I am wanting to get some feedback regarding the accelerated RN programs for individuals with a Bachelors already (that would be me).  The program I am looking at is 15 months with clinicals beginning the first week of class.  Credits are usually 15 per term. Some questions I have:   Is this workload doable for a mom of two preschoolers and a supportive dad/family?   Is this enough time to really absorb what you need to function in the real work place?  Are these types of programs generally of high regard?  Are there any moms out there who could share their school experience with me?   I am of the mind that the quicker I can be done with school the better.   Stacy

Hi Stacy,

I just graduated from an accelerated program and I loved it. Mine was 12 months and it still felt slow.  I liked the speed and I don't know how people can stand the regular track. Here are some things to consider.

 

1) Money. You should have enough for the whole year. Cause most of you time and energy is going to be in school. Look into Nurse Extern jobs or any kind of internship as a nursing student. This allows you to practice you hands on skills while getting back $11 to 14 an hour. Jobs are limited so ask around early. It also allows you to develop a relationship with nurse managers which will help you get a job right away. There are other ways of getting money but I won't go into that. Your school can help you with that.

2) Remind you family that you are going to be real busy for 15 months and that they should not expect you to have much time.

3) Make friends with your classmates. Forming groups with good people will really help you through school. Most likely there will be classmates who have kids and you guys can help each other out. It also helps to have someone who can relate.

4) I had classmates with kids and they all finished. So you can do it. It is not going to be easy. But with a lot of support you will be fine. \

5) My final advice is not to be shy about anything. You are going to see, smell, and experience stuff that is nasty. But remember you are helping people. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. If you have a chance to do anything do it. Don't turn down the chance to learn. You might not get it right the first time, but how else are you going to learn. If you get a chance to start an IV, jump at it. Ask to do a clinical rotation in the ER and ICU. When I graduated I estimated I started like 300 IVs. I have classmates who only started 1. They were still nervous about it after graduation.

 

Hope this information helps,

 

Charles
 

I worked at a home health agency that had students in clinicals from the Univ of Wisconsin-Oshkosh that were in an accelerated 12 month program like you are inquiring about. The students I mentored found the courses intense and obviously accelerated, but having a prior bachelors degree should be helpful. What is your bachelors in? The 2 students I mentored, one had a BS in biology and the other had a BS in computer science. The student with the biology degree seemed to handle it better.

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Colleen Engler

Stacy,

Acclerated programs are the new wave of the future, however, you must be ready for them. It is very fast paced, and you cannot, I really mean, you cannot get behind.

I'm currently attending Walden University working toward my Master's degree. I actually can't believe it, after being away from school for 15 years. The school is very highy regarded.  Look at their web site  at   www.waldenu.edu.      

Several students in my class have small children, I have graduted.. all mine are grown... Praise the Holy Father.. They do course work at nite. after dinner things like that.

Hope this helps.  I you consider Walden.. use my name. I get credit. Any further question, my email address  cjhbeh@msn.com   put your name in the subject line... I get so much junk mail.. Blessings

Thanks CJH

While I cannot speak directly to balancing family and school, from my observations it is doable.  I graduated from an accelerated BSN program in July.  In my class we had a mother of six, a mom who had her second baby on the day of our maternal/newborn final (now that's irony!), a single mom, and more than a few dads, too!  In fact, my best friend in the class is a dad with three kids, including toddler twins.  His wife started the program this past summer, which overlapped our final semester, and they both survived.  With your husband and family to help you I bet you'll be fine.

 To address the second part of your post, I think accelerated program students compare favorably to traditional students.  We've already completed a degree, so we're generally more mature and we have established good habits. If you were to compare actual class hours to a traditional program, I don't think you'd find much difference.  The shorter completion time is mainly due to less break time, not less class time.  The only time I felt rushed in my program was during the first summer, which squeezed 14 credit hours into 11 weeks.  After that, it was the same intensity as the traditional program.

As far as the regard the degree is given, I think your school's overall reputation is the biggest factor there.  To my knowledge accelerated degrees are generally given the same respect as traditional degrees.  Once you've gotten you first nursing job, people will be more interested in your work history than where you went to school. 

Would you be able to tell me where you took the 12 month accelerated program? And what you have to have before you get accepted?

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Tasha