Questions about accelerated BSN programs

youknowho · Aug 26, 2005

I am looking into an accelerated BSN program at the Research College of Nursing (www.researchcollege.edu) and the opinions that I am hearing from some of the nurses that I know from acupuncture school are mixed.
By far the biggest concern that I am hearing is if a graduate of the accelerated BSN program has an equal chance to get a job, and if that job will pay the same that a person that got their BSN in a traditional four year setting.
I am planning on getting an accelerated BSN then applying to a NP program. One of the nurses I talked to felt that having an accelerated BSN with a NP degree would make it difficult to get a job because there would be more qualified NPs competing for the same positions.
Does anyone have an experience with either of these issues? Thanks.

I am in an accelerated BSN program and already have a job after graduation. In fact, the hospital is paying my way. :cool: . I have not heard that graduates from accelertaed programs have problem getting jobs. The bottom line is you get your BSN. Most of the time to get into accelerated program you have to have high grades so I dont see why anyone would say they are less qualified:confused: You might want to do a search for accelerated programs. there are plently of us here on the boards and they can give more info also.

Annabelle57 · Aug 26, 2005

I am planning on getting an accelerated BSN then applying to a NP program. One of the nurses I talked to felt that having an accelerated BSN with a NP degree would make it difficult to get a job because there would be more qualified NPs competing for the same positions.
Does anyone have an experience with either of these issues? Thanks.

There have been lots and lots of threads about this debate: get the BSN and MSN straight through, or get the BSN first, practice a while as an RN, and then get your MSN?

Honestly, from what I can gather, it's six and one-half dozen of another. Some people go straight through and make excellent NPs (with equally-excellent job offers), others feel compelled to wait on the masters education, and still others go straight through and practice as a "regular" RN for a while, even with their NP degree. Personally, I think it never hurts to have the experience - I am also looking to go the same route you are: BSN & MSN. I want to be an NNP, and there isn't a school I know of that will accept you as an NNP student without at least 1-2 years working as an RN in a level 2 or 3 NICU, so I plan on working for a few years and doing my MSN degree part-time. I'm still earning my MSN degree right away, but getting that needed experience - not just to make me attractive to potential employers, but also to help me be the best practitioner I can be, which is much more important, IMHO.

Remember, too, that many times, the hospital where you do your clinical work often extends a job offer to you post-graduation, RNs and NPs.

Like I mentioned, there are lots and lots of threads devoted to this topic - do a search and I'm sure you'll find more than you need! :wink2: I've only posted my opinion.

Good luck to you in your decision!

smile123 · Aug 26, 2005

I am looking into an accelerated BSN program at the Research College of Nursing (http://www.researchcollege.edu) and the opinions that I am hearing from some of the nurses that I know from acupuncture school are mixed.
By far the biggest concern that I am hearing is if a graduate of the accelerated BSN program has an equal chance to get a job, and if that job will pay the same that a person that got their BSN in a traditional four year setting.
I am planning on getting an accelerated BSN then applying to a NP program. One of the nurses I talked to felt that having an accelerated BSN with a NP degree would make it difficult to get a job because there would be more qualified NPs competing for the same positions.
Does anyone have an experience with either of these issues? Thanks.

Hi Josh,

There is such a nursing shortage that hospitals will take whatever RNs they can get. There is no disadvantage about getting an accelerated BSN vs. a traditional BSN from a job market standpoint. The issue that has been debated (on various forums here) as to whether it's better to go through an accelerated BSN right into a master's NP degree program OR to get the BSN (be it traditional or accelerated) work for a year and then go into a master's NP degree program. From talking to several RNs and NPs, it seems like it's better to get at least a year of RN experience and then go on for the master's. I also found that once you work at a hospital a year, many hospitals help pay your tuition for the master's (you would work full time or part time as a RN).

I also found that there are several new RN grad programs at hospitals where they do not want you to go to school the first year while you are working as a new RN grad. They say learning to be a nurse in the real world is fairly demanding and going to school at the same time would be too stressful. They also tend to rotate shifts, so it would be very challenging to schedule master's NP classes at the same time as work.

I also talked to people who went straight through the accel'd and master's without working as a RN and when they graduated, they could not find a job as a NP. Instead, they got work as a RN (to build up their experience). Then they could eventually get a job as a NP. (This was a metropolitan city where there was already a glut of NPs.)

So I think it really depends on what resources you have (time, money) and other obligations (spouse to support, kids, mortgage, etc) as to whether you could go straight through on lots of loans or needed to work. Hope that helps.

Smile123

Josh L.Ac. · Aug 26, 2005

Thanks to all.