Accelerated Nursing Programs

Colleges for Nursing and the Fast-Track RN

Nov 1, 2009 Melanie Zoltan

Accelerated nursing programs are offered by colleges for nursing and are a unique form of university nursing program, designed for people with a non-nursing BA/BS.

Deciding to return to college to get a nursing degree involves exploring a wide range of university nursing programs. There are two-year programs at community colleges for nursing, universities with four-year programs, and then there are accelerated nursing programs designed to fast-track people with existing baccalaureate degrees in various fields.

What is an Accelerated Nursing Program?

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the typical accelerated nursing program offers people with non-nursing bachelor's and master's degrees the opportunity to use existing credits as a springboard toward earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and to also become a registered nurse (RN).

For most prospective students, the main reason for attending nursing school is to become an RN, an achievement that allows professionals to work in the medical field and command a higher salary than those with other nursing licenses.Fast-track BSN nursing programs are typically 11 to 18 months, while fast-track MSN programs take an average of three years. These university nursing programs put together everything a person with a non-nursing degree could need to become an RN and complete either a BSN or MSN by building on existing higher education.

Forty-three states in the U.S. have colleges of nursing with accelerated nursing programs. For a complete list of these programs go to Accelerated Nursing Programs by State.

Pros and Cons to Accelerated University Nursing Programs

Unlike traditional colleges of nursing, faster university nursing programs do not offer summers off, and often require students to work straight through traditional holidays, such as winter and spring breaks. Students in these programs cannot work outside jobs, as the schooling requirements consume 40 or more hours per week year round until the university nursing program is complete and the student is ready to sit for the RN exam.

On the other hand, accelerated nursing programs require less overall time required to complete nursing school, and complete immersion in the university nursing program with fewer distractions associated with part-time schooling. For prospective students who need to earn an income to support themselves or a family, accelerated nursing programs can be a challenge, as the nursing student must focus 100% of their time and effort on the university nursing program and cannot earn outside income. In this case, student loans can help to provide financial support for living expenses, while grants and scholarships can help students to foot the bill for nursing school.

For more information on how to pay for nursing school, please read: Grants for Nursing - Money for Nursing School

The copyright of the article Accelerated Nursing Programs in Career Advice is owned by Melanie Zoltan. Permission to republish Accelerated Nursing Programs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Accelerated Nursing Programs at Nursing Schools

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Dec 20, 2009 11:08 PM

Guest :

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