Accelerated Nursing Programs – BSN & MSN

To meet the high demand for Registered Nurses (RNs), more and more schools have started to offer Accelerated Nursing Programs. These are also known as Direct Entry programs. They are available to entry-level non-nurses who hold a Bachelor's degree in a different major. Both BSN and MSN degrees are available through accelerated programs.

Accelerated nursing programs are designed to cover a copious amount of material in a very short amount of time. No breaks are scheduled and a day of classes may be longer than traditional programs. For entry-level non-nurses the accelerated Bachelor's and accelerated Master's degrees are available. To qualify, the prospective student must have at least a Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing major.

There are two main focuses of accelerated nursing programs:

• See list of accelerated BSN?

• See list of accelerated MSN?

Accelerated BSN Degree or Direct Entry BSN

Role of the BSN Educated Registered Nurse

Registered nurses perform a wide variety of duties and have many responsibilities. Education for RNs is purposely orchestrated to allow RNs to choose from a variety of specialties by teaching a broad spectrum of skills.

RNs are qualified to care for all patient populations and for all illnesses on a broad level. New graduate RNs will need to complete an internship program to learn the complexities of the specialty.

Learn more: BSN Nurse Roles & Responsibilities

Tuition

The cost of this program is usually between $50,000 and $90,000 and being employed during the program is generally not allowed. This is due to the demanding course schedule and complexity of courses which require many hours of homework a week.

Financial aid is available through most schools and federal grants and scholarships are often available. To apply for financial aid the student will need to visit the financial aid office at the school and complete a FAFSA (https://fafsa.ed.gov/)

Length of time

The Accelerated BSN program will take approximately 11 to 18 months to complete with prerequisite classes included. Clinical hours are required and the graduate will need to pass the NCLEX-RN to become licensed as an RN.

Requirements for Accelerated BSN Degree

Requirements for Accelerated BSN courses vary but generally include:

• Bachelor's degree in any major from an accredited college or university
• Minimum GPA of 3.0

In addition, some programs require certain prerequisite courses prior to admission for those schools where prerequisites are not included in the curriculum. For many science majors, these may have been completed already. These are usually:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Microbiology
• Statistics
• Human Growth and Development

Accelerated BSN Curriculum

Curriculum varies by the school as well as course titles, but generally Accelerated BSN classes include:

• Nursing care for the geriatric adult
• Nursing care of infants, children, and adolescents
• Nursing care of adults
• Human anatomy and physiology
• Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology
• Nursing Ethics
• Wellness Promotion
• Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Fees to consider which may not be included in tuition include:

• Uniforms
• Stethoscope
• Penlight
• Medical scissors
• White shoes
• School and clinical location parking passes
• Meals
• Gas or transit costs

Exam and Licensing

In order to work as an RN each graduate must be licensed by the state in which they wish to practice and to become licensed he or she must pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

The state will verify the student meets all the requirements and is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination through the application process. These requirements vary by each state but may include:

• AIDS Awareness class completion
• Fingerprints and FBI Background check
• Nursing School Completion

Once the NCLEX-RN exam is passed successfully the RN will receive his or her license in the mail and can begin looking for work as an RN.

Salary

Salary for a BSN educated RN depends on which specialty he or she decides to pursue and experience level. Typically hospitals and skilled nursing or long term care facilities pay the most. Out of hospital jobs, critical care positions usually pay more than other positions within the hospital. Experience earns more money for the working nurse.

BSN educated RN's typically make $67,000 to $77,000 per year.

Learn more about RN Salaries

• Nurse Practitioner Salaries
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
• Certified Nurse Midwife Salaries

Jobs to Expect

As a newly graduated RN, the nurse can expect to find positions which will train him or her in the specialty they have chosen. These positions should include some sort of internship with textbook education, or didactic learning, as well as a preceptor who will show the new graduate how to apply the didactic knowledge. These positions are usually entitled:

• New Grad RN
• Nurse Intern
• Nurse Internships
• New Graduate RN Program

Employment

Bachelor's educated nurses are able to work in a variety of healthcare environments. These include:

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Long term care facilities
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Physician's offices
• Education for Associate's level nursing students or below
• Management
• Nursing Leadership
• Research
• Large teaching hospitals which require a BSN for entry-level RN position

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that large healthcare employers actively support accelerated BSN programs such as:

• Tenet Healthcare
• Carondelet Health Network
• University of Missouri Health Care
• North Carolina Baptist Hospital
• Duke University Health System

Accelerated MSN Degree or Direct Entry MSN

Role of the Accelerated MSN Educated RN

The role of the MSN educated RN is as a provider, leader, and steward of health. Master's educated nurses are important to the nursing profession because they demonstrate strong leadership roles for nurses.

