What’s the Fastest Way to Become a Nurse?

While every nurse must meet certain requirements, there is more than one way to work toward a career in nursing. Many people switch careers to nursing after working in other fields. Similarly, college students might decide to switch to a nursing degree after earning college credits in another major. For these students, the fastest way to become a nurse is an accelerated program.

Concordia University Irvine’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offers a faster pathway to nursing for career switchers and transfer students. Concordia University’s ABSN allows you to leverage your college education toward earning a BSN in as few as 15 months.

Our nursing curriculum remains comprehensive and rigorous, requiring a steadfast dedication to achieving your career goal. At Concordia University Irvine, you’ll benefit from a welcoming, values-based learning community that offers student support resources, such as student success counselors.

How fast can you get a nursing degree? It depends on which option you choose. Consider all your choices to determine which is best for you. Evaluate the benefits of becoming a nurse with an ABSN program and then examine some of your career options in the field.

 

Pathways Toward a Nursing Career

The pathway you should take to pursue a nursing career depends largely on your starting point, such as your current level of education, and your nursing career goals, such as what kind of nurse you want to become.

The four main options are:

• A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) training program
• An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program
• A traditional BSN program
• An accelerated BSN program

LVN Training Program

While this path does not directly lead to becoming a registered nurse, a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) training program allows you to enter the healthcare field.

It typically takes about one year to complete a state-approved LVN training program. Note that LVN training programs are not degree programs. Upon completing the program, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-PN to obtain state-issued licensure.

LVNs do not have the same scope of responsibilities, practice authority, or level of autonomy as RNs. RNs develop nursing care plans and make independent decisions within their scope of practice, and LVNs provide basic nursing care.

Basic nursing care includes tasks such as:

• Assisting with the activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and feeding
• Documenting patient concerns and relaying those concerns to RNs
• Taking vital signs

LVNs have a significantly lower earning potential compared to RNs, but the job can be a great stepping stone toward an RN career.

 

Associate Degree in Nursing Program

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs confer an associate degree and typically require two years of full-time study. They are a fast pathway toward becoming a nurse. Graduates complete the program with an associate degree, qualifying them to take the NCLEX-RN. Upon passing, they can register with their state’s board of nursing to obtain an RN license.

While this pathway is fast, there are a few drawbacks to earning an ADN over a BSN. Nurses cannot enroll in graduate nursing programs without a BSN. Additionally, BSN graduates typically perform better on the NCLEX, and many employers have expressed a preference for hiring BSN-educated nurses.

Traditional BSN Program

A traditional BSN program typically requires four years of full-time study. Traditional BSN programs are designed for students with a high school diploma and little to no prior college education. The traditional BSN curriculum includes general education and nursing classes.

Students graduate with a BSN and are ready to take the NCLEX licensure exam. Once they pass and obtain a license, they are officially RNs.

Accelerated BSN Program

Accelerated BSN programs are designed for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or non-nursing college credits. An ABSN program typically takes between 12 and 18 months to complete, depending on the school. At Concordia University Irvine, we’ve compressed the nursing curriculum into 15 months.

This is possible thanks to applicants’ prior college education, which fulfills the general education requirements. ABSN programs also tend to eliminate long gaps between semesters, such as summer vacations, so students can graduate, earn their license, and start working as an RN faster.

An ABSN program confers the same type and quality of nursing degree as a traditional BSN program. Graduating qualifies students to take the NCLEX to become registered nurses. An ABSN program can also provide a foundation for pursuing graduate-level nursing education.

Is the Fastest Way to Become a Nurse Right for You?

An ABSN program is the fastest way to become an RN, but is it the right route for you? Every school establishes its own admission requirements. Review them carefully to determine if you are eligible.

At Concordia University Irvine, we require applicants to have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 65 non-nursing college credits. You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and complete all necessary prerequisite courses within grade requirements.

The ABSN program also requires a minimum of 100 hours of patient care experience. Various entry-level healthcare roles can fulfill this requirement.

Aside from meeting the admission requirements, you’ll need to ensure you can meet the program expectations once enrolled. You’ll complete a blend of coursework, either online or in-person, along with in-person learning components, which consist of nursing skills and simulation labs and clinical rotations.

Be aware that it’s a fast-paced, demanding schedule, but you’ll have the support of your nursing cohort, attentive instructors, and student success counselors to help you along the way.

 

Benefits of Earning a Degree Quickly with an ABSN Program

Becoming an RN offers significant benefits, including the potential to earn a high salary and tap into a strong job growth rate. You can choose from dozens of different nursing specialties, which means you can align your career with your specific interests and strengths.

When you choose our ABSN program to earn your nursing degree, you can:

• Leverage your prior college education.
• Choose from three start dates per year (January, May, and August) with rolling admissions.
• Earn a comprehensive education from a legacy you can trust, as demonstrated by our first-time NCLEX pass rates.
• Choose from a hybrid ABSN that combines online coursework with in-person experiences at our Rancho Cucamonga campus, or an entirely on-campus ABSN in Irvine.
• Graduate in as few as 15 months.
• Take the NCLEX sooner and get to work as an RN.

What Can You Do After Graduation?

After you graduate, pass the NCLEX, and obtain your nursing license, you can start looking for your first nursing job. There are plenty of nursing specialties to consider, some of which you’ll experience during clinical rotations. These include medical-surgical, behavioral health, community health, maternal-newborn, and pediatrics.

Beyond the specialties explored during clinicals, there are many others to consider. You might look for a job in the ER, for example, or explore opportunities as a hospice nurse.

After gaining some clinical experience, you could go back to school to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and pursue career advancement.

How Fast Can You Get a Nursing Degree at Concordia University Irvine?

Concordia University Irvine invites transfer students and career switchers to earn a BSN in less time at our Spectrum Campus in Irvine, California, or our hybrid ABSN learning site in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Regardless of your choice, it’s possible to start quickly with any one of our three start dates and graduate in as few as 15 months.

Concordia University Irvine maintains a reputation for graduating caring, compassionate, and highly competent nurses who work as servant leaders and patient advocates. Our students learn to provide culturally sensitive nursing care to diverse populations, putting their patients’ needs at the center of all they do.

Contact our specialized admissions counselors today to learn more about our ABSN program and discover if Concordia’s ABSN is the right choice for you.