Accelerated BSN Programs at Indiana Nursing Schools
Do you want to impact and serve your community as a nurse? If you have a Bachelor’s degree in another field, completing an accelerated BSN program in Indiana may be the perfect way to jump start your nursing career. There are many accelerated BSN programs throughout Indiana, allowing you to study wherever you currently live and work. Many programs even offer online classes, allowing you to study around your work schedule.
As more non nursing degree holders contemplate a return to school for a nursing degree, options for study are expanding. We have taken the first step for you, compiling a list of your options for earning an Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science degree in Indiana. Below you will find our featured schools, which generally offer online courses to meet your scheduling needs. Ground based programs are also available, if you find a school near you.
Whether you choose to complete your program online or in person, a BSN program can prepare you for the unique job requirements of a nurse and prepare you to serve your community.
Accelerated BSN Program Characteristics
Since an accelerated BSN program is meant to be completed in 12 to 18 months, there may be stringent prerequisite requirements for the school you attend. Most schools require you to have completed core science courses, including biology, chemistry, and anatomy. As a degree holder, it is possible that you have already taken some of the required courses, and that those credits can be applied to your nursing program. If you did not complete these courses during your first undergraduate program, you may need to complete them before you can apply to an accelerated BSN program in Indiana.
Once you start your BSN program in Indiana, your time is generally split between classroom work and clinical rotations. Some of the classes you may have to take include Nursing Care Through the Lifespan, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Health Assessment. These classes are meant to teach you the basics of nursing and prepare you for clinicals. If you choose a program that primarily takes place online, many of these courses may be available online.
During your clinical rotations, you can expect to spend about 12 hours per week at a local health care center. You may work with patients of the varying ages and health needs, in order to provide you with experience in different areas. During your clinical rotations, you can practice your basic nursing skills, in addition to the advanced nursing skills that are part of the BSN degree. If you are attending an online program, your school may set you up with a clinical location near you.
Nursing Career Outlook in Indiana
Considering the expansion of services anticipated as a result of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, now is a great time to start working as a nurse in Indiana. According to O*net, there are currently approximately 61,000 registered nurses in Indiana. They expect that number to increase to over 77,000 by 2020, representing a 27% growth in job openings (O*Net, 2010).
As a Baccalaureate prepared nurse, your job prospects may be more varied than the job prospects for an RN without a Bachelor’s degree. You may be able to work in labor and delivery wards, surgical wards, or other specialty fields of nursing. This may involve working in a hospital, a nursing home, or a clinic.
The median salary for a nurse in Indiana is $56,600 (O*net, 2012). A BSN can make you eligible for charge nurse or leadership roles, which may allow you to earn higher salaries. Indiana nursing salaries ranges from $40,800 to $75,700 (O*Net, 2012), based upon experience, education and practice setting.
Indiana Nursing Licensing Considerations
After successfully completing an accelerated BSN program, the next step is getting licensed by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. This involves filling out an application to take the NCLEX exam. Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN exam, you can get your license from the Board of Nursing.
As a registered nurse, you can expect to renew your license every two years. Registered nursing licenses expire on October 31 of odd-numbered years. Indiana is not a nursing compact state, so your Indiana nursing license can only be used in Indiana.
When you begin working as a nurse, you may choose to join the Indiana State Nurses Association. Membership in this organization entitles you to legislative updates, continuing education opportunities, and networking opportunities.
