6 Accelerated Nursing Programs in Minnesota

For those who have been on the lookout for Accelerated Nursing Programs in Minnesota, this blog post has got you covered. This beauty contains all there is to be known and elements you need when it comes to accelerated nursing programs in Minnesota. We, having taken our time to research, have explained in simplest terms all about the programs including the requirements, cost, location, etc.

But, before we take that first bite, let us have a brief review of what nursing is all about.

Nursing is an important element of the healthcare system since it includes the promotion of health, the prevention of illnesses, and the treatment of the physically and mentally ill, as well as delivering high-quality care and attention to physically challenged people of all ages. Nursing is the glue that keeps a patient’s health care journey together, especially in the twenty-first century. Nurses work relentlessly throughout the patient experience, and wherever a person requires attention and care, to recognize and protect the individual’s needs.

Many people consider nursing to be both an art and a science, requiring both a heart and a head. The basics of regard for the dignity of human lives and an intuition for the patient’s needs are at its core. This is supported by the mind, which is molded by years of hard work in the classroom. Given the wide range of specializations and complicated abilities required of nurses, each one will have unique talents, passions, and expertise.

Within the nursing profession, there is a unifying ideology. Nurses consider test results when accessing a patient, but they also make informed decisions based on objective data and a subjective experience of a patient’s biological, physical, and behavioral needs, which is represented in the nursing process. This ensures that every patient, regardless of who they are or where they are, receives the finest possible care, whether they are in a city hospital, a community health center, a state jail, or summer camps.

There is no one-size-fits-all response to this question because the area of nursing is so vast and diverse. Nurses’ tasks might range from making acute treatment decisions to administering vaccines in schools. The ability and drive required to be a nurse is a crucial community feature in any role. Nurses are best positioned to take an all-encompassing picture of a patient’s wellbeing due to long-term monitoring of their behavior and knowledge-based skills.

For an individual to become a nurse, he/she must complete a rigorous program of extensive education and study, and work directly with patients, families, and communities using the core values of the nursing process. In the present-day United States, nursing roles can be divided into three types by the specific tasks they perform.

  1. REGISTERED NURSES

Registered Nurses (RN) form the backbone of the health care provisions in the United States. RNs perform important roles by providing critical health care to the public wherever it is needed.

Key Responsibilities

  • Perform physical exams and health histories before making critical decisions.
  • Provide health promotions, counseling, and education.
  • Administer medications and other personalized interventions.
  • Coordinate care, in collaboration with a wide array of health care professionals.
  1. ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES

In addition to the original nursing education and licensure requirements that all RNs must meet, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) must have at least a Master’s degree. An APRN’s duties include, but are not limited to, delivering essential primary and preventative health care to the general population. APRNs treat and diagnose illnesses, provide health advice to the public, manage chronic diseases, and participate in ongoing education to stay on top of technological, methodological, and other advancements in the field.

APRNs Practice Specialist Roles

  • Nurse Practitioners prescribe medication, diagnose and treat minor illnesses and injuries.
  • Certified Nurse-Midwives provide gynecological and low-risk obstetrical care.
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists handle a wide range of physical and mental health problems.
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists administer more than 65 percent of all anesthetics.
  1. LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES

LPNs, also known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), are members of the core healthcare team who operate under the direction of an RN, APRN, or MD. LPNs are responsible for delivering basic and routine care to patients and ensuring their well-being throughout their rehabilitation.

Key Responsibility

  • Check the vital signs and look for signs that health is deteriorating or improving.
  • Perform basic nursing functions such as changing bandages and wound dressings.
  • Ensure patients are comfortable, well-fed, and hydrated.
  • May administer medications in some cases.

Irrespective of the field of specialization a nurse might operate in, they all utilize the same nursing process which is a scientific method designed to deliver the very best in patient care, through five simple steps.

  • Assessment – Nurses assess patients on an in-depth physiological, economic, social, and lifestyle basis.
  • Diagnosis – Through careful consideration of both the physical symptoms and patient behavior, nurses can develop a diagnosis.
  • Outcomes / Planning – The nurse uses their expertise to set realistic goals for the patient’s recovery. These objectives are then closely monitored.
  • Implementation – By precisely implementing the care plan, nurses guarantee uniformity of care for the patient whilst accurately documenting their progress.
  • Evaluation – By closely analyzing the effectiveness of the care plan and studying the patient’s response, the nurse hones the plan to achieve the very best patient outcomes.

Nurses Field of Specialization

Nurses collaborate with doctors, physicians, therapists, patients’ families, and others to successfully treat illness and restore health to the sick, damaged, and injured. There are specific situations, however, where nurses have the authority to treat patients on their own.

