14 month Accelerated Nursing program

JulieW · Mar 8, 2001

Well, I haven't heard of that type of program specifically, however, requirements are certainly changing around here. For instance, 30-unit/two semester options for LVNs withOUT prereqs are becoming more popular (only stipulation is that the grad wouldn't be able to transfer their license to another state). Also, just recently I saw a large full page add in our local newspaper advertising new, faster, easier ways to get into the nursing program.

With the shortage and attendance being down, I am not surprised by the ads and the schools trimming requirements. I am very surprised at a 6 week clinical though! Scary.

Just a few years ago I missed out on enrollment at out local comm. college due to a competitive lottery system. 45 applicants were accepted and over 200 applied. Now, the same school can't get the 45 qualified applicants each semester to apply.

It makes you wonder.

Navy Nurse · Mar 8, 2001

You read some of the post here and you will see that education is of no importance, so lets just give the boards to whoever wants to take it and if they pass, then oh well they are an RN. After all they would pass the same test that we all did.

Enright · Mar 8, 2001

I am a graduate of an accelerated program and I'd love to comment. First off, my program was 12 months long to BSN and was open only to those who already had a 4 year degree in another subject. I also had an additional 40 credits in science that I took in night school in preparation (Bio, Chem, A&P, etc). My program was at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

I received an excellent education. Unlike a lot of my peers from other schools, I had a full clinical rotation in every major specialty. The program was very grueling, expensive but worth it. I only had to lose a year of income. I believe it was designed mostly for career changers.

I would not recommend it for everybody but for a highly motivated mature student it is an excellent option. I found my clinical knowledge equal to that of other nurses.

This was 14 years ago and I never felt wanting because of an educational lack. I feel I need to add that I had worked as a nursing assistant for many years putting myself through college the first time and that probably did more than anything to make me a good nurse.

I'd like to put a positive spin on accelerated programs because nursing education can be very inaccessible for those who want to change careers. It certainly isn't a solution for everyone OR for the nursing shortage. A very small number of people are right for these programs.

[This message has been edited by Enright (edited March 08, 2001).]

toronto rn · Mar 8, 2001

Accelerated nursing programs seem like nothing more than a desperate move to rapidly increase the number of people availible to work as RN's, But at what cost?

When I entered into nursing 17 years ago there were over 1500 people applying for 190 positions in school, of the 190 that made it in, only 85 graduated. This attrition rate was for a reason, not everyone is mentally, emotionally or even potentially capable of meeting the demands of competently working as a nurse. Competency is the larger issue. If we are to take any and all people interested in the program, design a program which will allow the maximum number of applicants to be accepted into it and pass, then competence in the field will suffer as will the patients. Already the standards of practise are compromised because of the nursing shortage It is frightening to think what will happen in the future if large numbers of RN's are quickly schooled and snuck into the system to avoid the 2004 deadline for BSN. These people will all be grandfathered in their place of work, But their recognition as an RN will be the same as a you or me. Frightening!!

passing the certification exams shouldn't be the only criteria for working as an RN, it is the journey through the learning process as well as self motivation for continued learning which developes a good nurse. Passing an exam only means you passed an exam.

[This message has been edited by toronto rn (edited March 08, 2001).]

emtrn2k1 · Mar 8, 2001

They are talking about doing something similar here--I don't like the sound of it--my program 3 years ago had 200 people competing for 45 slots--you had to be the best of the best--now this year they accepted everyone because there weren't even 45 applicants. Our second semester we lost 8 people and fourth we lost 2 more. We will graduate propably 32 out of an original 45 or better.

The local hospital started an LPN program last year - accelerated in conjunction with the technical school 12 months instead of 18. The first group of grads were strong--but the reqs were you had to have at least 1 years svc with hospital--they all had much more than that. I don't even think they had a group this year. Now they are talking about doing an accel. RN program--and I'm worried. If you read the posts on BSN min. req. the profession as a whole needs more education, not less!!!! I wouldn't think it to be acceptable to cut it back any further. I am an AD grad- but I don't see how you could possibly learn enuff in less time than that to be an RN. Everyone says why do you need Eng Comp--we need to be professionals--you need english to be professionals, etc.

Does any one who makes this legislation, we as nurses need to stand up and retaliate--the old Diploma programs gave you tons of clinical, the BSN mixes clinical with higher ed, the AD mixes clinical with some higher ed--I just don't see how we can maintain quality and professionalism in nursing if we allow these accel programs to let anyone in the door

By the way, if I am not mistaken, I don't believe you are talking about a lateral degree transfer like the prior poster was talking about--this sounds like a great program. I understand you to be talking about just an accel prog without any prequals--

Jenny P · Mar 8, 2001

The reason that there are 3 levels of RN's is that outside forces have "fixed" the nursing shortages of the past. If we as nurses don't speak out against this type of acceleration program, we will never have control over our own profession. The idea that they are "focusing on those that for one reason or another have not been accepted into the Nursing Facility" REALLY burns me up. I'm sorry, but why do they want nursing school rejects? Are we that unskilled, uneducated, and unqualified to be professionals that nurses must scrape the bottom of the educational barrel to fill the nursing shortage? Get the professional nursing organizations and the nursing unions in your areas to fight this and also get the medias' ears and the publics' attention so that they can also prevent this from occuring. Has anyone in your area ever heard of increasing wages to bring the qualified RNs back into the workplace? These are some very bizarre ideas and I, for one, would be fighting them tooth and nail. Maybe 10 to 15 years ago there may have been an oversupply of applicants to nursing programs, but there isn't now. So many outside forces (ie: governmental legislation) have controlled nursings' direction in the past; this is part of why we are here now; we each need to stand up and take control of what happens with nursing in the future. If we all take some responsibility (even just a little bit- refuse to work mandatory overtime, or refuse impossible assignments) for where nursing is heading, I believe we can regain the respect, salary, and recognition that we, as a profession deserve.

carmen · Mar 10, 2001

14 month accelerated nursing program where the heck in canada do you live? I am hamilton area and a bunch of r.p.n.'s like my self have been trying to up-grade to r.n status through the near by colleges. Well let me tell ya it's not easy they do not wan't to recognize any of our experience or educational curriculum. I myself work on a active surgical floor and I am continiously upgrading my skills., SO I feel this is a slap in the face.

sweetbaboo · Mar 13, 2001

I'm confused. I have read all of the replies to the subject of 14 month accelerated BSN programs--I don't get it. I looked at one today--it is for people with bachelors already and guess what, having just any old degree isn't a big help---I have a BART--bachelors in radiologic technology--and guess what, I still need 28! credits before I can even enter the program--it is VERY heavy on clinicals and from what I gather, this is just a short cut for the usual university 4-year program--a degree gets you in as a JUNIOR, and then you continue on with the rest of the buch that made it through the first three years--it is a tough schedule--I feel that anyone committed to doing this grueling academic program would be just fine on the job---but then again I've already had a taste of the medical world, and I'm in it for a bigger bite---I thought this was quite noble--yeesh, if someone could explain to me why it would be better to go through a two-year program and get either an associates degree RN or a diploma RN, let me know so I can save the money and the hassle