Are accelerated nursing programs something you should consider?
By the year 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor projects the medical system will need more than one million new and replacement Registered Nurses in the US. As a result many nursing schools around the country are trying to find ways in which they can increase capacity and reach new students. One such way is to use accelerated nursing programs which provide nursing programs for non-nursing graduates. These schools offer both a Baccalaureate and Master's Degree programs which build on previous learning experiences. Thus they provide a way for those individuals who have undergraduate degrees in other fields to transfer into nursing programs.
Such accelerated programs give the student the simplest route to gain a license as a Registered Nurse (RN) for those who have completed a Bachelor's degree in a non nursing discipline. Such programs take between 11 to 18 months to complete and include prerequisites, While a fast track master's degree program will generally take the students around 3 years to complete.
At present such accelerated nursing programs are available in most states and also in the District of Columbia and Guam. By the middle of 2006 there were 173 accelerated baccalaureate programs and 46 accelerated master's programs to be found at nursing schools all across the country. And as of July 2006 there around 40 accelerated baccalaureate programs in the planning stage along with 17 accelerated master's programs.
So what will accelerated nursing program do for me?
These programs accomplish the required training in a short time since they build on your previous learning experiences. The instruction provided on these programs is intense as the courses are offered to students full time with no breaks between sessions. But the students on these programs will receive the same number of hours as those of their counterparts who are using traditional nursing programs.
Admission standards are high and they will typically require the student to have a minimum of 3.0 GPA, and the student usually will have to go through a thorough screening process before they are accepted. But those who are accepted for these programs are encouraged NOT to also try and hold down a full time job, as the rigors that are associated with this intense training will make it difficult for them to complete the all degree requirements.
The nursing schools which provide these accelerated programs are specifically geared to those individuals who have already proven their ability to succeed at a college. Many students who have already finished either a bachelor's degree, or are graduate degree students tend to be attracted to these fast track programs as they are the natural next step in their education and a successful nursing career.
Published March 6th, 2007
Filed in Career
