Does accelerated programs prepare you to be a nurse?

[Ambreree]

So basically what the titles says is would something like an ABSN would give you the same competence as a traditional program? The reason I ask this is because my intended nursing program gives all students without a bachelors degree the option to do a 16 month accelerated program or the traditional 24 months.

Of course I want to be a nurse much sooner so I'm deciding on the 16 month but I'm afraid I won't learn as much unlike the traditional...

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

The information that must be learned and the minimum number of clinical hours is set by the BON. That means regardless of the program, all of that information must be covered. An accelerated program simply means that same amount of information is compressed into a shorter time.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

You are giving up summer and winter breaks in an accelerated program, not knowledge. No worries!

[EllaBella1, BSN]

My accelerated program was 12 months, and we took the entire junior year's worth of courses over the summer, and synced up with the traditional senior nursing students that fall for the last two semesters. I felt just as prepared as they seemed going into the fall. Was just way more work and studying to get there.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

My ABSN program was 15 months: Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer. The Fall and Spring semesters were normal semesters, some of the classes were with the traditional students. It was essentially a 4 semester traditional program with summer classes.

I believe that I actually obtained a better education than I would have in a traditional program. The class discussions were a lot more informative because of the knowledge gained from our previous degrees.

[OldDude]

The only thing "the program" gets you is the paper, you don't really learn anything about nursing until you go to work. Pick the route of least resistance.

[benegesserit]

You are giving up summer and winter breaks in an accelerated program, not knowledge. No worries!

Yep.

In my accelerated nursing program (also 16 months vs. 2 years) we got two weeks for winter break, and one each for spring and summer. Our semester was two weeks shorter than the regular program's, but our daily time in the classroom was a bit longer. We had the same number of clinical days. So the overall time was totally the same, just distributed differently.

I have absolutely no regrets about going that route.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

The most common complaints from accelerated program grads in my organization have been inadequate time for professional acculturation & lack of opportunities to work as PCT while in nursing school. Both of which are very valuable when it comes to getting that important first job.

[JaxJax5423]

I did a 12 month and felt very under prepared skill wise. However, I applied for new grad residency programs to have that extra support. I will say I had a rough start, but because of more factors Than just accelerated program. For my personal life, a bsn in 12 months worked wonderfully. I got it done and most of our students were very successful (passed and got jobs)