Accelerated Master's Nursing Programs: Are You Ready?

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a valuable degree. With the continual nurse shortage in nearly every city in the United States, there always be demand for trained, competent nurses. But when you’re ready to move to the next level in your nursing career, the answer might be to earn a graduate degree in nursing. Let’s take a look at what this means and how you can ready yourself for the demands of graduate school and juggling responsibilities.

What Should I Know Before Applying to an Accelerated Program?

Before applying to an accelerated program, it is important for you to realize just how fast pace it is. You cover the same amount of educational material as you would in a traditional program, but in half the time. This pace can be difficult for working adults to keep up with. Sacrifices will have to be made when it comes to time management.

Course materials and clinical requirements will be the same. This is not a separate program with different courses and requirements than a traditional school, but a program sped up to better serve students who want to earn their degrees faster.

How Can I Prepare Myself For the Pace of an Accelerated Program?

There’s no one right answer for how to prepare yourself for an accelerated program. Your responsibilities might include work, family, social obligations, and many more items. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

• Get a great calendar. It doesn’t matter if you use a paper planner or an app on your phone. But make sure you can keep all of your appointments, assignments, and more organized and accounted for in your calendar.
• Decide what to cut. If you’re someone with a busy schedule already, there are going to have to be some sacrifices made on social, volunteer, or family events. It will be difficult to pare down the list, but you definitely don’t want to find yourself over-committed and overwhelmed your first term into school.
• Adjust as needed. Once you get started with your classes you will be able to make changes to how you handle scheduling, test taking, and more. You will have a better idea how different classes and instructors will function, allowing you to adjust your time management as needed.

What Benefits are Available for Nurses Who Want to Keep Working While in School?

If you are currently working as a nurse you may wonder if you can take on an accelerated school program as well as remain working. Depending on where you work, you may be able to bring up this to your boss. Many hospitals and medical facilities want their nurses to continue their education.

It is possible they not only allow you to take the classes but give you paid time off to complete the course. This is because you instantly become more valuable to them with the added education. So definitely bring up the idea of you going back to school for a Master's program with your boss at work.

Additionally, earning an advanced degree can allow you to take on more responsibilities, move up to new positions, and earn a larger paycheck along with it. Earning your degree while working can be difficult, as juggling full-time or part-time work as well as school is demanding, working in the field as you learn helps you to immediately practice your new skills and apply what you’re learning as you go through the courses.

If you’re interested in earning a Master of Science in Nursing and want to do it on an accelerated schedule, ECPI University offers this degree program in an accelerated format. For more information about this program, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Master of Science in Nursing

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