Should I Stay Or Should I Go????

brillohead, ADN, RN · May 24, 2013

It's going to be VERY difficult to do the accelerated program while working, IMO. Most people have trouble with the regular program while working full-time or even part-time.

Yes, you'll be able to work as an RN sooner with the accelerated program, but you'll also be paying more for the program, so the difference in income between each academic path is smaller than if the programs cost the same. (In my case, I paid out-of-district tuition rates, but I also graduated about five years sooner [because of wait list length], so the increased income more than made up for the increased tuition. But your years-working-as-a-nurse difference is not as great as mine.)

You'll also give up ANY hope of having any kind of life whatsoever if you're doing the accelerated program. You will work, study, and occasionally eat/sleep -- nothing else. No social life, no downtime, no family life, no surfing the web, no Facebook or email with friends, etc. Some people are okay with that, but most are not.

Another consideration is your academic ability. Even people who don't work at a job while going to school find an accelerated program to be very difficult, simply because it is SO much information in such a short period of time. What happens if you fail out of the accelerated program... would you have to go back on the waiting list for the regular program? Would you have to start paying your student loans off immediately, even if you don't have the RN-salary coming in?

Every person has to make this type of decision based on their own circumstances -- nobody can know your own life situation and your personal aptitudes. But based on people I know and things I've read here on AllNurses.com, I would stay with the regular program for a few different reasons, mainly: A) you're taking out loans for your education, and the accelerated program costs more; and B) you're going to be working while going to nursing school.

Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN · May 24, 2013

I think an accelerated program might not be a good fit for you at this time, especially at $250 more a credit hour! Conservatively at 30 hours that $7500 more. Will you make so much more money in 18 months to justify the $7500?

For reference my entire ADN program cost around $5000 total.

NBMom1225 · May 24, 2013

My suggestion is that, if you must work, to go with the traditional program and not the accelerated program. Working is difficult during any nursing program, and you'll be in less debt going the traditional route as well. Good luck!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 24, 2013

setting yourself up for a lot of anxiety if you do the accelerated while working. Also incurring more cost. Remember, you have the REST OF YOUR LIFE to be a nurse

avaloncar, BSN, RN · May 24, 2013

I went through an accelerated program. My job was prn and it was about one weekend a month. The program is hard but if you think you could manage then do it. Maybe write down the pros and cons about each program and see which one is a better fit. I know you are excited about getting your license sooner but you have to think about the long run and what is better for you. Good luck and tell us your decision.

elisabethm · May 25, 2013

I would also recommend the traditional option. It's less stressful and less intense than the accelerated. Plus, in the traditional option, you could work during the summers, which would provide extra money during the school year and could help make connections for your job search post-grad. I'm in a three-year traditional program right now, and trust me, once you get toward the end, it just flies by. Good luck with whichever path you choose.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 25, 2013

It's going to be VERY difficult to do the accelerated program while working, IMO. Most people have trouble with the regular program while working full-time or even part-time.
You'll also give up ANY hope of having any kind of life whatsoever if you're doing the accelerated program. You will work, study, and occasionally eat/sleep -- nothing else. No social life, no downtime, no family life, no surfing the web, no Facebook or email with friends, etc. Some people are okay with that, but most are not.

Speaking as a grad from a rigorous ABSN program, that's not the case if you have good time management. Even in an ABSN, you have to make time for yourself. I used to study on the beach, sit outside and study, went out to dinner with friends, saw my family regularly. I didn't have a Facebook account back then, but I certainly did my share of Internet surfing that wasn't school related. Add to that my husband was overseas and a phone call was a major undertaking and Skype at the time was woefully inadequate.

The key to an ABSN is time management. If you have it down, you can do all that stuff and more. I certainly didn't suffer for 16 months though I'll confess to working my butt off.

The work thing, though, to me, is dead on. We were told NOT to work.

brillohead, ADN, RN · May 25, 2013

Speaking as a grad from a rigorous ABSN program, that's not the case if you have good time management. Even in an ABSN, you have to make time for yourself. I used to study on the beach, sit outside and study, went out to dinner with friends, saw my family regularly. I didn't have a Facebook account back then, but I certainly did my share of Internet surfing that wasn't school related. Add to that my husband was overseas and a phone call was a major undertaking and Skype at the time was woefully inadequate.
The key to an ABSN is time management. If you have it down, you can do all that stuff and more. I certainly didn't suffer for 16 months though I'll confess to working my butt off.
The work thing, though, to me, is dead on. We were told NOT to work.

That was my point... that if the OP was working a job too, there would be "no life" outside of work, school/studying, and occasional sleep.

An accelerated program is certainly do-able if not working. But working while doing an accelerated program is unnecessarily putting yourself at risk for failure, for the vast majority of people. Burnout is a huge risk in nursing, there's no need to burn one's self out while in school as well! :)

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 26, 2013

Ah - I didn't get that.

I agree one hundred percent, brillo. :)