All About the accelerated nursing programs?

By 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor projects the county will need more than 1,000,000 new and replacement Registered Nurses . As a result many nursing schools around the country are trying to find ways in which to increase school capacity and reach more new students. One way is by the use of accelerated nursing programs which provide accelerated nursing programs for non-nursing graduates. These schools offer a Baccalaureate and Master's Degree programs which build on previous learning experiences. Thus they provide a way for those individuals who have an undergraduate degrees in some other fields of expertise to transfer into accelerated nursing programs.

Such accelerated programs offer the student the quickest route to gain a license as a Registered Nurse (RN) for those who have completed a Bachelor's degree in some other field. Such programs take between 11 to 18 months to finish and include some prerequisites, While an accelerated master's degree program will generally take the students around 3 years to finish.

At present such accelerated nursing programs are available in most states across the US and also in the District of Columbia. By July 2006 there were 173 accelerated baccalaureate programs and 46 accelerated master's degree programs to be found at nursing schools all across the country. Further more as of July 2006 there were another 40 accelerated baccalaureate programs being developed as well as 17 new accelerated master's programs.

What are accelerated nursing programs about?

These unique programs accomplish the training required in a very short time since they build on your previous learning experiences. The instruction provided on these programs is often intense as the courses are offered to students full time with no breaks between sessions. However the students on these programs get the same number of hours as those of their counterparts who are using traditional nursing schools.

Admission standards for these programs are high and they will usually require the student to have a minimum of 3.0 GPA, and the student usually will also have to go through a thorough screening process. But those who eventually are accepted are encouraged NOT to also try and hold down a 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 accelerated programs are specifically geared to those individuals who have already proven their ability to succeed at a college. Many students who have already completed either a bachelor's degree, or are graduate degree students tend to be attracted to fast track programs as they are the natural next step in their higher education and a successful nursing career.

 

Source: Debbie North