Are Accelerated BSN programs too fast to be successful

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Do you think the accelerated programs rush the information and are too fast to do well on the licensing exam? I am deciding between a second degree two year or accelerated one year( I have a BA already). Obviously the sooner the better, but not if it's so intense I end up not learning as much or doing well. Any comments?

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Specializes in PCU, LTAC, Corrections.

I think it is what is best for you. I am looking both at trad. and ABSN programs. It might be possible for me to start a trad. program in the fall so is that works out I would go.

It really depends on the program. Some programs ( ABSN and trad.) are way to intense and have ridiculous rules or test requirements that makes it more stressful for the students.

Research the schools you are interested in and make a decision based on what you know you can handle and afford. In this time of low new grad hiring in certain parts of the country, it might be best to take the cheaper route. Go all out for you Masters...but keep a level fiscal head for the BSN.

If ABSN programs were to much to fast the national nursing board would not stand for it.

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My ABSN class had a 100% pass rate on NCLEX, so it's not impossible to learn and retain the info that's being thrown at you at lightening speed. Our program was 15 months long.

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care (CEN, CCRN).

I'm an accelerated 2nd degree BSN (12-month program), and I also teach at my program's nursing lab. Our program is tough, no question, but it produces outstanding nurses - we're currently running a 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate. We also, up until the last two cohorts when the local market for GNs generally went to pot, had a >90% employment rate within 3 months of graduation. It is entirely possible, if you are sufficiently motivated and dedicated, to learn the material for a BSN within the time constraints of the accelerated programs, and to translate that learning into practice.

The first half-semester (lab validations, health assessment) of our program is intentionally made very difficult to weed out marginal candidates as early as possible; we tend to lose about 20% of any given cohort, of which the vast majority are either pushed back a semester or transitioned to traditional BSN. That high initial bar is also there to teach you how to time-manage, work cooperatively and compensate for stress. If you get through our lab phase, there's really nothing you won't be able to handle in clinical. Then too, we actually do more clinical hours than traditional BSNs in our school; our Med-Surg 1 is 144 hours to their 104, our preceptorship is 210 hours to their 175, and they're allowed to count 40 hours of community health off their preceptor time where we do our 40 hours separately.

I have heard from traditional BSNs that our program is unnecessarily harsh, even going so far as a PICU nurse on my peds rotation who told me to my face that I had been abused and was suffering Stockholm syndrome. I don't see it that way at all. There's simply no room for babying and spoon-feeding in an accelerated BSN; we haven't the time for it. Then too, it takes a certain degree of mental toughness to get through our program that I haven't found in our school's traditional BSNs. Perhaps because of our rigor, our students tend to preferentially seek out high-acuity settings right out of the gate (emergency, critical care, perioperative, etc) where traditionals tend to go the, well, traditional route (a year of med-surg and then whatever). Our students also tend to be much more mature than traditionals, partly due to age and experience and partly due to the "work together or die alone" ethos we instill in the lab course. (To wit, I once attended a Student Nurses' Association town-hall meeting with the Dean of the SON, at which I was the only ASD student. The traditionals spent the entire meeting backbiting each other, badmouthing their faculty, crying about issues that we had successfully resolved years before, and generally displaying behaviors with which, frankly, they wouldn't have lasted a week in the ASD track.)

In short: yes, it can be done, and yes, you can succeed - if you're willing to put in the effort.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think murphyle raises some good points. The fact that it is possible does not mean that large numbers of people can do it. It takes someone who is totally committed to the program (and willing to suffer a bit) to be successful in the accelerated programs. Most people don't really want to do that and are better off in a program of traditional length. But for those that do ... I believe it can be done.

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I currently am in an accelerated BSN programe and am doing well with keeping it straight. Learning the material isn't the problem. Keep the motivation is the hardist because you only have a weeklong break in between quarters. I had my prerequisites done before I entered the program and still have no social life. It is entirely possible to be successful and I enjoy the fact I will be done in 3 years. I found it was easyer to get admited to ABSN programe. I really depends on your other obligations.

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I think it really depends on your personality. I'm in an ABSN program that has a reputation for being, um, difficult. I am doing well and although I have had periods of absolute stress and hating school, for the most part I'm doing well and feeling good about it. I have classmates who are in histrionics though. Well, maybe that's unfair. I have classmates who are having an incredible negative experience with the program. It's definitely a commitment, but I'm not gonna lie, I still have time to relax. Social life is a little tricky b/c of coordinating people's schedules around mine, but I watch TV and sleep in on the weekends. I sleep less than I normally like around exams, but nothing major.

I think you really have to figure out what kind of experience is best for you, and how well equipped you are to handle stress. I think I'm learning a lot and I know graduates from my program are very highly regarded by local hospitals. I had horrible anxiety when I started my prerequisites, but worked through that and while I am competitive with myself about grades, I'm definitely not a type A tightly wound study-bot.

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I'm currently looking at ABSN programs to apply to within the next year - I graduate with an engineering BS in May 2011. (engineering = icky and lots of attention to metals and numbers, hence wanting a major/career change!!)

I love a challenge and am wondering if I can ask what program/school you are at?? Thanks!!

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I guess my concern would be the condensed clinical hours. I'd be ticked if I only had 140 hours of med surge clinicals and only 210 hours of preceptorship. (In my traditional BS program we have 230 hrs med surge and 500 - 650 hrs of preceptorship)

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The programs I've been looking at (competitive/expensive albeit) claim their students do around 700... not too shabby!

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The programs I've been looking at (competitive/expensive albeit) claim their students do around 700... not too shabby!

700 in one area, or total?

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I guess my concern would be the condensed clinical hours. I'd be ticked if I only had 140 hours of med surge clinicals and only 210 hours of preceptorship. (In my traditional BS program we have 230 hrs med surge and 500 - 650 hrs of preceptorship)

In my program we have the same amount of hours that the traditional BSN students at our school have. And if you were going to murphyle's nursing program as a traditional BSN, you'd be getting 104 hours of med surg, not the 140. I think the hours will vary across the board, and being in an accelerated program doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't getting the clinical hours.

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