Accelerated programs allow professionals to switch their careers

Accelerated programs allow professionals to switch their careers

Professionals who would like a career change and wish to find work in the healthcare industry will find that some schools are creating accelerated nursing degree programs. These curricula are specifically designed for individuals who have already obtained a bachelor's or master's.

For example, Felician College recently announced it will launch a new program for those who wish to land a nursing career but have already completed a degree in a different discipline, the school's website reports.

The newly created accelerated bachelor's in nursing (BSN) is designed for adults, according to the news source. Students will be required to complete prerequisites prior to taking courses for the program. These individuals will then enroll in additional pre-licensure classes, which make them eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam, a required test that registered nurses (RNs) must pass.

Enrollees will learn through both classroom and hands-on clinical experiences.

Muriel Shore, dean at Felician, told the news provider that "given the economy and other factors, many adults are changing careers and are finding the nursing profession very attractive."

Students who complete similar campus-based or online degree programs will find that there are many job opportunities for RNs. More than 581,500 new positions will be created for these professionals over the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

By Stephanie Hughes