Accelerated Nursing Degree Programs Costs & Benefits

If you are considering a degree in nursing and want to get a Bachelor of Science degree but don’t want to go to school for four years, you should consider one of the accelerated nursing degree programs that can help you graduate sooner. This is a faster paced program than other nursing programs and may not be suited to all students.

If you are considering an accelerated program you should know both the good and bad points and then make your decision.

Pre-Requisites

One of the first things that you should do is make sure you have the necessary pre-requisites to attend an accelerated nursing program. Many of these fast-paced, advanced programs require that you already have your nursing degree. This facilitates the process by allowing you to primarily focus on the classes that lead to the Bachelor of Science. There are some accelerated programs that will accept transfer credits which help if you have taken some of your classes and want to use them toward your BS. You should make sure you find out all of the requirements before you sign up advanced classes.

Cost

You shouldn’t be concerned about there being a cost difference between a traditional four-year degree and a faster paced program that can be completed in two to three years as there is typically not any difference. The reason is simply that you are going to learn the same thing in both programs.

Benefits of Accelerated Programs

Once you start researching accelerated programs you will find that there are more benefits than there are drawbacks, the greatest of which being the time saved. The normal time frame for obtaining a BS degree is three to four years. This is a long time if you are ready to start your professional career and you need the BS to do so. Accelerated programs allow you to complete your degree in two to four years.

The location or method of taking fast-paced degree programs is another advantage. You can choose to take online courses that allow you to set your own schedule or you can go to a traditional school. It is also possible to combine the two methods by taking some classes online and other classes at a local college. Students who take accelerated nursing degree classes often find that the online option is best for them since they can move at their own pace.

If you find that you need a BS degree in nursing in order to enter the area of work that you have chosen and you don’t want to go through the hassle of working and going to school for three or four years to do get the degree, you may find that these time-saving advantages are more than enough to be a deciding factor.

Drawbacks

In order to make an educated decision about nursing programs you must look not only at the benefits but also the drawbacks. The major drawback to an accelerated program in nursing is the pace. You probably already know that a nursing degree is going to be a demanding program.  An accelerated degree simply takes four years of coursework and speeds it up to two years which means you are going to get the same amount of education and training that you would in a traditional program only in a much faster time frame. Many students have found that it is difficult to maintain a full time job while enrolled in an accelerated program.

In addition to not having time to work a full time job, you may also find that you don’t have time for an internship at your local hospital. Some students may not have a problem with not being able to remain in the field while they work on their degree; on the other hand, many students want to keep that connection to the field and work while they are in school. This is a decision that is a personal one that has to be made by each student.

Once you have considered the advantages and disadvantages of accelerated nursing degree programs you will be able to make a decision about which direction you want to go with your nursing education.