An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program gets you into the nursing field in a short time. Find out more about what to expect when enrolling in an ABSN so that you can prepare for and fully enjoy the educational experience.
Why choose an ABSN program?
Rather than taking a few years (or longer) to complete the traditional BSN, an ABSN program takes less than a year. A significant advantage of the short time span is that you can enter the nursing field earlier than with the normal BSN program, all with the same great credentials.
Furthermore, you will have in-depth experience and training from school to be able to provide quality patient care to improve health-related outcomes. You can also look forward to being able to apply for management positions that might not otherwise be available to you as an RN.
Can I get the necessary education online?
Absolutely. The top accelerated nursing programs are available online. Being able to continue to work at your current job while attending school is a big advantage of online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
Not only can you continue to earn income while in school online, but you can also keep up with family responsibilities or other obligations. Set your study hours and work on projects when it’s convenient for you, delivering them by the deadline.
If you like to do course readings at midnight, that’s fine; it’s up to you how you manage your time. That is great news for someone who has a work schedule that changes from one week to the next or must balance a lot of responsibilities.
What can I expect to learn at school?
Of course, you want to know what your nursing coursework will look like in an ABSN program. Among the classes online that you might take are nursing research, pharmacology, maternity nursing, and health promotion.
You will also get hands-on experience through clinical rotations. It could be in a hospital or happen another setting, with the goal to give you practice in situations that you will encounter on the job after graduation. An experienced nurse will show you what to do in a range of scenarios and provide a safe environment for you to hone important nursing skills.
The study material, tests, and clinical work will combine to prepare you for the future role. With each month that goes by, you will likely gain a lot of confidence.
What is the pace of ABSN programs?
As its name suggests, an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is fast-paced. It can take less than a year to complete, depending on the school.
It is an exciting opportunity to enter the nursing field sooner than with a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. You must prepare yourself, though, for the fast-paced schedule.
To ensure that you stay on top of coursework, you must maintain good study habits. Also, take time for self-care so that you don’t feel burned out halfway through the program, which could jeopardize your ability to graduate.
Also, continue to remind yourself why you enrolled in the curriculum, to begin with. Doing so will help to keep your motivation levels high, so you complete the program and move onto a satisfying career.
What to expect as a graduate?
After finishing the program, you can anticipate delivering care to people who have a range of needs. Being able to achieve a noble life purpose of helping others is an amazing feeling, and it can be yours in as little a year with an accelerated nursing program!
Upon graduation, you can anticipate working in hospitals, surgical wards, private doctors’ offices, and other healthcare settings. Alternatively, you can move onto graduate school for further education.
An ABSN graduate is in high demand with a deep level of education and experience that goes beyond an RN, and your salary will reflect that as it will typically be higher than that of a registered nurse. The monetary figure will vary by US state; for example, the annual income in New York for a BSN nurse is $87,335.
How do I apply for an ABSN program?
First, check the admission requirements for the school of interest to make sure that you do not miss any details. The last thing you want to happen is that you fail to apply in time for the top ABSN program.
You might be able to apply previous credits to your degree, so ask about that if you are unsure about it. That has the potential to shorten your degree even further. You also will likely require a certain GPA, such as 3.0.
While the requirements vary from program to program, they are designed to provide you with the fastest route to enter the profession. That applies even if you do not have nursing experience; for example, you might be looking for a second career and want it to be nursing!
Finally, get the enrollment details to the school of choice before the deadline. Don’t avoid the admission package due date! Be sure to ask the admissions advisor if you have further questions.
Final words on ABSN programs
An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program prepares you for work in a field that you have likely been passionate about for a long time. In a short time, you can begin a job that has the potential to help many people.
While the exact structure of the program varies according to the school, you will find that they share the basics mentioned above. An online curriculum is one that fits the lifestyle of many working adults and parents, as well as those who want to change careers.
After graduation, you can look forward to a rewarding position where you help people, whether it is directly or indirectly. Quickly earning your degree enables you to begin an exciting career early and start to live as you have dreamed, making a positive difference in the world.