Online Accelerated BSN?

Published

I'm in my late 20s, planning to make career change to nursing.

I have my BA in Psychology and will be entering nearby community college this fall to take some pre-req like A&P, microbiology, chemistry, etc.

Althouh jumping into the new field sounds fascinating, it seemed a waste of time to spend 2 years to just to get ADN and maybe additional 1+ year to earn BSN again. I still have to work to afford living, so I thought online Accelerated BSN sounds much more doable and affordable. (Of course, I didn't mean it'd be easier)

I did some research but I don't know which online programs are good, since the overflowing information talks about different things. Anyone has some experience/opinion/info regarding online ABSN? Any school that I should look into or avoid?

Fyi, I live in MA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

First, there are two types of BSNs.

One is for persons who are already RNs. These would be termed RN-to-BSN programs. You obviously do not qualify for these types of programs. Many of these are online.

The second type is called a pre-licensure BSN: in other words, this program leads to becoming an RN/ qualifying you to sit for the NCLEX exam. While SOME of these programs offer coursework online, there is always a clinical component of hundreds of hours spent in a hospital or other facility in the presence of an instructor or preceptor delivering care to patients. There are NO 100% online pre-licensure BSN programs- accelerated or otherwise.

Two programs have all didactic (classroom) portions delivered online- Excelsior (Albany, NY) and WGU (Indiana, California, Florida, Texas and Utah only). But each has a clinical component- and I believe Excelsior requires you to have a healthcare background.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Rooom.

I'm starting an online accelerated BSN program this may at Northeastern University. It is in MA and mostly online. You need to go to Northeasterns satellite campus once or twice a week for labs and tests and you have around one clinical a week that can be anywhere in the area. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I believe Excelsior requires you to have a healthcare background.

This is correct — only LPNs, paramedics, and certain classes of military medical personnel may apply, and there are certain minimums in hours of patient contact per year that must be verified.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion