Best BSN fast track degree ?

RN403, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

"....there's really no way ill get enough A's to get a the average nursing school requirement GPA"

First, you have to change your thinking. Myself as with many others have struggled with science courses and have lived to tell the tale. Does your school offering tutoring? Have you tried watching YouTube videos to understand the content in a different way than what your professor is teaching? When there is will there is a way...

"I think I am going to do the BSN fast track path. Pick a major such as Hospital administration, psychology, etc. Is this a bad idea?"

From the pre-reqs you have listed I think you have taken a great chunk of courses that are usually required for BSN (or really any nursing) programs. Have you mapped out exactly which schools you are planning to get into? When you do I would reach out to someone in admissions or possibly someone who directs or works within the nursing department and ask to meet or talk with them about the courses you have already taken and what other pre-reqs they require.

Maybe you could go in as sort of a "General Studies" major, take a year for pre-reqs, and apply to the nursing program at a later time. Make sure they allow this. Nursing programs are usually strict on their admission processes.

You could pick a health related major such as Biology, Health Administration, Psych, etc. and go from there. However, be cautioned that ABSN programs are intense. It is by no means an easy route to a nursing degree. They are truly accelerated. At least in a traditional BSN program the pace is a bit dwindled.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Oct 19, 2015

I think I am going to do the BSN fast track path. Pick a major such as Hospital administration, psychology, etc. Is this a bad idea? Does anyone know the best degree to choose? This would mean if I get into a program as soon as I graduate i would be a nurse in about 3.5 years? Has anyone taken this path? Thank you so much. Your advice is SO greatly appreciated.

What makes you think that you will be competitive for ABSN programs? ABSN programs can be more competitive than traditional BSN path because there are less of them and take less students. In addition, they are very fast paced. One of my ABSN instructors referred it to "nursing school on crack". If you do not think that you have the ability to get good enough grades to get into a traditional program, then you will not make it through an ABSN program.

Nursing classes can be more difficult than pre-req classes because the tests require critical thinking instead of pure memorization. In addition, the classes build upon each other. For example, a Med/Surg test may require you to pull knowledge from Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology classes that you took in previous semesters.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 19, 2015

Many ABSN program admit students with 3.8-4.0 undergrad GPA not to mention tuition is at the post-bac/graduate rate

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

Well, a traditional BSN may be the easiest path to get into. At least in my area. The community colleges, accelerated BSNs, and direct entry MSN programs are full of people who earned a degree and want to go back to nursing. In my area, a lot of people who did not get into the program I graduated from went on to earn a BSN quickly from one of the universities.

Also, some of your classes may not apply. I would not take any more useless classes till you know what you want to do and where you will apply. If you take a different chem then what is required, you will be retaking the correct chem. Some programs do not let you take classes for an endless amount of time. You may be applying for waivers towards the end of whatever program and may be denied.

Also, a previous bachelor degree may make getting financial aid more difficult and add on a ton of debt. My advice? Crack down and try to work as little while studying as much as possible. Get to the bio lab or chem lab to get help as much as you can. Ask advice. Research which teachers have higher ratings online.

My advice? Start researching programs in your area and find out what classes you do need to take.

oldsockventriloquist · Oct 19, 2015

So, just to make sure, you're going to get your first college degree, before pursuing a second college degree. Even if the ABSN program is one year, that's five years for two degrees, assuming there's no interim year between those periods. Instead, why not just look at two year BSN programs, where you are finishing nursing courses as a junior and senior, or ADN to RN-to-BSN, which could take about 3 years.

If you all ready have a degree, I still think that for the most part, a two year BSN program would be a lot cheaper than most ABSN programs, especially if you are getting in-state tuition for the BSN. And it's usually not that much longer, and sometimes it's about the same time to get either degree. Meaning I have yet to see a program, which is less than a year for ABSN, with some being 18-24 months (4 semesters, or six quarters). And the tuition usually is much more expensive.

So, the end result is that you either save a few months, but pay way more than a two year BSN. This only helps if you can get a job right away and don't have trouble in the job market. If you get a job at the same time the two year program grad does (let's say you both start in fall), then I can't imagine it was worth it. Again, this is all assuming you have a degree, which if you do not, you will be spending extra time getting a BSN and paying more money to do so. And like what is stated earlier ABSN programs are very competitive to get into (I believe they receive different funding and can have less spots than a BSN program). You also need to consider that you are now competing with college grads, who have been out in the work place for potentially years. Think about what type of experiences they might have (hint - years of being a CNA/NAC).

