What is an Accelerated Nursing Program?
Healthcare is an ever changing industry, one that attracts people from many different professional backgrounds who are looking to make the switch to nursing. But without proper training, you cannot be considered as a candidate for nursing jobs.
If you want to get nursing training fast and happen to already hold an unrelated bachelor’s degree, you can apply to an accelerated nursing degree completion program. These programs typically take between 12 and 18 months to complete and involve the same coursework and practical placements as a traditional nursing program. At the end, you graduate with the same Bachelor of Science in Nursing that a graduate of a traditional program would get.
The idea is to provide a faster pathway through nursing school for people with a demonstrated ability to handle the demands of university education. This not only helps individuals make a quicker transition into nursing, but also brings more quality caregivers onto the market so that hospitals, nursing homes, and other employers in the healthcare sector can more adequately cover the needs of the population. Experts at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing also suggest that graduates of accelerated programs tend to be favored by employers due to the intense rigor and strength of character required to make it through.
Requirements for Nursing School
Exact requirements for admission to an accelerated nursing program vary from school to school, but some typical stipulations include:
- A good cumulative GPA in the final years of your previous studies (usually at least a B or above)
- A fair-to-good grade in all listed prerequisite courses – most popularly including statistics, physiology, and various sciences
- Fulfillment of the school’s specific Technical Standards guidelines for nursing students
- A personal interview with staff
The interview is obviously a highly individualized process, but what the admissions officers are typically looking for is a certain amount of life experience and some demonstrable drive and tenacity. They want to know why you’re starting the program and how you intend to complete it in order to determine how likely you are to succeed.
Who Should Consider It
Accelerated nursing programs are a good choice for people with passion, dedication, and a thirst for knowledge who want to use those traits to make a real difference in people’s lives. Forget working on research studies or shuffling paper in an office; while those sorts of jobs are indispensable in their own way, the hands-on nature of the nursing profession lets you see the tangible results of your efforts every day. Those who want to be able to see the impact they’re making on the world find this kind of work very rewarding, and accelerated programs let you get right into the thick of things.
Accelerated programs also synergize well with the financial demands that older students are likely to face. Getting through the program more quickly means that you’ll have more time to leverage the credentials you end up with in the labor market. Flexible schedules also give you the chance to work full or part time while in school.
Some Words of Caution
The decision to embark on an accelerated nursing program is not a choice to be made lightly. It is understood that more is expected of you than in a traditional nursing program, but prospective applicants should seriously consider what this means before they sign up.
Be prepared to make many sacrifices in terms of hobbies, your social life, side jobs and even time with your family over your year of study – your free time will be extremely limited, and it’s very difficult to take a break once you start your courses. Even knowing you will soon be able to get back to business as usual, it’s a big commitment to make.
Further, nursing in general is not a job for everyone – it’s an intensely trying field in both physical and emotional terms. In a traditional nursing program, though, you have plenty of time to steel yourself for the challenges ahead. An accelerated nursing program forces you to do your practical nursing placements much sooner than you otherwise would.
The overall acclimation period is much shorter, and some may find the demands overwhelming. You should be very sure that you have what it takes to cope with all of this before you start filling out your applications to an accelerated nursing program.
Do you have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to translate that into a nursing degree? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and you already hold a bachelor’s in another subject, consider ECPI University for the education you need to complete your nursing degree. For more information on this exciting degree program, connect with a friendly admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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