Accelerated Nursing Programs

The focus of accelerated nursing programs can mean different things in different locations and settings. Regardless of which program in which state the training is taking place, all practical nursing candidates must pass a standardized test called the NCLEX-PN. In order to get a license to practice as a nurse in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, this test is required.

One avenue for finding accelerated nursing programs is in high schools that place emphasis on vocational training. Many of these high schools feature all the classes necessary to qualify to sit for the state exam so it's possible to take the exam at the earliest possible opportunity after graduating from high school.

Vocational coursework above the high-school level in some states must include fundamental learning such as English composition, state history, and basic math classes. In such states, these classes are a part of the curriculum for all vocational and technical school programs.

Other states do not require these classes, under the assumption these lessons were learned in high school or its equivalent. In these states, accelerated nursing programs focus entirely on the medical aspect of the training in concentrated form. It's often possible to complete these programs in a shorter amount of time than those with the basic education classes included.

Other accelerated nursing programs are undertaken on a full-time basis, much like a full-time job. The student attends class about eight hours a day, five days a week, instead of several hours per day a few times a week. This fast-paced program includes the same amount of educational hours but squeezes them into a shorter span of time.

Regardless of the program chosen, be it one of the many accelerated nursing programs or a more traditional one, expect to invest the equivalent of about one year of time for education before qualifying for the state exam. Training will include classroom and laboratory work as well as practical experience in a supervised clinical setting, such as a hospital.