One other thing to consider when deciding whether to pursue an ABSN is the quality of the education. In order to cut down on time, some programs might not offer all the clinical training that they should, which might hurt you as a future nurse. If I were you, I would consider retaking any course you feel you did not do well in (after figuring out why did not do well and/or talking to your professors), taking (or retaking) any admissions test necessary, talking to an admissions counselor, and then applying to a less costly program.

emilyleah · Oct 20, 2015

Thank you... I do study very hard and I do get A's in biology it's just chemistry! I don't think my brain will ever process what's really going on, and in my chemistry class you can't just memorize the information, you have to really understand it. The only problem with going into a traditional BSN program is that I still have one more year left of prerequisites, plus retaking my low grades, that I would need to take to apply. So I'm going to say about 2 years until a traditional BSN. If I get a degree in another field I only have about two years of school left. but thank you!

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2015

How do you expect to spend as little as possible moving out of state with non-resident tuition rates?

It sounds like you're all over the place. A fast-track BSN is killer. If you don't have mastery of the basic scientific concepts, you're going to really struggle. Also, nursing is no cake walk in and of itself. How can you expect to get through the educational part if you can't be bothered to get your GPA up? Many people here have dug in and made it happen. Drop the special snowflake attitude and get ready to work.

emilyleah · Oct 20, 2015

Excuse you, I am aware that out of state tuition is expensive. I am also very aware of how hard nursing school is. I am a very very hard worker and study for hours every week. You cannot have any idea from this one post what kind of worker that I am. I posted to this website looking for support and I have only received negative replies. I am only implying that I am not a good science student. Sure, I am a little all over the place which I would say is pretty normal for a 19 year old college student?? Being a nurse is about being a kind person and wanting to care for others and while I realize science is important I know it's not a make or break to being a nurse.

emilyleah · Oct 20, 2015

Thank you, no I do not have a degree yet but because I was kind of unsure of what I wanted to major in most of my studies have nothing to do with the nursing prerequisites. I was kind of considering psychology because I have many of those classes already done and with a high GPA. Then I would apply to the BSN fast track with the high GPA, volunteer work, and possibly get a CNA degree this summer. If I were to apply to the regular BSN programs I believe it would take me about a year and half to finish their required classes. Yes, I know that the fast track is difficult but I am a hard worker. I do get Bs in my science classes but most programs admit about a 3.5-4.0. Thanks for your reply :)

AceOfHearts<3 · Oct 20, 2015

If you all ready have a degree, I still think that for the most part, a two year BSN program would be a lot cheaper than most ABSN programs, especially if you are getting in-state tuition for the BSN. And it's usually not that much longer, and sometimes it's about the same time to get either degree. Meaning I have yet to see a program, which is less than a year for ABSN, with some being 18-24 months (4 semesters, or six quarters). And the tuition usually is much more expensive.

I just want to point out that there is at least one program that is truly less than a year. I had graduated and passed boards before the 1 year mark of starting school. My school says it's an 11 month long program, but when you factor in breaks you are actually in the classroom for less than 11 months. My school also required more credits than some of the 14-18 month long programs at nearby schools. It was a super intense program that not everybody made it through, unfortunately that's the chance you take with any program (especially an accelerated one). We took 21-24 credits a quarter (quarters are 10 weeks long), so the program is definitely not for everyone. The entire program was 4 quarters and a total of 87 credits.

oldsockventriloquist · Oct 20, 2015

I just want to point out that there is at least one program that is truly less than a year. I had graduated and passed boards before the 1 year mark of starting school. My school says it's an 11 month long program, but when you factor in breaks you are actually in the classroom for less than 11 months. My school also required more credits than some of the 14-18 month long programs at nearby schools. It was a super intense program that not everybody made it through, unfortunately that's the chance you take with any program (especially an accelerated one). We took 21-24 credits a quarter (quarters are 10 weeks long), so the program is definitely not for everyone. The entire program was 4 quarters and a total of 87 credits.

The person does not have an undergraduate degree. I'd be curious to know if your program requires an associate's or bachelor's degree. The only program I found that was 11 months was the Drexel ACE program, which costs around $44,000 for tuition alone ( Full-Time Undergraduates Programs | Drexel Central ). Throw in the fact that you're living in a major city and you're more likely to pay around $55,000+ after getting a bachelor's degree, which would probably bring the total time getting your BSN to 4+ years (probably around five, unless you can skip a year of undergraduate) and cost closer to $100,000 for total cost.

But, for that program and I'm not aware of any other programs that are 11 months, it seems like you are paying way more than if you paid in-state tuition to a non-accelerated program.