There’s no gainsaying that education is a lifelong learning process. The journey to becoming a registered nurse doesn’t necessarily have to be nerve-wracking. There are alternative ways of obtaining your baccalaureate degree that doesn’t involve putting your current career on hold.
You can still fulfill your dream of becoming a nurse even with a non-related nursing degree. An Accelerated Nursing Program (ABSN) offers you an excellent opportunity to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree. In this article, we’ll show you what to expect from the program.
What is an Accelerated Nursing Program?
An ABSN is specifically designed for people who aren’t in the nursing field who want to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). By way of example, the ABSN program offers someone with a degree in liberal arts or computer science an opportunity to pursue a second degree in nursing. If you’re pursuing a new specialty or advance your current career, enrolling in this program is the way to go. However, going back to school is a big decision that you should not take lightly. Besides, it can prove challenging combining the rigors of school and the nursing profession.
What’s more, you have to find the best university. Finding the best university isn’t exactly rocket science, but it can be exhausting. The trick is looking for a reputable university with faculty support from skilled nurse educators and mentors. That way, you are sure you have the necessary support you need to succeed.
When looking for a university to advance your education, choose one that offers a flexible program. Several reputable institutions offer part-time and online learning. For instance, if you want to become a nurse practitioner or psychiatric nurse, you can enroll at the Wilkes University’s Passan School of Nursing.
The Wilkes University accelerated nursing program cuts across a variety of options, including degree program, ABSN program, BSN program, ADN program, MSN program, and DNP program. The bottom line is that signing up for a Wilkes University online program takes you a step further to achieve your professional goals.
How the program works.
Typically, the program runs for about 18 months. However, the first hurdle is in getting admission. Most accelerated nursing programs require a minimum of 54 college credits and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Some schools require prospective students to have background knowledge in genetics, biology, human anatomy biology, microbiology, physiology, and chemistry. ABSN programs allow you to bag a BSN degree in less time than a standard program. What’s more, the coursework involves a fast-paced rigorous curriculum.
What does a typical curriculum involve?
A typical program curriculum involves mental health, pharmacology, community health, nursing research, health promotion, disease prevention, and physiology. Additionally, expect classes on nursing care of adults, care coordination, population health, and nursing ethics. You’d also get to take classes on maternity and newborn nursing and making health assessments. Furthermore, clinical rotations are mandatory and must be done in healthcare facilities, clinics, or hospitals. The curriculum is geared towards teaching professionalism, advanced clinical skills, and evidence-based practice.
Who are the ideal students?
Accelerated nursing students can come from any educational background as long as they possess bachelor’s degrees in their respective fields. Regardless, admission to accelerated nursing programs is highly competitive. The most successful candidates are independent critical thinkers, self-motivated, goal-oriented, and ambitious. Ideal ABSN students must be able to study regularly and have a good retention memory. There are numerous ways you can prepare as a student and one of them is using resources by Osmosis.
What are the benefits of studying for the program?
Students without experience working in a variety of health care settings stand to benefit a lot from ABSN programs. The program offers you a faster track to obtain your degree. More so, the cost of enrolling in the program is relatively less than standard four-year programs.
In addition to bagging a degree and the experiences, the opportunities that await you are endless. The nursing program allows you to improve your clinical practice. Ensure you choose a school that provides clinical placement services.
After graduation, you may choose to pursue a graduate program like a master’s degree or doctoral degree (PH.D.). Here comes the fun part; these programs set you up for a rewarding and fulfilling career. Besides, there’s a growing demand for more nurses in the healthcare industry, which guarantees a work placement.
