Is an Accelerated Nursing Program Worth It?
If you’re interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), chances are you might already be a registered nurse (RN) or a professional with a bachelor’s degree in another subject. Either way, if you’re interested in enrolling in an accelerated nursing program, you might be wondering if it’s all worth it. Let’s look at some facts about accelerated nursing programs and see if this path to a BSN is going to be worth it for you.
What Is an Accelerated Nursing Program?
This is basically a faster route to earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing than the traditional training program. A fact to note is that the traditional nursing course takes 4 years to complete, overall. However, with accelerated nursing program, your degree in another professional field or Associate of Applied Science in Nursing might qualify you to enter a fast training program that could see you could earn a BSN in as little as 18 months.
Benefits of an Accelerated Nursing Program
While you ponder over whether or not to join the program, the most prevalent thought in your mind could be about the benefits and potential downsides of taking that first step. You could be focused more on whether or not the program is worth the effort.
In enrolling in an accelerated nursing program, you could experience these benefits:
- You save time: The program is fast, allowing those with associate degrees in nursing or bachelor degrees in other subjects to graduate quicker than at traditional schools. Spending less time in the classroom and more time in a health care facility is what many BSN candidates want.
- You get more time to gain experience: A student in a traditional nursing degree program could still be in class while a student in an accelerated nursing degree program could be graduating, applying for jobs, interviewing at healthcare facilities, and more. Think of everything you could do with all of that extra time.
- Ability to work while going to school: Most traditional colleges schedule their classes during the day and your schedule can end up being so erratic a job would be out of the question. Most accelerated programs offer day and night classes and are willing to accommodate scheduling demands for working adults and with those with families (or both).
Can You Handle the Following?
These benefits most likely sound excellent. But there are some aspects to consider before going ahead with an accelerated program. Here is what you need to know about when accelerated nursing programs get difficult.
- It’s not for procrastinators: The accelerated program is demanding. If you find yourself only doing things at the last minute, you will need to make some major adjustments to be successful in an accelerated environment.
- It takes dedication: Not only will you have have less time to do classwork and homework, but you may also have projects, practical labs, an externship, and more. You will have to make sacrifices with your personal time and study hard, even after a long day of work or family responsibilities.
- You have to keep up: If you find yourself reading through a book about a subject you like in a matter of days, finishing tasks ahead of time, and love to keep your productivity level high, you could be cut out for accelerated classes. Not everyone learns or retains information at the same pace, so consider this when you’re deciding if accelerated classes are for you.
Are you interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing? Whether you are a professional with a bachelor’s degree or an RN looking to take on more responsibility, ECPI University offers this degree program. For more information, connect with one of our friendly admissions counselors today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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