There are many different types of nursing specialty, however, nursing is generally split into taking care of the patient’s needs. These requirements fall into a variety of areas, including:

  • Cardiac nursing
  • Radiology
  • Emergency nursing
  • Telenursing
  • Nursing informatics
  • Oncology nursing
  • Obstetrical nursing
  • Perioperative nursing
  • Palliative nursing
  • Orthopedic nursing

These grant nurses the ability to work in various areas such as;

  • Acute care hospitals
  • Communities/public centers
  • Family/individual across the said lifespan
  • Neonatal
  • Women’s health/gender-related
  • Mental health
  • School/college infirmaries
  • Ambulatory settings
  • Informatics i.e., E-health
  • Pediatrics
  • Adult-gerontology, just to mention a few.

Benefits of Being a Nurse

In-depth research has shown us that being a nurse has some added benefits such as financial breakthrough and freedom to others such as;

  • The demand for nurses is very high, having a high employability rate, take for instance in the United States, there are over 4 million registered nurses—meaning that for every 100 people there is one registered nurse. But according to the January 2012 “United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast” a shortage of registered nurses is projected to spread across the country between 2009 and 2030. In this state-by-state analysis, the authors forecast the RN shortage to be most intense in the South and the West.
  • The job fulfillment derived from the nursing career is high which makes nurses feel personally rewarded.
  • In nursing, the room for self-improvement is huge, giving rise to rise to professional development making the nursing field a highly developed and specialized field.
  • The internationalization opportunities of being a qualified nurse are enticing as there are employment opportunities in countries such as Australia, the U.K, Switzerland, and parts of Africa, there are also many visa offerings to emigrating nurses.
  • The flexibility of work is one benefit enjoyed by nurses as they do not have to be at work always, instead they are used on shifts.
  • It is a globally recognized and respected career.
  • There are a lot of fields where nurses can choose to work depending on their tastes, flair for it, interest, choice, and experience one has.

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an average registered nurse in the United States earns around $72,000 annually, that is $35 per hour. This makes the career are really interesting and fascinating field.

What are the constituents of the Accelerated Nursing Program?

This is a nursing degree option that allows students to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing (BSN) or master’s degree in nursing (MSN) in less time than typical. These programs are specifically designed to shorten the time it takes a student to achieve his or her goal of becoming a nurse.

If you are considering a career in nursing and would like to go the accelerated nursing route, it is recommended that you stay tuned to this post as we go over the many accelerated nursing programs available in Minnesota in great depth.

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Accelerated Nursing Programs in Minnesota

This section contains the Accelerated Nursing Programs in California for Bachelor’s in Science for Nursing and Masters in Science for Nursing programs. It also holds the costs, program requirements, and duration of the listed courses.

  • Concordia College – Moorhead (A-BSN)
  • Rasmussen College – Bloomington (A-BSN)
  • The College of Saint Scholastica – Duluth & St. Cloud (Hybrid; A-BSN)
  • University of Northwestern – Saint Paul, Saint Paul (A-BSN)
  • Metropolitan State University, St Paul (A-MSN)
  • Saint Catherine University, Saint Paul (A-MSN)

1.      Concordia College – Moorhead (A-BSN)

Concordia College is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, one of the best small cities in the country, in a thriving community with thriving businesses, engaging culture, and world-class healthcare. The location has numerous clear benefits in terms of internships and placements, and Concordia alumni who have received great training can find work within six months of graduation. The college encourages participation in interdisciplinary education, paid summer internships and research, academic activities, and honor societies such as the Sigma Theta Tau and Student Nurses Association, all of which focus on personal and professional growth.

Only 12 students are accepted each year through its popular 16-month ABSN program in Minnesota. Before applying, you must have a non-nursing degree, a G.P.A. of 2.5 or above, and finish all prerequisite coursework. It is an on-campus program in which all curriculum is delivered in person. The program is divided into five semesters, beginning with nursing fundamentals and progressing to advanced topics such as family, adult, and nursing management. The 700 hours of clinical practice, where students have a variety of real-world experiences at any of the 18 clinical partners, is a big aspect of the program.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the A-BSN for Concordia University are as follows;

  • An earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S institution.
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher
  • Prerequisite coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Prerequisite courses include;
  • Chemistry
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • Statistics
  • Nutrition
  • Psychology
  • Microbiology

Cost Implications of the Program

The program fee is approximately $340 per semester, this fee covers standardized testing, clinical assessments, equipment, and college laboratory supplies. The $250 non-refundable deposit paid to reserve a seat in the program will be applied to the first-semester program fee.

