Accelerated Degree Programs Benefit RNs, Career Changers
By Christina Orlovsky, senior staff writer
If the nursing shortage has done one positive thing, it may be the increased attention it has brought to the profession. The projected need for 1 million new nurses by 2012 has encouraged a growing number of professionals trained in other industries to seek a degree in nursing. In order to accommodate this increased interest, another trend has gained popularity: the accelerated degree program for non-nursing graduates.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “accelerated baccalaureate programs offer the quickest route to licensure as a registered nurse for adults who have already completed a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a non-nursing discipline.”
Accelerated bachelor’s degree programs usually take between 11 and 18 months to complete; fast-track master’s degrees can usually be achieved in three years.
The AACN’s figures show that as of March 2005, there were 168 accelerated baccalaureate programs and 50 accelerated master’s programs available at nursing schools nationwide. An additional 66 new accelerated programs were in the works. Many institutions also have accelerated RN-to-BSN programs for continuing students who are already licensed nurses.
AACN statistics also reflect the growing interest and success of these accelerated programs. According to a 2004 survey, 6,090 students were enrolled in accelerated baccalaureate programs, up from 4,794 students in 2003. The number of program graduates increased from 1,352 in 2003 to 2,422 in 2004.
Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, is just one of the 168 schools offering an accelerated BSN program. The 16-month intensive program admitted 56 students to its fall 2005 class.
According to the Duke University School of Nursing Web site, students on the “Fast Track to Nursing” will have numerous advantages, including: “a shortened time frame for degree completion and job entry; a curriculum focusing on 21st century health care needs and environments; state-of-the-art laboratory, clinical and healthcare technology experiences using simulations, interactive techniques and case studies; and a uniquely rich environment for state-of-the-art clinical education that includes 1000 hours of clinical experience.”
Fast-track master’s degree programs function in a similar way to accelerated bachelor’s degrees programs, yet with a goal of producing graduates with intentions of pursuing advanced roles. According to the AACN 2004 survey, 2,666 students were enrolled in and 564 students graduated from accelerated master’s degree programs last year.
The Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) at the University of San Diego, in San Diego, California, is one example of a program that expects its students to go on to fill roles as adult clinical nurse specialists; adult, family or pediatric nurse practitioners; or executive or clinical nurse leaders. The program, which is now in its fourth year, has seen an exponential growth in interest since its inception.
“Our first class was 25, now we’re up to 40,” said Anita Hunter, Ph.D., RN, CPNP, associate professor and director of the MEPN and RN-to-BSN programs at University of San Diego.
Hunter explained that the program was born out of increased interest in the nursing profession among professionals with degrees in other fields.
“These individuals were interested in obtaining their license as well as moving on with their master’s in a way other than the traditional way—they didn’t want to get another bachelor’s degree,” she added. “There was such an increased interest that the USD school of nursing began to investigate an accelerate master’s program.”
As it has grown, the program has become extremely competitive, with 250 applicants competing for 40 spots. Students are coming from a mixture of backgrounds, from liberal arts and business to microbiology and social service.
“Usually, the common denominator is that they have all wanted to be in health care in some shape or form and they’ve realized that nurses are the ones that have the greatest contact with patients,” Hunter said. “The students like the way nurses and patients look after one another.”
In the past few years since USD’s program was created, numerous other similar programs have taken shape across the country in answer to the growing request for programs from professionals interested in becoming nursing students.
“There has definitely been an increase in accelerated master’s programs since they began at two schools in the 1990s,” Hunter added. “There are a lot opening up because of the adult learners, who are a neat group to teach. They’re committed to pursuing the degree—they really want to be nurses, often more than some of the traditional bachelor’s students who come right out of high school.”
Still, the accelerated programs are not without difficulty because they are just that: accelerated.
“The program is intense,” Hunter said.
“In the 12 months of year one you learn everything you need to know about nursing and can sit for the NCLEX,” she added. “Probably some of the biggest questions hospitals have about hiring these graduates is how clinically prepared they are. They meet the same hours as all RNs within that first year—864 hours minimum.”
After the first year, students go on to pursue their master’s degrees either at USD or at other institutions closer to their hometowns. Many work full- or part-time in the clinical setting while continuing their education.
As more and more programs like the one at USD become available, Hunter expects that they will positively affect the nursing shortage.
“It’s imperative that we develop these programs,” she said. “Nursing education is challenging at best—it requires a large foundation in the sciences. The more we can look at developing programs that can help move people through quickly while still educating them to be an excellent nurse, the better it will be for patient care.”
For a comprehensive list of schools with accelerated programs, visit the AACN Web site. For more information about the schools mentioned, visit the Duke University or University of San Diego Web sites.
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