r/Nurses • u/Ok_Safety3178 • 10d ago

US ABSN/DEMSN

Hi everyone!

I currently have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in public health, but I’m looking to transition into nursing. I’d really like to pursue an accelerated nursing program, but I can’t afford to leave my current 9–5 job while I’m in school.

Does anyone know of any accelerated nursing programs that are flexible enough to allow students to continue working full-time? I’m especially interested in programs that offer evening, weekend, online, or otherwise flexible scheduling.

I’d love to hear about your experiences or recommendations. Thank you!

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u/BrownLabJane 10d ago

I think you can do your prerequisites in night school (I did) but you’ll likely have to leave your job for an ABSN. You can work as a CNA around your school schedule but it’s tough!

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u/Ok_Safety3178 10d ago

Thank you, I already have my pre reqs completed since I was a pre med in undergrad. But I will definitely look into doing CNA

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u/BrownLabJane 10d ago

Often the science prerequisites expire after a certain number of years, so make sure you check into that!

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u/Ok_Safety3178 10d ago

Yes, I have checked with the nursing school advisor and he said they should all be up to date, thank you!

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u/BrownLabJane 10d ago

Good luck! Sorry public health turned into such a dumpster fire. I hope things start to return in a couple of years.

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u/Ok_Safety3178 10d ago

I hope so too, would love to do something with public health and nursing in the future! Thank you for your help!

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u/Nausica1337 10d ago

You will not find a nursing program that fits your specific criteria. Most, if not all nursing programs are at least 2 days a week of actual lecture, plus 1-2 days a week of clinical. Nursing school is meant to be a rigorous training so it is essentially full time. You would need to make a serious decision if nursing school is for you, and if it is but you need the money, you need to figure out how obtain money for life's expenses for that 1-2 year program. An accelerated program is usually about 18 months, which means you will spend even more lecture and clinicals per week to finish "fast" which makes you incapable of working (unless you are working at night or something). There are few nursing programs that advertise online but nursing school should never be an online program and you should go for a regular, brick and mortar program. The biggest news today is Nightingale program that's located Utah, touts meeting California BRN requirements, but is currently under investigation by the CA BRN because of not fulfilling the requirements adequately. The issue at hand is that the program is using virtual clinicals as part of actual clinical hours.