Accelerated Nursing Programs: The Fast Path to a Career in Nursing

Accelerated Nursing Programs: A Growing Need
The number of licensed registered nurses (RNs) in the United States grew to a new high of 3.1 million between 2004 and 2008 according to a March 2010 report by the Health Resources and Services Administration. But as 32 million Americans become insured through health reform and enter the system, the need for nurses is greater than ever.

Accelerated degree programs have become increasingly popular among non-nursing graduates as an efficient way to enter the profession. Offered at both the baccalaureate and master's degree levels, these programs build on previous learning experiences and quickly transition individuals with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines into nursing. A typical nursing program takes 36 months or more to complete, versus an accelerated program of 12-18 months.

Though not new to nursing education, accelerated programs have proliferated over the past fifteen years. Today, 230 accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) programs and 65 accelerated Master of Science in Nursing (AMSN) programs are offered across the county; 52 schools offer both.

Accelerated Baccalaureate Programs: How They Work
ABSN programs accomplish programmatic objectives in a shorter time frame than traditional four-year programs, usually through a combination of bridge courses and core content. Instruction is intense with courses offered full time without breaks between sessions. Students receive the same number of clinical hours as their counterparts in conventional programs. Admission standards are high, with programs typically requiring a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and a thorough prescreening process, including in-person interviews.

Accelerated programs do require prerequisites, although many may be waived if completed during the student’s initial degree program. Most universities offering accelerated programs discourage their students from working due to the heavy course load and variable clinical assignments. Students can expect to spend 30-40 hours per week in class, studying at home and participating in hands-on clinical activities.

Accelerated Master's Degree Programs: How They Work
Many students come to AMSN programs after completing a degree at the baccalaureate or graduate level. In 1974, Yale University was the first to open its doors to college graduates who were not yet nurses and instituted the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing.

AMSN programs attract students interested in learning through a hands-on clinical setting. Students are taught all of the basic clinical skills that baccalaureate candidates learn. These programs also provide students with knowledge of the entire life span of a patient, from pediatric to geriatric care. They integrate a variety of topics such as nutrition, research methodology, and emerging quality and safety practices. Graduates are prepared for many roles, such as clinical instructors, junior researchers, nurse administrators, or for direct practice leaders in specialty nursing roles like the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL).

Accelerated Nursing Programs: The Challenges and the Competition
The typical second-degree nursing student is motivated, older and has high academic expectations. Second-degree students also bring more layers of education and significant work experience to their role as nurses, which enhance their clinical practice and can help them move into management positions. Though accelerated programs have proven to produce highly qualified nurses, the programs do present some challenges. Many employers do not repay educational debt, and cost of attending an accelerated program may be prohibitive. In addition, some students find the pace of accelerated programs to be too intense, preferring a more regularly paced degree program.

Despite the demanding schedule, the interest in accelerated programs is growing. For example, DePaul University began its Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program in 2000 with just four students but had 156 students enrolled by 2010, with a graduation rate of 94 percent. In North Carolina’s Research Triangle, Duke University began its ABSN program in 2002 with a cohort of 39 students. It now accepts over 140 new students annually.

Supporting Accelerated Nursing Programs
Second-degree students bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and energy to the nursing workforce and are highly skilled clinicians. Hospitals, healthcare systems and other practice settings are encouraged to form partnerships with schools offering accelerated programs to remove the student's financial burden in exchange for a steady stream of new nurse recruits. Legislators on the state and federal levels are encouraged to increase scholarship and grant funding for these programs that produce entry-level nurses faster than any other basic nursing education program. These programs are ideal career transition vehicles and may be of special interest to those employed in sectors that are vulnerable during an economic downturn.