ABSN Adequately prepared?

verene, MSN · Jul 22, 2018

I went through a 15 month ABSN program. I felt that I got a better education and was better prepared than if I had gone through a traditional program. Since each class builds on the previous class, we had less time between classes and less time to forget information from previous semester. ABSN programs require a previous BS degree, which means everyone has been through college before and is dedicated to the program. The class discussions were very interesting because you had a room full of adults that have experience in the subject being taught (psych, Athletic Training, Sports Fitness, Neurobiology). Instead of the typical traditional clinical group which attempts to hide during clinical, we were constantly trying to find skills to practice during clinical. My ABSN program had a 100% first attempt NCLEX pass rate with half of the class passing at 75 questions.
Traditional vs ABSN education is the same. ABSN is just more compact. If the school is a quality school, they will do their part to prepare you, the rest is up to you. A school is not going to produce a quality graduate if the graduate was not a quality student.

This was more or less my experience in an ABSN program as well. I felt competent to practice as a new grad after graduating and my employer reviews have all been positive and stated that I have stronger assessment and clinical judgement skills than they would expect for my length of time being out of school. Not sure how much of that comes from my prior work in health care, passion for the population and thus my own outside learning, and how much is from the program, but I do feel generally quite happy with the education I received.

Though I will echo that school is what you make of it. My program had a lot of highly motivated students who really tried to make the most of the program and what it offered.

jj16, BSN · Jul 22, 2018

Thank you so much! That is really what I want to hear. I know that I will be 100% committed to learning as much as possible. I wasn't sure if any of the content was sort of watered down in any way for the sake of brevity. The program I am looking encourages you to work as a CNA the last 2 semesters, so I am hoping that will be helpful. I think I'm probably just getting a bit of cold feet, so I appreciate all the replies!

City-Girl · Jul 22, 2018

Curry has an excellent reputation. I work with several Curry graduates.

allnurses Guide · Jul 23, 2018

The MA Board of Nursing publishes NCLEX pass rates by program for the past 5 years on a single spreadsheet; from a strictly objective standpoint, this is an easy way to compare the preparation of each program for RN licensure.

elkpark · Jul 23, 2018

The MA Board of Nursing publishes NCLEX pass rates by program for the past 5 years on a single spreadsheet; from a strictly objective standpoint, this is an easy way to compare the preparation of each program for RN licensure.

A case can be made that NCLEX pass rates aren't that objective or useful without also knowing a school's attrition rate. Schools that really want to can use other factors, like "weeding out" students, to manipulate their NCLEX pass rate. (I'm not suggesting that would be the case with either of these two specific schools, just speaking generally.)

elkpark · Jul 23, 2018

Many posts from traditional students, clinical instructors, and nurses that were assigned to students on this site. When you hear enough comments, the assumption that it has become "typical".
Maybe I should clarify my statement. "From reading comments on this site, there are a certain number of students in traditional programs that choose to hide during clinicals. Those numbers may vary from clinical group to clinical group. It has been my experience from my clinical cohort and testimony from my Med/ Surg instructor that this has never been an issue with ABSN groups."

Well, you know what they say about assuming ... :) My service, in a large academic medical center affiliated with a university that has a well-known and well-regarded nursing program, takes nursing students from the university's nursing program, both traditional and ABSN students, for "shadowing" days that are part of their psychiatric clinical rotation. Every nurse on my service has had a problem at some point with attendance, attitude, and general performance from one or more students assigned to us, enough so that most of the nurses on my service now simply refuse to take nursing students (it is voluntary and optional on our part). Most of the students with which we have had problems have been ABSN students. So I can vouch for the fact that there are problem ABSN students "out there." However, I would never extrapolate that limited experience to assume that this is "typical" of ABSN students generally, and I certainly wouldn't form any opinions about what is "typical" of any group of nursing students based on comments I read here.

thecareerchanger, BSN · Jul 23, 2018

I am finishing my ABSN in a few weeks and I am not sure that I feel adequately prepared but I know a number of traditional students and they have said the same thing. I, like you was accepted to both a 15 month program (the one I am finishing up now) and a 2 year program and opt for the former since it suited my family circumstances better and was faster. I will say that ABSN students tend to be more "go-getter" types but most are non-traditional students with previous careers and degrees so that may be the reason. Also nursing school requires a lot of self-learning, especially for the ABSN student since it is more condensed. Good luck!

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Jul 23, 2018

I went to an accelerated 18-month direct-entry MSN program for people coming out of other careers.

I will honestly state that our program was not very good though we had a 100% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX. I was not very well prepared by comparison to some people I know who came out of diploma programs. There were major holes in my knowledge and experience base (for example, I never had an L&D clinical rotation and my peds experience was shadowing a resident at a community peds clinic).

That said, after my first year of working, I was recognized as being well ahead of a couple of other folks who'd started at the same time and came through traditional ASN programs. The reasons, I believe, include personal characteristics (intelligence, work experience, and work ethic), a personal dedication to continued learning (paying for my own classes and reading books and researching cases), and a willingness to learn and take correction.

At this stage of my career, I can assure you that I am a top performer in my areas of expertise and that once the experience gap with others has been closed, I generally outperform most other nurses in my field. I don't say this as a braggart (being in my mid-50's, I don't care too much what others think of me) but rather to say that a limited educational experience can be quickly overcome by people with the right qualities, attitudes, and characteristics.

Personally, I am very glad that I went the route that I did because my goal was to become a nurse as fast as I could and that was the route. I'm also grateful that I earned an MSN right off because I don't need to consider additional college work unless I really want a doctorate (which I do but the opportunity cost is much too high).

Were I in your situation, I'd choose the accelerated program...

Neats, BSN · Jul 23, 2018

It is what you put into it. I did the accelerated BSN and am happy with my results however, I was in the medical field before so I was familiar with a lot of the concepts already.

In nursing although my preference is to have one track into RN and that is BSN I have know some pretty darn great LPN's, ADN's, and diploma nurses too. My which is that they all have their bachelors degree.

I just have this preference because I think it makes us more professional and much like therapies, they have assistants helping, nurses should too and it should not just be NA-C's or MA's. I think it will also make a difference when we maybe some day, start to code nursing services in the hospital, and outpatient settings more.

futureprovider · Jul 23, 2018

I'd look at the clinical hours and the senior practicum hours. Those are the best outcome determinants for an accelerated program in regards to being prepared to work my opinion. As for the NCLEX check your program's pass rates ! I am in an accelerated program and its wonderful. Definitely hell and a half with busy work but extremely doable. Best of luck to you !

LovingLife123 · Jul 23, 2018

My question is, do you have adequate support outside of your husband? Does your husband go to the firehouse for 3 days on and 4 off??

With an ABSN program being fast paced, that will include a lot more studying on your part. I would worry with 4 small children and a husband away for days at a time you won't have the time you need to study.

jj16, BSN · Jul 24, 2018

He does 24 hour shifts so he works a 24 and then 2 days off then another 24 and then 4 days off. He is super supportive and definitely a very hands on dad. He won't be able to work all of the overtime and details he normally works but i think that's true of either program which is really why I think he wants me to hurry. I spoke to an advisor for the program today and while I would get a lot of clinical hours, the clinicals within certain specialties seem short to me, i.e., 3 weeks of L&D and 3 weeks of peds. This is certainly a concern for me. Such a tough decision!