What are accelerated nursing school programs?
Sometime around the year 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor projects there will be a need for more than 1,000,000 new and replacement Registered Nurses . So many nursing schools around the country are trying to find ways in which they can increase school capacity and reach more new students. One way is fast track nursing schools which provide accelerated nursing programs for non-nursing graduates. These schools offer both a Baccalaureate and Master's Degree programs which build on you prior learning experiences. They provide a way for those individuals who have an undergraduate degrees in other fields of expertise to transfer into accelerated nursing programs.
Accelerated nursing programs give the student the simplest route to a license as a Registered Nurse (RN) for those who have completed a Bachelor's or Graduate's degree in some other field. Such programs take between 11 to 18 months to finish and include prerequisites, While an accelerated master's degree program will usually take the students around 3 years to finish.
At present such accelerated nursing programs are available in 43 states and also in the District of Columbia. By July 2006 there were 173 accelerated baccalaureate programs and just under 50 accelerated master's degree programs at nursing schools all across the US. And as of July 2006 there were another 40 accelerated bachelor programs in the planning stage along with 17 accelerated master's programs.
So what exactly is accelerated nursing education?
These unique programs accomplish the required training in a very short time as 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 get the same number of hours as those who are using traditional nursing programs.
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 will usually have to go through a thorough screening process. But those who are accepted are encouraged NOT to also try and hold down a full time job, as the pressures that are associated with this intense training will make it hard for them to be able to complete the all degree requirements.
The nursing schools which provide accelerated programs are specifically designed for those individuals who have already shown their ability to succeed at a college or university. 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 education and a successful nursing career.
Accelerated nursing programs give the student the simplest route to a license as a Registered Nurse (RN) for those who have completed a Bachelor's or Graduate's degree in some other field. Such programs take between 11 to 18 months to finish and include prerequisites, While an accelerated master's degree program will usually take the students around 3 years to finish.
At present such accelerated nursing programs are available in 43 states and also in the District of Columbia. By July 2006 there were 173 accelerated baccalaureate programs and just under 50 accelerated master's degree programs at nursing schools all across the US. And as of July 2006 there were another 40 accelerated bachelor programs in the planning stage along with 17 accelerated master's programs.
So what exactly is accelerated nursing education?
These unique programs accomplish the required training in a very short time as 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 get the same number of hours as those who are using traditional nursing programs.
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 will usually have to go through a thorough screening process. But those who are accepted are encouraged NOT to also try and hold down a full time job, as the pressures that are associated with this intense training will make it hard for them to be able to complete the all degree requirements.
The nursing schools which provide accelerated programs are specifically designed for those individuals who have already shown their ability to succeed at a college or university. 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 education and a successful nursing career.
Published March 6th, 2007
Filed in Health