Master's educated nurses choose a specialty which determines their role in nursing. These specialties are:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Nurse Anesthetist (NA)
• Nurse-Midwife (NMW)
• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse (PMH)
• Public Health Nurse (PHN)
• Nurse Educator

Learn more about MENP.

Tuition of Accelerated MSN Programs

Tuition can range from $70,000 to $120,000. However, the first year of this program for many schools is considered the "non-licensed" year and after completion, the student is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam and technically can begin working as an RN. But, working during any accelerated program is not recommended and many schools strictly do not allow it.

Additional Costs

Fees to consider which may not be included in tuition include:

• Uniforms
• Stethoscope
• Penlight
• Medical scissors
• White shoes
• School and clinical location parking passes
• Meals
• Gas or transit costs

How Long Do Accelerated MSN Programs Take to Complete?

The Accelerated MSN program may take up to 3 years to complete and clinical hours or a preceptorship are required. Usually, these programs are structured as an accelerated BSN followed immediately by two years of graduate school.

Admission criteria for the Accelerated MSN program generally include:

• Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing major from an accredited college or university
• GPA of at least 3.0
• Letters of reference, usually 2 academic and 1 professional
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within 5 years of application
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if English is not the student's primary language

The AACN has developed The Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing (https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/MastersEssentials11.pdf) which outlines 9 areas of core curriculum which must be covered in Master's level education. These core curricula are:

1. Background for Practice from Sciences and Humanities
2. Organizational and Systems Leadership
3. Quality Improvement and Safety
4. Translating and Integrating Scholarship into Practice
5. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
6. Health Policy and Advocacy
7. Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
8. Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving Health
9. Master's-Level Nursing Practice

And, within each Master's program are classes which vary by school. Some of the basics include:

• Foundations in Nursing Practice
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Health Assessment
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Promoting Health in Older Adults
• Nursing for Children and Adults
• Statistics
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Research Processes
• Maternal and Newborn Health
• Public Health
• Nursing Ethics

Are There MSN Programs Without a BSN Prerequisite?

There are many schools and institutional programs that offer a Diploma RN or Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) to Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) degree directly, without adding additional courses for the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN). One could also look specifically for the program term of RN to MSN.

Many schools offer programs where the nurse receives a congruent BSN along with the MSN by the end of the program. These programs are ideal for the nurse who completed an ADN program, obtained a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, but would like to complete an MSN degree.

Here is a breakdown of RN to MSN programs by state:
https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-to-msn/#find-rn-msn-programs-state 

Students should always assure that the intended school offering a direct ADN to MSN program is accredited by at least one of the national nursing school accreditation bodies. Attending institutions that have been accredited allows students to apply for federal student loans and state entitlement programs. The accreditation process for schools is also a guarantee of professional and academic standards. Graduates from accredited programs are most likely to qualify to attend other accredited schools for advancing degrees. Most employers prefer, if not require, nurses to have received their degree from accredited programs.

Exam and Licensing

Examinations vary because different specializations exist for the MSN degree. But for all Advanced Practice degrees, each state's board of nursing will issue and maintain licensure. The state usually requires the applicant to have an RN license.

All states boards of nursing require the Advanced Practice RN to register and receive a state license to practice. However, only the Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist specialties require an examination. These are national exams and are available through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Nurse Practitioner Examination

To take an NP exam through the ANCC to become certified as a Nurse Practitioner, the applicant must meet these requirements:

• Currently hold an RN license
• Be a graduate of a nurse practitioner program who is accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (formerly NLNAC, National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission)
• Completed a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours

Have completed these courses:

• Advanced physiology/pathophysiology, including general principles that apply across the life span
• Advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts, and approaches
• Advanced pharmacology, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Examination

To take the CNS examination through the ANCC the applicant must meet these requirements:

• Currently hold an RN license
• Be a graduate of a nurse practitioner program who is accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (formerly NLNAC, National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission)
• Completed a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours

Have completed these courses:

• Advanced physical/health assessment
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced pathophysiology

Once the graduate passes the examination he or she is eligible to be working as an advanced practice RN.

Salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the range for MSN educated RNs is $67,000 to $126,000 per year.

This varies greatly on location and specialty.

Learn more about APRN salaries:

• Nurse Practitioner Salaries
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
• Certified Nurse Midwife Salaries

Employment

Employment for MSN educated nurses depends on which specialty the degree is in. Employers may be:

• Hospitals
• Physician's Offices
• Clinics
• Long term care facility
• Skilled nursing facility
• Private physician's group
• Outpatient surgery
• Educational institution

List of All Accelerated BSN Programs

The following table lists accelerated BSN programs by state. Click on the school website link to get more details.

List of All Accelerated MSN Programs

See a full list of accelerated MSN programs by State.

OTHER NURSING DEGREE PROGRAMS

• ADN
• BSN
• MSN
• DNP
• NP
• CRNA
• CMN