As a nurse, you have to upgrade yourself by polishing your skills and opting for high-level degrees. It gives you hands-on knowledge and experience to accomplish your career goals and improve your professional worth. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is one of the basic nursing degrees that makes you familiar with the fundamentals of nursing. If you are thinking of building your career as a competent nurse, you must know everything about accelerated BSN and traditional BSN. It can help you make the right academic choice that can impact your professional career.
Although, there is not a massive difference between the accelerated BSN and traditional BSN. But due to the increasing demand for registered nurses, the opportunities for bachelor’s-level nursing are also increasing. Therefore, it has become important for aspiring nurses to know about the technical aspects of accelerated BSN and traditional BSN. It can impact job security in their particular area of nursing practice.
Let’s find out everything you need to know about accelerated BSN and traditional BSN without further ado.
Student Demographic
The ABSN (accelerated bachelor of science) program is appropriate for students having a prior undergraduate degree other than nursing. You can opt for virtual education platforms to easily manage your schedule from anywhere. In that case, the online ABSN program can be the right fit for you. In a typical ABSN program, mostly recent college graduates and those individuals are included who want to switch their careers.
Also, you should know that the ABSN program is not for registered nurses having an associate degree in nursing. If you are currently working as a registered nurse and want to complete a bachelor’s degree, then you can consider RN to BSN bridge program.
Accelerated BSN programs help you utilize your past college experience, so you do not have to start your undergraduate education from scratch. If you have a non-nursing degree with 60 credit hours of college, then the accelerated BSN program can be the right choice. In most cases, students tend to complete the accelerated program quicker than a traditional program.
A traditional BSN program is a perfect fit for a wider population of college transfer students and school graduates. It mostly comprises young fresh individuals looking to enter the undergraduate program for the first time.
If you are a high-school graduate with no experience in college, then a traditional nursing program can be the right choice for you. The four-year program consists of nursing-based theory courses that help to enhance your hands-on nursing skills. Also, traditional BSN programs do not have any prerequisites, so you do not have to worry about it.
Program Length
The duration of a traditional BSN program is comprised of four years, just like a regular bachelor’s degree program length. On the other hand, the ABSN program allows you to graduate within 12 to 16 months of full-time professional study. But to enroll in the ABSN program, you need to fulfill the requirement of the prerequisite courses.
You may have to complete at least 4 to 18 courses depending on the nursing discipline you want to enroll in. The duration of the ABSN program can vary according to the prerequisite requirement of the particular nursing program. It usually takes one year to fulfill the prerequisite requirements of the ABSN program. However, if you have previously completed some courses related to biology or any other health-related courses, you may have already completed all the ABSN prerequisites.
If you want to get into the ABSN program, you must consider different factors. Your chances of getting selected can increase if you apply to the nursing school where this program is offered multiple times in one year. In addition, you have to ensure that the educational institution where you are applying is accredited. Another important thing you have to look for is that the institution should have a solid network of clinical partners. Getting a degree from a reputable institution can increase your professional worth as a nurse and strengthen your professional resume.
Nursing Disciplines
Whether you pick an accelerated BSN or traditional BSN, both programs can prepare you for nursing disciplines. These programs cover topics related to mental health, pharmacology, mental health, holistic nursing care, nursing leadership, and evidence-based practice. Moreover, both nursing programs are subjected to the same simulation lab, testing, and clinical requirements.
How to Choose Between Accelerated BSN and Traditional BSN
You should know that choosing between the traditional BSN and accelerated BSN depends on different factors. It includes your current education level and whether you want to do a job while completing your BSN or not.
If you want to quickly become a nurse and begin your professional journey by meeting the minimum credits, then ABSN might be the right fit for you. Similarly, if you do not have any prior college credits, you need to go for the traditional four-year BSN program. Although, it is not easy to decide which nursing program you should choose. You have to take your time and not make a decision in a rush. You can also take help from your friends or family member you trust if you are confused and cannot decide anything for yourself.
Conclusion
The shortage of nurses is one of the biggest issues that the healthcare sector is currently facing. The nursing demand is increasing day by day, especially after the pandemic of COVID-19. Therefore, all aspiring nurses need to realize their responsibilities in the current scenario and opt for the right nursing qualifications as per their capabilities and area of interest. Additionally, you need to clearly understand the difference between accelerated BSN and traditional BSN to make the right choice as per your needs. If you already have an undergraduate-level degree, then an accelerated BSN would be the right choice. But if you do not have any prior bachelor’s degree, you have to opt for the traditional BSN and complete a four-year degree program. Lastly, you should know that both these degree programs will provide you with hands-on experience to contribute positively to the healthcare sector by serving society.
Hopefully, this article will provide useful insights into the accelerated BSN and traditional BSN programs.