Accelerated BSN Programs – Michigan Nursing Schools
Starting a new career can be daunting, but if you have already earned a bachelor’s degree—you are familiar with the rigors of college coursework, scheduling demands and professional goals. The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), sometimes referred as second career program is the fastest way to obtain a BSN degree if you already have a degree in another area of study, making it a popular and self satisfying choice.
Learn more by requesting information from the schools on our site. Click on the featured schools below if you are interested in online and distance education options, keeping in mind that they tend to offer more flexibility than traditional campus based programs. Submit as many requests for information as you like, and remember that the more information you have, the better prepared you should be to make a wise decision about the best nursing program for you.
Statistics predict a growth rate of jobs in the nursing sector at 26 percent, nearly double the average for all job types, (The Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013) making nursing a career choice that many Americans, like you, are considering. Nurses continue to top the list of occupations in high hiring demand (Forbes, 2012), and with greater than 100 thousand vacant positions and the increased need for health care workers, this may be an excellent time to switch to a rewarding and flexible nursing career.
Nursing is a highly diverse career allowing you to work in a variety of settings from hospitals to physician’s offices, private clinics and home environment, while caring for people across the life span. One of the fastest ways to introduce competent nurses into the job market was to create the accelerated degree programs. To help you learn more about your Accelerated BSN options, we have provided you with a listing of all the fast track programs in Michigan.
Accelerated BSN Curriculum in Michigan
ABSN programs are fast-paced while maintaining the quality of nursing education—the classes are offered full-time as well as part-time, with no breaks in between sessions. Most full time students can complete their coursework in 11-18 months.
Because of its accelerated format, students in an ABSN program must be motivated and dedicated. Most accelerated programs are designed to build upon your previous education while providing the science and nursing content you need.
Coursework varies from school to school, but most programs require pre-requisite courses in microbiology, anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, algebra and undergraduate level statistics. Entry to most ABSN is competitive, and most programs require a 3.0 GPA minimum.
Accelerated BSN programs require a significant credit load and many hours of clinical experience. Course work may vary by institutions, but most programs will offer classes in pathophysiology, pharmacology, introduction to research, pediatric nursing, adult and geriatric nursing, community nursing, health assessment and promotion, and leadership and management.
Most students who graduate from an accelerated program are able to pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam the first time they test, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. One advantage of entering a second career program is that you will bring your previous experiences and knowledge to the program. These experiences tend to expand and enrich your learning experience by adding a new dimension to the field of nursing.
Financial aid for most accelerated programs is available but limited, so many hospitals, in order to recruit nurses, partner with schools to offer tuition repayment options. There are also several facilities that partner with schools to create local clinical sites, especially those schools offering online programs.
Nursing Career Outlook in Michigan
Graduates of accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs are very marketable to nurse employers who recognize the education and layers of skill that these graduates bring to the workplace. The salaries of registered nurses are contingent on experience, location and organization setting (hospitals versus private physician’s office). The median annual wages of registered nurses in Michigan are $63,800 (O*Net, 2012). Registered nurses in the state of Michigan need to have passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and to have graduated from an accredited nursing school.
