Accelerated RN Programs Available for Aspiring Nurses
Higher Education Articles July 6, 2013All across the nation, health care facilities are experiencing a shortage of qualified nursing staff to give high quality medical care to patients. With such a lack of qualified professionals, nursing schools across the nation are trying to give the required education to nursing students, so that the students can graduate and fill these open positions.
Unfortunately, demand is higher than the supply of nursing professionals that are currently graduating through regular nursing programs. Because of this reason, most nursing schools and universities are offering accelerated registered nurse (RN) programs to interested students, so they can obtain their nursing degrees in a shorter period of time and enter the work force earlier than traditional nursing programs allow.
Types of Accelerated Registered Nurse Programs
Students interested in taking accelerated program courses can check with the community college or university for the types of accelerated RN programs that they offer. Community colleges engaged in these fast track programs normally offer students the chance to obtain their Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in nursing. This program can be completed in about 13 months, and students who complete the program may be considered for the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) admission, according to Howard Community College.
Students can also take accelerated RN programs to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. These programs are geared to school graduates who may already have an unrelated degree, but no nursing experience. Students can transition into their new desire of becoming a nurse by taking classes that use the student’s previous college experience to teach them the fundamentals of nursing, so they can specialize in a particular nursing field, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is normally a 14-month accelerated RN program, although some colleges will offer programs that can last only 11-months or up to 18-months. Students who want to take the Master of Science in Nursing program with have to take courses for 3 years, according to the MGH Institute of Health Professionals. Upon completion, students can take the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses, and may also continue their education to take advanced practice specialty program courses.
The student must be fully committed in taking these accelerated programs. They will be learning a large amount of education in a short period of time, and most accelerated programs simply will not give the student the time to take any other educational courses or work a full-time or part-time job. Students must be willing to commit a large amount of time into these program courses. Without this commitment, the student will have a hard time succeeding and passing the program.
Accelerated RN Program Availability
Students who want to become involved in the accelerated RN programs must check the schools in their area to see if these programs are available. Currently, 48 states allow community colleges and universities to offer accelerated RN programs, including Guam and the District of Columbia.
Financial aid is extremely limited to students who want to take the fast track to get into nursing. Some colleges and health care organizations have teamed up to give tuition repayment to students who complete the program. So the student should find out more information through the college concerning financial aid if they cannot afford to pay the college costs.
In the United States, there are new accelerated RN programs introduced at colleges and universities. With 235 BSN programs and 63 MSN currently available, graduates can find the one where they can get the most educational experience required for a profession in nursing.
Accelerated RN Programs are Giving Graduates the Opportunity for Employment
Employers actively seek out nursing professionals who have taken accelerated RN programs. These nurses have shown that they are dedicated in receiving the necessary education needed for the profession, can handle time constraints and deadlines, and bring strong clinical skills to the job position. With more nurses entering the workforce to take the open positions, health care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes and other medical organizations are getting highly qualified nurses who will excel in their employment.
