five full years. And I took extra preceptorships in the summer and winter of my last year so I went without any school breaks.
Accelerated BSN nurses already have a BA/BS. They then take a year to a year and a half nursing program. So that equals five to five and a half years.
You went to school a year and a half for pre-reqs and then two years for your ASN. That is only three and a half years. Not four years full time.
Nobody is getting away with doing less work than you, if anything they are doing a lot more.
My sister graduated with her BSN from TWU in 1983 and it took 5 yrs.
I looked at the ABSN programs because I have a BE (EE). ALL of the programs required that you not work and that was not an option for me. I chose to go ASN route instead. It took a year of pre-reqs (2/semester) plus some of my credits transferred to complete the prep to apply to the ASN program. Once in, it was 72 hours to graduate. (I have 2 terms to go.)
Nursing will be a pay cut! (I currently earn $37/hr.) The difference for me is that once I do find a job, the likelihood of layoffs every 2 or 3 years is miniscule.
Because I have a solid foundation by my graduation point, I intend on applying for a RN-MSN program.
Honestly, I did not give credit where credit was due! I believed that my sister and my brother had it much easier than I did in my EE program. I couldn't have been more mistaken!
My sister got a traditional ASN. Two years, two semesters per year, 14 weeks per semester, 16 hours clinical per week.
I got an Accelerated BSN. One year, four quarters, 12 weeks per quarter, 24 hours clinical per week. I actually had more clinical hours than most traditional programs.
What I didn't have was summer off, or a long Christmas break. We got one week off between quarters - that's the big difference between the accelerated programs and the traditional programs. I had to leave class on Friday, drive 300 miles, get married on Saturday, drive 300 miles on Sunday, and start final exams on Monday. These programs aren't pared down versions of the traditional nursing programs. The only things pared down were time off (and my honeymoon.)
In my area there aren't 'accelerated' programs the way that you mentioned. However, if you have a Bachelor's degree in any area AND have taken A&P and statistics, you get right into the MSN program. At the end of 2 years, they enter nursing with their RN licensure and an MSN degree. We have to keep in mind that these people already put in four (or more) years of education though. Many students take 5-6 years to get their Bachelor's degree - similar to people taking 3 years to get an Associate's degree.
I hold a BS in Journalism and will be starting school in Jan. to complete prereqs (A&P, Micro, etc) to apply to one of many BSN programs in my area. Each program has a unique set of prereqs. I am trying to meet the requirements of multiple programs to increase my chances of acceptance. Some programs are accelerated and some are not. It is the same amount of credits, clinical hours, etc. as the traditional BSN tracks. And although I already hold a degree with MANY liberal arts credits, some do not meet the requirements of the program, so I am having to take additional courses. For example, one program requires public speaking. Even though I'm a communications/journalism major, I still have to take this course. I spent 5 years completing my undergraduate studies and am about to spend another 3 to 3.5 years on prereqs and nursing school. Does I think this make me smarter? No. If I am accepted in to an accelerated program and pass my courses, does this mean I have not earned the right to take the NCLEx? No. There are many means to an end, I think its wrong to judge someone because they may have found a more direct route than the path you took. This doesn't make them less qualified. The programs wouldn't be accredited if they weren't up to par.
.thumb.gif.5406a59d44f5c666e8ff3ebac639497a.gif){kind=avatar}
DoGoodThenGo
4,133 Posts
Accelerated BSN programs are really nothing more than granting a someone whom already holds a BA or BS degree "transfer" status by accepting their previously completed undergrad work. However this only applies to core and liberal arts courses. Any pre-nursing and nursing related courses (A&P,Chem, Organic Chem, Micro, etc), must be completed either before or after being admitted to the progam (depending upon the school). Also not all programs give a blank slate to all courses. Some have a time limit for how far back previous classes (mainly science and math) could have been taken. If one took A&P I and II back in the 1980's, rest assured you will have to take them again.
In short depending upon the applicant's previous course work they may spend as much time as students without degree obtaining their BSN.