Accelerated Nursing Degree
Accelerated nursing degree courses have been made available since the late eighties by nursing schools in response to the general shortage of nurses throughout the country. Based on the information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million certified nurses will be needed by the year 2016 in order to replace the retiring nurses as well as to deal with the growing population.
Similar to the second degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN programs, the BSN for accelerated programs started at Creighton University more than thirty years ago. These programs have gone through numerous modifications throughout the years and became popular during the early nineties when nursing schools across the country started to develop and offer their own programs for accelerated nursing.
The accelerated model of the second degree program is much more rigorous and could often be finished in a shorter period. The local and national nursing shortages had been the driving force for the development of the accelerated second degree programs. Almost all areas of nursing practice have documented to have positive impacts from the accelerated BSN programs as it relates to the general shortage.
In most cases, the students with a master’s degree or any non-nursing bachelor’s degree in any field would be candidates to participate in accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing programs. Applicants who want to complete this program are often required to satisfy certain prerequisite courses before enrollment when their previous master’s or bachelor’s degree courses cannot be transferred or fulfil the requirements. The general education prerequisites for the BSN are generally satisfied with credit hours from the previous bachelor’s.
Accelerated nursing degree programs are very intensive requiring demanding course schedules and 100 % dedication from students. The BSN programs can run between 12 to 20 months. In general, students are required to take courses in natural sciences, biology, nursing practice, nursing theory and other related areas of study. Clinical requirements would take place in community-based settings, hospitals and corresponding facilities working along with experienced preceptors and faculty. Based on the clinical facility, students often get experience in emergency room nursing, operating room nursing, acute care nursing, critical care nursing, pediatric intensive care nursing, neonatal intensive care nursing and various other nursing fields throughout their clinical rotations.
The clinical rotations are generally valuable aspect of the nursing program, enabling future nurses to experience what it is like to work in various fields and to hopefully choose one that complements their interests and talents. The accelerated BSN programs are generally less expensive when compared to a traditional 4 year program and based on the program could include certain master’s level courses.
Often times the NCLEX-RN pass rates attained by graduates of the accelerated BSN programs exceeds the national average. This is because the students who complete the accelerated nursing degree program will be assertive, generally has years of working experience and would have made a significant life decision to switch careers. As a result, this student can focus and will have the desire to get everything that they are able to get from the clinical and curriculum training. The work ethics of the graduates from accelerated BSN programs has been highly regarded throughout the nursing field and are often sought-after by top companies.
In the event that you believe that this is a good move for you to make both on personal and professional level, then your first step will be to select a good accelerated nursing degree program. Get in touch with the schools to learn about specific admissions prerequisites, application procedures and educational funding. If you’ve been thinking about a career change and want to enter the nursing profession, this program will be right for you.