Accelerated BSN Programs – Minnesota Nursing Schools
Working as a nurse in Minnesota allows you to serve a variety of people, from ethnically diverse communities in cities to more homogeneous suburban populations. Students that want to make an impact in Minnesota nursing may opt to get a BSN via one of Minnesota’s accelerated BSN programs.
Simply submit a request for information to learn more about what each program is like, keeping in mind that the more you know, the better prepared you may be to select the best nursing degree program for you.
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, you can use those credits to jump-start a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. These programs usually take only 12 to 18 months and there are many different ones available. If you have an intense work schedule, you may want to choose a nursing program that has online options for students.
Accelerated BSN Curriculum in Minnesota
Before you can officially enroll in an accelerated BSN program, you will have to prove that you have completed a variety of science classes. These classes give you the knowledge you need to succeed in the rest of your nursing classes.
While there are many different accelerated BSN programs that serve students in Minnesota, their curricula are very similar. In all of the programs, you have to learn beginning nursing techniques before you can move onto specialty nursing techniques. Classes that you will take early on in your schooling include pharmacology, nursing techniques, and health assessment.
Later on, you will need to take in-depth courses in psychiatry, obstetrics, pediatrics, and management. The upper level nursing courses are aimed to provide you with the critical thinking, autonomy and organizational knowledge required of high level nursing positions.
By the time you finish all of these courses, you should be ready for the second part of nursing school—clinical practice. Clinical rounds involve working in a variety of nursing fields to practice, gain confidence, and figure out which fields you like the best. Since there is so much diversity in Minnesota’s population, you may want to do your clinical experience near the area that you want to work.
Towards the end of your nursing classes, your instructors will help you study and prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam, which you will take in order to earn your license as a Registered Nurse.
Nursing Career Outlook in Minnesota
After completing your BSN degree, you will be able to pursue a nursing career in a variety of settings. You might choose to work in a hospital, an environment that gives you practice in many different fields. You can also look for work at a clinic, traveling nurse association, or nursing home. Major nursing employers in Minnesota include Coram Specialty Infusion Services, Brookdale Senior Living, Minneapolis Eye Center, and Gentle Touch Health Initiatives.
The need for nursing professionals is growing quickly in Minnesota. There were 57,080 nursing jobs in Minnesota in 2010, and O*Net expects that number to grow to 69,660 by 2020. Nurses in Minnesota can also earn a significant amount of money. The median salary in Minnesota is $70,600 per year (O*Net, 2012).
Nursing Licensing Considerations in Minnesota
Earning a nursing license in Minnesota requires you to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. After you graduate from an approved nursing program, you can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. About four weeks after passing the NCLEX exam, you should receive your licensing information in the mail from the Minnesota Nursing Board. This process will likely change slightly in the near future, as there are plans to make all steps in the NCLEX process completely electronic as early as 2014.
Minnesota is not a compact state, so you can only practice in Minnesota with a Minnesota nursing license. After initial licensure, your license must be renewed every two years for you to continue working as a nurse. Getting your nursing license in Minnesota entitles you to join the Minnesota Nurses Association. They offer a nurses’ union, a continuing education center, and updates on new nursing legislation.
