With the increasing demand for Registered Nurses (RNs), more nursing schools have introduced Accelerated Nursing Programs.
Accelerated Nursing Programs, also referred to as Direct Entry Programs, are fast-tracked programs offered to students with a first degree in a non-nursing field.
These programs are also offered to individuals who have registered nurses. Applicants should have also completed the prerequisites successfully.
Some of the accelerated programs offered include BSN-PhD, Direct Entry BSN-MSN/DNP, and BSN Second Degree accelerated programs.
These programs build on the learners’ prior experiences and create an innovative way of helping people with different undergraduate degrees transition into nursing
Accelerated Nursing Programs: The Basics
These programs provide the fastest route to licensure as a registered nurse for individuals who have a graduate or bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field.
They take about 11 to 18 months for one to finish them, including the prerequisites, while the accelerated master’s degree programs go for approximately three years.
Accelerated Nursing Education
Accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs attain the nursing education objectives in a short time by building on the learners’ previous learning experiences.
The learners are subject to intense instruction with full-time courses without breaks between the sessions.
The learners are exposed to the same clinical hours as their counterparts in the conventional entry-level nursing programs.
Accelerated nursing programs have high admission standards, with most programs requiring the learners to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0. The learners also go through a rigorous pre-screening process to ensure their eligibility.
Administrators look for learners that can thrive in such an environment. Since the accelerated nursing programs are very rigorous, the enrolling students are encouraged not to work to facilitate their completion of the degree requirements.
Ideal Students for Accelerated Nursing Programs
Accelerated nursing programs are very rigorous, and the learner who seeks to enroll in such programs should be motivated, resilient, ambitious, and striving for academic excellence.
Going for an ANP is also a good opportunity for individuals who seek a change in career. The primary focus of these programs is on nursing and acquiring clinical experience.
Some of the students drawn to these intensive and fast-paced nursing programs report job dissatisfaction, desire for career growth, or seek to become a nurse to care for people.
Both accelerated master’s and baccalaureate nursing programs are designed for people that have demonstrated that they can succeed at a university or senior college.
Versions of Accelerated Nursing Programs
While the accelerated nursing programs have the same goal, institutions offer different versions of these fast-tracked degree programs, including:
Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS)
When you are looking for an ANP, you should seek clarification on the type of bachelor’s degree that the respective nursing school accepts.
Some schools only accept students with a bachelor’s in science, while others allow learners who have a bachelor’s degree in any field.
Some schools believe that students that have a good foundation in science or humanities are better placed to succeed in the program.
Online or On-campus
The other factor that you should also consider is whether the accelerated nursing program is offered online or on-campus.
An on-campus program is ideal if you prefer face-to-face interaction with the professors and other students. If you’re self-disciplined and focused, an online accelerated nursing program would be appropriate for you.
Online ANPs also target the students seeking new ways to learn or needing a more flexible scheduling. Others may have other commitments such as family, or may not have sufficient time to get to campus.
Whether it’s offered online or on-campus, the accelerated nursing program encompasses supervised direct patients care during clinical and clinical simulation exercises.
They also have in-class or online lectures with experienced nursing researchers, educators, and practitioners.
They also offer academic coursework focused on health care resources, care and therapeutics, and critical thinking.
For online students, the lab work and clinical experiences are not done online but in person, mostly in the students’ communities.
Graduates Accelerated Nursing Programs
The students enrolled in ANPs are mostly older, motivated, and have a higher aspiration compared to the learners who enroll in the traditional entry-level programs.
Accelerated learners perform well in class and seek to acquire clinical experiences. They are regarded as exceptional learners by the faculty as they are keen on challenging their instructors.
Nurse employers also value the graduates of accelerated nursing programs because of the different layers of education and skills that they bring to the organizations.
Reports from the employees indicate that these graduates are more mature and have sound clinical skills.
Most graduates of ANPs are also encouraged to pursue nurse educators’ roles due to their high education attainment and good education. They are needed to help curb the increasing nurse faculty shortage. Try our best nursing paper writing service today.
