Help! Accelerated or traditional

[alexelynn]

This is my first time doing any type of college. I am active military so I had to start school late. I want to be a pediatric nurse and eventually down the road be a pediatric nurse practitioner. I want to know if accelerated or traditional course is better. With accelerated pros are of course you get done faster and are able to start on your job faster. Cons I've heard that when looked at as far as resumes people feel like the degree was to fast and it was just like here's everything now get out in the field. Traditional cons are slower pace and pros are you are able to take more time to really get to sink in info, go to interns during the summer, and have a flexible schedule. I really just do not know what to do and want to choose the best route. Any advice? THANK YOU =)

[Dogen]

I did an accelerated BSN program. We graduated with few skills and a lot of theory, under the assumption that skills can be taught on the job but critical thinking can't. Maybe it was just me, but I would have liked more skills... I felt like the three year BSN students were better prepared at the end of school. But it was true: I learned skills on the job, and now I'm awesome.

[alexelynn]

So I'm guessing either or works ? Lol

[johsonmichelle]

This is my first time doing any type of college. I am active military so I had to start school late. I want to be a pediatric nurse and eventually down the road be a pediatric nurse practitioner. I want to know if accelerated or traditional course is better. With accelerated pros are of course you get done faster and are able to start on your job faster. Cons I've heard that when looked at as far as resumes people feel like the degree was to fast and it was just like here's everything now get out in the field. Traditional cons are slower pace and pros are you are able to take more time to really get to sink in info, go to interns during the summer, and have a flexible schedule. I really just do not know what to do and want to choose the best route. Any advice? THANK YOU =)

You may have to check the requirements for the accelerated programs in your areas. Most accerelated programs that I have seen require a previous degrees from another field.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Accelerated BSN programs are limited to those who have earned a bachelor's in another discipline.

[alexelynn]

Let me be more specific . I went to talk to an advisor at ECPI (which I've been hearing is a no no) and told her I'm starting fresh. Of course you can start with an associates pre reqs all of that so I know about the whole having a bachelors jig. My concern is more so which path is better from that point on accelerated or traditional as far as when I'm up for choosing a nursing program for my career. :)

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I went through a 15 month Accelerated BSN program. The classes and clinical hours were identical to the traditional BSN program. The difference was that 2 out of 4 semesters were condensed into summer sessions (traditional students couldn't take summer classes). When I graduated, the fact that I went through an ABSN program rather than the traditional track was never an issue with interviews at the hospitals.