Accelerated BSN programs can be an excellent opportunity for aspiring nurses to fast-track their education. With the potential to complete an accelerated BSN in as little as 16 months, students with an existing bachelor’s degree in another field can prepare to make the pivot to a rewarding career in nursing without committing to another four (or more) years of school.
At the same time, because of their condensed nature, accelerated BSN programs can be quite demanding. Those thinking about enrolling in an accelerated BSN program should prepare by sharpening their time management skills, setting realistic expectations, prioritizing self-care, and holding open conversations with their current employers.
Potential Challenges of an Accelerated BSN Program
Before we dive into some tried-and-true nursing student success strategies, it’s important to understand exactly what can make an accelerated BSN program challenging in the first place.
The Unique Demands of an Accelerated BSN Program
For starters, consider that an accelerated BSN program is essentially designed to cram what would typically be several years’ worth of nursing education into a program that lasts less than two years (if you’re enrolled full-time). As a result, these programs can be quite demanding and rigorous, especially for those new to the healthcare/nursing fields.
Importance of Work-Life Balance
With the more demanding workload involved in an accelerated BSN program, students need to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This may be particularly challenging for those enrolled in nursing school while working full-time jobs and/or caring for a family. However, finding ways to maintain a work-life balance in nursing school can help you maintain your motivation without burning out.
Setting Realistic Expectations
One of the most important things to keep in mind when starting an accelerated nursing program is to set realistic expectations for yourself. This way, you can avoid putting too much pressure on yourself or biting off more than you can chew.
Understanding the Accelerated Timeline
Full-time enrollment in an accelerated BSN program typically means completing in 16 months, but this will also require you to take courses across four consecutive semesters (this includes the summer semester). Likewise, hands-on patient care will be incorporated into your coursework, so you’ll need to be prepared to commute in addition to your online classes.
Assessing Your Commitments
As you prepare for an accelerated BSN program, take some time to assess your current obligations. Are you working part-time or full-time? Do you have young children to take care of? Being enrolled full-time in an accelerated nursing program can easily take up an additional 40 hours per week of your time, so plan accordingly (or consider dropping to part-time enrollment to avoid burnout).
Mastering Time Management
Sometimes, it may seem like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to check off everything on your to-do list. This is where learning how to optimize your time management in nursing school can make all the difference.
Creating a Structured Daily Routine
At the beginning of each week, set some time aside to plan for the week ahead. This should include creating a structured daily routine that incorporates time for your schoolwork and other obligations (like work and family events). Be sure to mark down any deadlines, due dates, or exam dates on your schedule so they don’t sneak up on you.
Prioritizing Tasks and Goals
Another vital strategy for time management for nursing students is to utilize a method like the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize your tasks and goals. Using this method, you can determine which of the tasks on your to-do list are the most urgent and essential versus the ones that could probably be rescheduled or deleted altogether.
Incorporating Breaks and Downtime
Burnout is a very real threat when you’re working and studying all the time without any breaks to do the things you enjoy. Be sure to work small breaks into your schoolwork to keep yourself energized without being overworked. The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to incorporate short breaks into your day without tanking your productivity.
Efficient Study Techniques
The right study methods can also help you make the most of your time while maximizing comprehension of complex nursing concepts and other course materials. So, where should you even begin?
Focused Study Sessions
Start by making sure the time you’re setting aside for studying is actually being used to the fullest extent. This means eliminating any distractions that could hinder your study sessions by leaving your phone in another room, shutting off non-essential electronics, and making sure you have a quiet space set up to complete your schoolwork.
Collaborative Learning Opportunities
Learning can be more enjoyable and more effective when you’re doing it with others, so take advantage of opportunities for collaborative learning during your program. Even if your classes are online, this doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from participating in online discussions, live video chats, and other collaborative experiences.
Utilizing Digital Tools
The right online learning tools can also make all the difference in your education, and there are plenty of free resources out there to help you throughout your nursing school journey. A great note-taking tool, for example, can help you get the most out of your lectures and readings. Meanwhile, free search platforms like Google Scholar can make finding academic research articles and studies related to your interests so much easier. Organizational apps like Zotero can also serve as a repository for your research and references, which can make drafting your own research essays a breeze.
Maintaining Mental and Physical Health
When you’ve got a lot on your plate, it’s easy to let your physical and mental health slide. You can prepare to mitigate mental and physical health challenges during an accelerated nursing program with a little proactive effort on your part.
Stress Management and Self-Care
First, find a healthy outlet for managing stress. Exercise, mindfulness and meditation, or even setting aside time to spend with friends can help you manage your stress during nursing school while engaging in critical self-care. Remember, you don’t necessarily have to set hours of your already-limited time aside to make a difference. Even just a few minutes a day doing something you enjoy can help you avoid stress and stay motivated.
Regular Exercise and Nutritious Eating
Speaking of exercise, make an effort to get enough of it. Ideally, you should be getting your heart pumping for at least 30-60 minutes per day, but even 10-15 minutes of light exercise is better than nothing at all. Because what you eat can have a major impact on how you think and feel, now is also the time to get serious about your diet. By fueling your body with nutritious foods high in protein, you can keep your brain sharp and energized.
