Nursing is among the fastest growing fields today, with employment rates expected to rise over the next several years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nursing (RN) careers are expected to grow 15 percent, with more than 438,000 jobs becoming available by the year 2026. In Connecticut specifically, registered nursing is the fourth largest employment sector today, with more than 2,000 job openings each year and more than 37,500 registered nursing jobs expected to exist statewide by 2026.
In response to the high demand for registered nurses, and with increasing emphasis on (and preference for) BSN-educated nurses, some nursing schools are now offering accelerated or “fast-track” nursing programs to keep up. Some Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) programs are also being offered online, in efforts to accommodate the needs of busy nurses looking to advance their degree. These flexible programs are designed to enhance RNs’ skillsets and credentials, and to get them working fast.
What is a Fast-Track BSN Program, Exactly?
A fast-track BSN program is an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing that can be completed in less-than-traditional time. It offers the quickest route to becoming a nurse, in comparison to your typical, four-year bachelor’s degree programs. There are two different types of fast-track BSN programs today:
- Accelerated, second degree BSN programs for non-nurses with a bachelor’s degree in another major. An ABSN program typically takes between 12-18 months to complete.
- Accelerated, RN-to-BSN programs are designed for licensed RNs looking to advance their nursing careers. These programs typically take 2 years to complete, though faster-paced options are available.
If you are an already licensed RN, you are likely looking for a fast-track RN-to-BSN program. Much like the name implies, this program allows you to transition from an associate degree in Nursing to a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, at a much faster pace than your usual 3-to-4-year BSN. At Goodwin College, for example, the RN-to-BSN program can be completed in as few as 16 months part-time. This leaves room for you to continue working and gaining experience in the field, while earning your bachelor’s degree. At Goodwin, the RN-to-BSN curriculum can also be arranged to meet your individual needs.
Fast-Track RN-to-BSN Online Program Options
You may be thinking that a fast-track RN-to-BSN program is your definitive path. As a working registered nurse, you need this level of flexibility – especially if you have other obligations, too, such as family at home. Still, you may have some hesitancy about committing to college (and campus life) once again. You may be considering an online degree program, but wonder how much that will offer you.
Sure, a BSN degree can provide you with advanced and enhanced skillsets, and ensure a higher quality of care for your patients. But can an online BSN degree promise those same benefits? How about an accelerated, online RN-to-BSN degree?
In short, the answer is yes. An accelerated RN-to-BSN, online program can offer you a quality nursing education, particularly if it is being offered from an accredited nursing school that is recognized by a national accreditation agency. Accreditation ensures the quality, integrity, and credibility of a program—certifying that it meets a set-level of standards, established by academic and nursing professionals across the country. Online and accelerated nursing programs can be accredited by the same agencies as on-campus programs, and meet the same, marked standard of excellence.
Goodwin College’s fast-track and fully-online RN-to-BSN program, for example, is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Graduates of this program go on to find successful careers in hospitals, home health care settings, nursing care facilities, physician’s offices, schools, and more, throughout the state of Connecticut and beyond. Most employers place high value on, and some even require, candidates with a BSN degree.
If you are a licensed RN and considering going back to school for your BSN, you are not alone. More and more nurses are hitting the books, as more and more employers demand it: Today, nearly 80% of healthcare employers express a strong preference for BSN graduates. Studies show a BSN level education can lead to better patient outcomes, including less complications and higher survival rates. A BSN degree is also becoming the ticket to career advancement, and greater earning potential as a result.
Learn more about the value of a fast-track RN-to-BSN program – and the path to earning it online at Goodwin College – by calling 800-889-3282 today. You may also visit us online to request more information.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.