How were you able to decide you could handle an ACCEL nursing program?

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Hello! I presently have a BS in Public Health, graduated with a 3.25GPA, and am currently preparing to decide whether or not to attend an Accelerated BSN, or an Associates Program. I have been accepted to both for this upcoming fall, (I understand I need to make a decision soon), and have reserved seats for both programs. I am currently taking a summer course, General Chemistry II, for MCPHS (my acceptance is contingent upon the completion of this course). However, I am not doing very well in the course so far. It's a one month course, so everything is condensed. This is the first, and only, hard science class, I have not done well in. My other prerequisites have been A's and B's. I have taken a condensed summer course (statistics) and gotten an A before. I understand doing well in one prerequisite doesn't guarantee success in another. However, getting on to the question:

For those that have picked and completed an ABSN program, what led you to believe you could handle it? Have you always been a strong student that picked up information quickly? (And for anyone who has recently graduated MCPHS or Curry, can you offer your experiences?) I understand I'm at an advantage because I don't have kids or a full-time job, I would be supported by my own parents.. I just would like a little bit more information. Of course I understand it will be stressful, but would you mind sharing more details? ( Ex. How many chapters did you need to read a night? How many hours a day of studying? Exams a week? )

I know an Associates and then an RN-BSN program is longer, but I believe it would be less intense. I have a lot of people who support me and are strongly convinced I could handle an ACCEL nursing program. Only a few have recommended the Associates (one is a doctor and a nurse, they both believe ASN programs produce better nurses).

I'm also hoping to see if anyone who didn't do well in one prerequisite went on to become a successful nurse. Specifically, accelerated programs.

I know the decision is ultimately what I believe is best, but I feel as though I need more information before I can decide.

Any information is greatly appreciated!

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I decided based upon my needs. I need a high speed course. I get bored easy and I hate waiting. I want to be done now. So I took my five prereqs in four months at the same place I'm in nursing (Keiser). I'll be done in sixteen months. I'm almost done second semester, so about eight and a half months left. It depends on your personality and confidence.

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Wow thats impressive! How well did you do in those prerequisites that you took? I definitely could not have been able to take A+P I + II, Chemistry, Microbiology or Statistics all at the same time!

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The advise that I got from friends who are nurses was that accelerated programs are great for people who are already working in some capacity in the medical field and have a general foundation on which to base their studies. I recently completed an ASN program and it was the most difficult and most humbling experience of my life. For me, it wasn't just about time, but about the vast amount of information that you have to learn well enough to connect the dots when working with a patient.

Good luck to you, whichever way choose to go.

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4.0 GPA. Each class was four weeks. A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, Human Growth &Development, American Literature.

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I would like to think that I'll survive because I've been working in a Hospital (PCA Float and ER Tech) for 2 years. I've made it up to half way through my junior year in a traditional program, but failed out because I spread myself to thin over things that weren't related to nursing. How long did you have to study every night, ajmclean?

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I would like to think that I'll survive because I've been working in a Hospital (PCA Float and ER Tech) for 2 years. I've made it up to half way through my junior year in a traditional program, but failed out because I spread myself to thin over things that weren't related to nursing. How long did you have to study every night, ajmclean?

For prereqs, not much at all. Honestly, it was more of a review for me with A&P. Micro was fun and I studied maybe a couple of hours per week. Lit was great and it was more about reading and writing than anything else. Human growth I studied a few hours a week. Now that I'm in nursing, I study a couple of hours every day. For example, we're in Maternity and Basic Med-Surg, which meets one day each per week with two days of clinicals. On average, each class overs two to three chapters a week. And each class tests each week. So I study a bit more. When they say you need to critically think to pass a test, they're not lying. It's not about memorization for the most part. It's about putting pieces of the puzzle together to come up with the best answer. I'm getting B's since I started, so the straight A's I used to get are a thing of the past. It's all about passing (76 average overall) and nothing more. Of course I strive to get the A, but I'm not beating myself up when I don't. The goal is getting to the NCLEX and passing, period.

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