Accessing Support Services
Thankfully, mental health awareness has come a long way over the years. Today, busy college students have access to more mental health support resources than ever before, so recognize when you’re struggling and take advantage of the services available. From counseling and therapy to other well-being resources, taking care of your mental health can help you be the best version of yourself not just in school, but in other areas of your life.
Communicating With Employers and Professors
Once you’ve been accepted into an accelerated nursing program, it’s important to communicate openly with your employers, instructors, professors, and the other people in your life. You might be surprised at just how supportive they can be, which could make your educational journey that much more enjoyable.
Discussing Flexible Work Arrangements
When letting your employer know about your enrollment in a degree program, this can also be a good time to discuss the potential for more flexible scheduling arrangements that will allow you to focus on your studies during your short time in school. Your managers and supervisors may be willing to work with you to help you complete your degree with more convenient shifts and flexible hours.
Transparency With Instructors
If you have a lot on your plate, let your instructors know. While you don’t want to make it a habit, most professors and instructors are understanding and willing to work with you on deadlines/due dates in extenuating circumstances. However, you’ll never know if you don’t ask!
Balancing Part-Time vs. Full-Time Work
Whether you’re working part- or full-time while completing your accelerated nursing degree, you’re going to be stretched thin. The key, of course, is to find an ideal balance between your time spent at work/school and the time you spend doing the things you enjoy. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works best for you, but if you can achieve that balance, you’ll be in a much better position.
Leveraging Personal Support Networks
Now is the time to lean on the people there to support you, including family and friends. This may mean asking for extra help while you’re in school and even redistributing household responsibilities on a temporary basis.
Delegating Household Responsibilities
Whether you live with roommates, family, or a partner, there’s a good chance you’ll have less time to handle household chores and other everyday responsibilities while you’re in school. While this doesn’t mean you should find excuses to let all of your household responsibilities go, it can be helpful to have conversations with others in your household and to ask for a little extra help/support for the short period while you’re in school. This might mean asking your partner to help out with grocery shopping or meal planning, or even finding a temporary nanny to take care of young children a few hours per week.
Friends and Family Support
Your family and friends are here to support your quest to advance your education and make a major career move. As much as you may not want to ask for help or support, you simply may have to juggle the demands of an accelerated nursing program. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, even if you just need a shoulder to lean on or somebody to commiserate with you.
Maintaining Quality Relationships
It’s not uncommon for relationships to take the back burner while you’re busy in an accelerated degree program and managing other life obligations. Still, you should put in the effort to maintain the most important relationships by setting aside even small amounts of time for loved ones in your weekly schedule. Even a quick phone call or 20 minutes of grabbing coffee together can make all the difference here.
Staying Motivated and Focused
Staying focused during a rigorous nursing program may seem like a challenge, but with the right goal-setting and motivation, it doesn’t have to be.
Setting Milestones and Celebrating Small Wins
Don’t wait until graduation to celebrate your victories. Instead, keep yourself motivated by setting and celebrating smaller milestones throughout your program. Passed a test? Completed a clinical assignment? These are all valid reasons to pat yourself on the back.
Connecting With Peers and Mentors
Getting through a challenging nursing program can also feel easier when you have others to share in the experience. Consider, for example, taking part in peer study groups or even seeking out a mentorship opportunity with a current nurse. This can also be a great way to receive valuable healthcare career advice from somebody who’s already been in your shoes.
Reflecting on the End Goal
When things get difficult, always remember your reason for enrolling in an accelerated nursing program in the first place. Ultimately, you want to make a career change that could lead to a more fulfilling life. Although earning your degree may not be a walk in the park, the work you put in will be worth it when you’re holding that diploma in your hand.
The Bottom Line
With the right preparation and support systems in place, it’s possible to thrive in an accelerated BSN program and complete your degree in as little as 16 months. From there, you’ll have built the foundational skills and knowledge needed to explore fulfilling career opportunities in nursing. It may not be easy, but for those serious about making a career change and completing a BSN program as efficiently as possible, the effort can pay off many times over.
At Marymount University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) is specifically designed to empower individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree to make a career change with convenient online and on-ground coursework. With flexible scheduling, a student-centered approach, and state-of-the-art simulation labs, students in Marymount’s ABSN program can enjoy valuable hands-on learning experiences without sacrificing their work-life balance.
Reach out to request more information about our ABSN program or any other program we have to offer or apply now to enroll for the upcoming semester! Prefer to meet in person? Schedule an appointment with a graduate enrollment team member today. You can also explore our financial aid page for additional information and resources on financial planning for students.
Sources
https://marymount.edu/Admissions/Financial-Aid/
https://marymount.edu/academics/majors-programs/
https://marymount.edu/admissions/graduate-students/meet-with-us/
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/MH/Pages/MHAM_Matters.aspx
https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html
