Are accelerated programs fair?

Nurses General Nursing

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I hope this question doesn't seem too juvenile or simplistic...

Do you all think accelerated BSN programs are fair? :imbar I'm in a traditional BSN program and was complaining about how long summers were, and how we could have completed a semester of school in that time. Out of curiosity, I did a search for accelerated BSN programs (not all are second degree programs as I previously thought), and I found some as short as 12 months. I'm sure it is an intense 12 months, but for some reason I don't think this is fair. I was looking at a school that had both a traditional and an accelerated BSN program, and the traditional program had extra pre-requisites and extra classes in the actual BSN program. I would post the website, but I don't want this to look like an attack on any particular school. Will someone please tell me why they think this is fair/not fair?

Well, I am 21 and will soon be 22, so I am getting older. I guess I imagined myself well on my way by now. I wish I was one of those students who knew what they wanted out of life in high school. I am grateful to be in a program, but I will be almost 24 when I graduate.

from what i know of accelrated programs they are not for those just coming out of high school and going into college- am i wrong? from what i know of folks who have taken the programs they have been in school for a long time ( i will give my friends son as an example- he is going to be a surgeon- has all his prereq's and hasnt gotten a spot in school yet - its very long list i hear) so he took the accelerated because he already has the majority of ALL classes they would require in a traditional program. so if folks think the program is for first timer nurses it really isnt cause they have to have been going somewhere in the field of medicine to have all the credits necessary to become a nurse- one cant just go from high school and be a nurse in 12 months that i am aware of ( even ADN is 2 yrs ) - well i dont know about LPN but that is for RN anyways - i have also never heard of an accelrated ADN program or am i incorrect in that as well? also i dont think a say- history major? could just saunter in one day and take an accelerated class as they wuld not have the right curriculum behind them right?...... - if i am wrong please correct me

anyhow- even if you know what you wnat in high school ( i wasnt one of em lol ) so you could take extra credits and pay attention in school and take college classes to get ahead it would still be a minimum of 1 1/2 - 2 yrs of school to be an RN ( adn) or 3 - 4 for BSN ( maybe little less dont know how many yrs those clinical hours calculate into lol) ?

dont know didnt go to school straight from high school so i was "old " and well on my way to nowhere when i started lol. and i took my time doing a 2 yr program in 4 whilst i raised 4 kids lolol.

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Specializes in urology, pediatrics, med-surg.
also i dont think a say- history major? could just saunter in one day and take an accelerated class as they wuld not have the right curriculum behind them right?...... - if i am wrong please correct me

You're right...sort of. In my accel program, we have all types of majors, but most are science related in some way. My program is specifically a 2nd degree program, so everyone in our program is 22 or older, and has a first bachelors in something. Many still had to go back and take some prerequisites first. But one other thing I need to slightly correct you on....our program does not require any sort of nursing background. The 12 month program give us all the nursing classes, assuming we're starting from scratch. However, everything else must have been completed before starting the program and even then it is a huge amount crammed into a seemingly very short period of time.

I'm glad I'm doing it, but I advise anyone considering it to think it through very carefully first.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

accelerated programs are for people who complete a bachelors degree. it is assumed that if you've got you b.a. then you'll be able to handle the massive study load. i don't think i could do it just out of hs or even just after junior college. it's great if you want to bachelors degrees or are doing a direct entry masters.

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You're right...sort of. In my accel program, we have all types of majors, but most are science related in some way. My program is specifically a 2nd degree program, so everyone in our program is 22 or older, and has a first bachelors in something. Many still had to go back and take some prerequisites first. But one other thing I need to slightly correct you on....our program does not require any sort of nursing background. The 12 month program give us all the nursing classes, assuming we're starting from scratch. However, everything else must have been completed before starting the program and even then it is a huge amount crammed into a seemingly very short period of time.

I'm glad I'm doing it, but I advise anyone considering it to think it through very carefully first.

thanks for teh clarrification :) ive often thought of going on for BSn and just dont have time or money - but thought thisprogram was interesting- dont recall anything like it way back when :) many blessings

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Many of the accelerated programs remind me so much of the old "Diploma" program. It's intense and difficult. The student nurses I know that are going to them seem to be stressed, have a good knowledge base and seem to be having some major clinical time. I'm not sure about the "fair" part or your question. I think it all depends on what you want in your education. In my opinion many of the extra work that many "traditional" BSN prog's out there have are just money makers for the university. The classes do nothing to make you a better nurse. However if you go on for your masters etc... those extra classes you take may save you time in a long run. It's not about fair , it's about choices.

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