Accelerated nursing programs were primarily developed to address the shortage of these health care professionals. The aim is to produce more skilled, mature and dedicated nurses in less time since they already bring with them basic skills and knowledge from their earlier education. As a result, they come out more focused and dedicated nurses.
A baccalaureate degree from any field is the primary requirement for admission into an accelerated nursing program. While it need not be healthcare-related, you have a better advantage at acceptance with more credits in science and biology courses. Besides, most nursing schools require as prerequisites completion of subjects including anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology and psychology.
Who Should Take Up Accelerated Nursing Programs?
If you already hold an associate degree in nursing (ADN) and are a registered nurse, accelerated nursing programs are an option to advance your career. Look for a program that will allow you to complete the BSN and MSN degrees simultaneously.
These programs are usually comprehensive and very intensive. For non-nurses wishing to earn a BSN, the average length of programs is 15 months. There are schools that compress their regular four-year nursing bachelor degree program into 11 to 13 months. You normally go through five years of schooling for an MSN, but accelerated, you can earn the degree in three years.
The shortened period for training is made possible because all general (liberal arts) subjects like English and Math have been done away it, as well as the prerequisite science courses that may also include Nutrition. Some schools also encourage that a nursing ethics course be taken beforehand. This leaves only the nursing theory and clinical training as the sole focus of the abbreviated training program. Needless to say, commitment and perseverance are vital if you want to pursue accelerated nursing programs. You will not have it easy. And there will be little time for anything else as you complete the course.
Because of the requirement for a previous baccalaureate degree, students come from a diverse background and bring with them experience and ideas, a different set of perspective and a better understanding of people that adds to their competence as nursing professionals. As a result, most graduates are already prepared for leadership roles in the workplace.
What Do You Need For Admission?
It’s not just a bachelors degree that nursing schools want before taking in students for their accelerated programs. Often, they also demand a grade point average of at least 3.0. Why such a high bar? Because accredited nursing programs is not for everyone. Breaks between sessions are non-existent, especially because of the clinical component of the course. Aside from instructions, most schools require a total of at least 24 hours for practical exposure weekly.
If you are not serious about pursuing the profession and advancing in this career, it may not be worth the estimated $30,000 you are expected to spend for your schooling. Most take out student loans to finance their education knowing that once employed, they can pay off their debts.
Online And Offline Accelerated Nursing Programs
There are more than 250 accelerated nursing programs at the bachelor level and 60 masters programs following the same track. And while online training is increasing in popularity, majority of accelerated nursing degrees require campus or university residency. The intensive nature of the programs demand that you focus on it and complete the course within the given period of time. More than theory, it is the clinicals that will take up much of your time. You need hands-on experience whether at a laboratory or an actual health facility to practice the techniques and skills taught in class.
While it is possible to learn the didactics via online classes, you will still be required to arrange for institutions that will give you the experience needed to pass the course. And it also more beneficial to opt for traditional learning because it will afford you close coordination with mentors and more opportunity to consult with them.
Also known as accelerated nurse practitioner programs, you eventually qualify as nurse practitioner and often, can choose to focus on a sub-specialty giving you more advantage when seeking employment and getting better-paying jobs. For instance, at the Rochester University’s Accelerated Bachelor’s Program for Non-Nurses, it has sub-specialties in acute care nurse practitioner, adult nurse practitioner, geriatric nurse practitioner and pediatric nurse practitioner. Should you decide to be a nurse educator in the future, the training provided in accelerated programs is invaluable.
Top 3 Schools
Selecting a school for their accelerated nursing programs can be a challenge. While the preference is to attend the best institutions, the better guideline is to go with nursing schools best suited for you and your goals. Location, cost and program length are some considerations. Likewise, the kind of internship or clinicals included in the program should merit your attention. You want the best preparation to start this new career and hands-on is the what gives you the edge.
As a highly motivated, mature professionals with greater academic expectations, you may want to know what is deemed to be among the top schools offering accelerated training. You may not necessarily want to enroll with them, but having an idea as to the kind of program they provide will also help you make an informed decision.
1. Oregon Health and Science University – this Portland-based school offers both the traditional four-year BSN program as well as an accelerated curriculum completed in five quarters. At the same time, you can go on and earn a masters in accelerated nursing, for completion in three years and major in nurse midwifery or become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. This is possible right after earning the accelerated bachelor in nursing degree and passing the NCLEX-RN.
2. University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia – UPenn offers an accelerated BSN program for non-nursing students who want to serve the profession but have yet to decide if they will pursue further studies. Its masters programs for nursing will qualify you to be a nurse practitioner after graduation. The school offers a combined BSN/MSN program if you are certain of wanting to specialize to further fast track your studies.
3. University of California – Los Angeles – UCLA’s School of Nursing is known for its Advanced Practice in MSN program, which can be completed in two years for students already holding nursing degrees. The specialization is to develop and train these health care professionals to become nurse administrators, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. It is the only public college recognized for accelerated nursing programs.