Accelerated pathways create a strong, swift pipeline for developing new talent.
In this article, we take a look at why they work, what they are, why they work, and how they're benefiting communities all over the world.
What Is an Accelerated Nursing Pathway?
Accelerated nursing pathways allow candidates to achieve their nursing accreditation in 12 to 18 months instead of the several years that the process generally takes.
They do this not by diminishing the requirements of achieving a nurse's license, but by narrowing the focus and condensing the classwork into a compact but efficient time frame.
Accelerated programs are generally only available to people who already have a college education. This allows the student to focus entirely on nursing-specific coursework rather than general education requirements.
Because most people who pursue accelerated programs already have a college degree, they are generally more motivated than a traditional nursing student.
The majority of people pursuing this route have already had a career of some kind and are now making a pivot. Nursing as a second career is extremely popular for a very specific set of reasons.
Chief among them, when people look for a new job in their late 30s or early 40s, they generally do so in the hopes of finding a way they can make an impact.
They look for work that is meaningful and personally fulfilling, and find it often enough in healthcare.
Why Accelerated Programs Help Communities
There are several reasons why accelerated programs can strengthen healthcare systems in struggling communities. The most obvious of these is speed. A program that produces nurses in 12 months as opposed to 48 months will inevitably fill gaps faster.
It also helps, as we mentioned earlier, that ABSN candidates tend to be more motivated. Since they already have had professional experience in most cases, they're more attuned to their likes and dislikes. They understand career pressure and are more likely to see things through, even when the work becomes stressful or challenging. They're there, in other words, because they've experienced the professional alternative and found that it wasn't suited to their liking.
Accelerated programs, of course, do not perfect the retention problem in healthcare, but they do at least improve upon it slightly.
Identifying Accelerated Nursing Programs That Work for You
We've now explained what an accelerated nursing program is. How can you find one that will meet your specific requirements? There are several things to keep in mind.
First of all, you need to identify an accredited program. Nursing programs have two criteria to meet:
- Federal accreditation, which means they meet the expectations of the national government
- Local accreditation, meaning they meet the conditions of your state
Often, local accreditation is more elusive. For example, if you live in Oklahoma, you need to research Oklahoma ABSN programs. An accredited school in Illinois might not suit your purposes.
It is sometimes possible to take a roundabout approach to finding and completing an accelerated program that isn't approved by your state. In this scenario, as long as the school is nationally accredited, you should be able to get a state-specific license, generally by jumping through a few additional hoops. Typically, this will mean taking an additional assessment or two and going through a lengthier background check.
Generally speaking, however, the clearest path forward is to find a program that is approved in your state.
Determining if an Accelerated Program Is Right for You
If you already have a college degree, you may be tempted to consider an ABSN. While this route is the fastest way towards a career in healthcare, that's not necessarily to say that it is the best. You need to be able to commit 40 plus hours to the process, something per week to the process, something that active professionals or even busy parents may not easily be able to accomplish.
It's also only an ideal fit for a very particular kind of student. If you thrive in a fast-paced learning environment, this is a good route to consider. On the other hand, if you prefer a more gradual academic pace, you're better off developing your registered nurse skills through a different avenue.
To that end, at least you have plenty of options. It's not a choice between an ABSN and starting your life over as a college freshman. As long as you already have a degree, you can still pick out nursing courses one at a time, doing a few credit hours per semester until you've achieved your certification. This is much slower than an ABSN, but it's a good way to get your credential while balancing other responsibilities.
Also keep in mind that you're not confined anymore to schools that are in your area. The rise of online learning has made it so that you can work on your degree remotely, sometimes even through pre-recorded modules that allow you to complete schoolwork only when it is convenient for you.
An Age of Options
It’s not just accelerated programs that are changing the way people access healthcare careers. Online learning has made a wide range of college degrees more accessible than ever.
No. Accelerated programs are not going to be a good fit for everyone. That’s ok. They don’t need to be.
If you are interested in a healthcare career, your goal needn’t necessarily be to get there as quickly as humanly possible.
It’s sustainability that should be your focus. There are more options today than ever before. Find the one that will get you where you want to be.
