Accelerated BSN Programs – New Hampshire Nursing Schools
Nursing is a fast growing field across the nation, including New Hampshire. Many working adults who already have a degree are turning to the profession of nursing as a means of finding a sense of self fulfillment that other careers do not instill. As a result, many graduates are returning to school to earn their nursing degree.
If you want to earn a nursing degree and already have a Bachelor’s degree, there’s good news for you. You can earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months by attending a New Hampshire accelerated BSN program. An accelerated BSN program in New Hampshire can teach you the skills and knowledge you need to work as a nurse in many different health care facilities.
To learn about all of the options for earning your Fast Track BSN in New Hampshire, search our list of schools below. We have featured those programs that offer distance and online option, which are popular among working students with families. Request information from those schools with programs that may meet your needs, keeping in mind that the more information you have, the better informed you will be.
Accelerated BSN Curriculum in New Hampshire
Deciding to earn your BSN can be a big decision. Not only may it have many benefits for you and your family, your education can help you provide essential care within your community. The first step is choosing a school. Many second degree students choose an accelerated BSN program that allows you to do your classes when you can. If you do not work or only work part-time, you may be able to attend a traditional, all-day program.
The coursework involves in a New Hampshire nursing program is intense. In just 18 months, you have to learn everything that traditional students learn in four years. Your first experience in nursing school involves attending many different nursing classes. After learning basic nursing skills like pharmacology and medication administration, you get to the meat of the BSN program. You learn about specific fields like maternity care and pediatrics care. Both of these fields need nurses, as New Hampshire has started an education program in which nurses teach parents and caretakers about SIDS, reflecting the need for well educated nurses.
The clinical part of your nursing school experience will expose you to any different nursing settings and patients. You will learn things that cannot be taught in books, like patient interaction, working with other nurses, and working under pressure. Clinical rotations typically involve time in a maternity ward, in a pediatrics ward, and a surgical ward.
Nursing Career Outlook in New Hampshire
If you choose to begin your nursing career in New Hampshire, you may find you have encountered a rewarding career. O*Net expects there to be 22% growth in available nursing jobs between 2010 and 2020. This works out to about 560 new jobs per year in a variety of nursing fields.
Nurses in New Hampshire can earn a median salary of $62,200 per year (O*Net, 2012). Much of what determines your salary is where you work. Some of the major nursing employers in New Hampshire include Alicare Medical Management, CoreMedical Group, HCA Physician Services, CVS Caremark, and Kindred Healthcare.
Nursing Licensing Considerations in New Hampshire
After you’ve completed your accelerated BSN degree in New Hampshire, you will be able to sit for the NCLEX-RN, which is the next step in order to get your license. Once you’ve earned your degree, you can apply to take the NCLEX-RN exam, a test that is required of all nursing candidates. Following successful completion of the NCLEX-RN exam, you can apply for a license through the New Hampshire Board of Nursing.
To renew your license every two years, you must complete two sets of requirements: continuing education and continuing practice. For continuing education, you have to have 30 continuing education hours every two years. For your practice requirements, you must have 400 practice hours in the last past four years. An acceptable substitution is completing an approved refresher course.
Joining the New Hampshire Nurses Association can help you get the most out of your New Hampshire nursing career. The board has continuing education requirements, leadership conferences, information on legislative changes, and prep classes for exams.