Additional costs which the students are responsible for include;

  • Textbooks
  • Clinical attire
  • Activity fees
  • Health insurance (verification must be provided)
  • Professional liability insurance (approximately $50 per year)

For more information as regards fees and tuition, kindly click HERE 

For more information on this and any other programs provided by Concordia University, please click HERE

2.      Rasmussen College, Bloomington

With 19 locations offering face-to-face and online nursing programs, Rasmussen College has a wealth of experience in creating a workforce of dedicated nurses. Its nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing and emphasize patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, teamwork, and cooperation. Rasmussen’s commitment and support for nurse education are evidenced by its 9,800 alumni and 5,600 nursing students.

The 18-month Second Degree Entrance Option is perfect for people searching for a career move. It has four start dates each year, in January, April, July, and October, so you won’t have to wait much longer to begin this rewarding job. Some of the 21 courses are available online, allowing you to study on your own time. Essentials of professional nursing, adult-acute care, and nursing informatics are examples of courses you might study.

Admission Requirements

To find out more about the A-BSN requirement of Rasmussen College, please click HERE 

Cost Requirements

To estimate your tuition and fees, kindly click HERE 

For more information about this and other programs run by Rasmussen College click HERE

3.      The College of Saint Scholastica, Duluth & St. Cloud (Hybrid)

The College of St. Scholastica, which was founded about a century ago, has grown over the years to provide nursing education that is relevant to the ever-changing healthcare business. It has a campus culture that encourages students to explore multiple pathways through engaging in campus groups, events, clubs, and intramural activities, in addition to a notable staff and state-of-the-art classrooms and simulation labs. The college emphasizes community service and provides students with a variety of chances to provide care to marginalized groups and individuals with mental health problems in both rural and urban settings.

Its expedited program is a second-degree nursing program in Minnesota that takes only 15 months to complete. At the Duluth campus, you can choose between a day school on-campus program or an online hybrid format. At the St. Cloud campus, you can choose between a day school on-campus program and an online hybrid format. The coursework can be completed in four semesters in total. Duluth’s classes start in May, while St. Cloud’s classes start twice a year, in May and September. The program is built on Benedictine values of love for all people and teaches nurses to take a holistic approach to patient care.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for consideration a student must possess the following;

  • Baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited college or university
  • Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA/NA-R) registration or course completion.
  • Prerequisite requirements include;
  • Lifespan Development Psychology (3-4 credits)
  • General Chemistry – no lab required (3-4 credits)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (6-8 credits)
  • Microbiology – no lab required (3-4 credits)
  • Nutrition (minimum of 2 credits)
  • Statistics – Descriptive and Inferential (3-4 credits)
  • Pathophysiology (upper-division credits required, cannot be taken at a community college) (3-4 credits)
  • Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA/NA-R) registration or course completion

Note that all prerequisite courses must be completed before the program start, it is recommended that you possess four prerequisite courses completed (with a grade) at the time of application, three science courses.

Cost Requirements

The tuition and fees for this program stand at an estimate of $14,090 per semester and this includes a $750 non-refundable deposit.

For more information on this and any other program offered please click HERE

4.      University of Northwestern-Saint Paul

Northwestern University’s School of Nursing, which is located near downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, is well-known for its nursing education throughout the state and beyond. Its location provides students with outstanding chances in healthcare, therefore it’s no surprise that armed with the necessary professional knowledge and abilities, 100% of nursing graduates find work within 6 months of graduation. Students thrive in a setting that combines urban culture with Christian ideals. Nurses who provide holistic care are encouraged to go beyond clinical demands.

The second-degree post-baccalaureate program may be ideal for those who have a bachelor’s degree from an authorized university and are looking for a career shift. To get your degree, you must complete 24 credits of core curriculum coursework, 16 credits of pre-nursing coursework, and 58 credits of nursing coursework. All nursing and pre-nursing courses require a minimum grade of C. The last four weeks of the four-semester curriculum are mostly focused on NCLEX-RN preparation classes.

Cost Requirements

Tuition is estimated to be around $35,000 per year for in-state and nonresident students. For part-time students, charges are between $1,400 – $1,600 per unit. Financial aid is also available for eligible students.

For more information, kindly click HERE 

5.      Metropolitan State University, St. Paul

Metropolitan State University’s nursing school has been delivering nursing education to its ever-growing student body since 1981, offering a diverse range of nursing degrees. Students can enroll in programs at any of the college’s community sites throughout the Twin Cities, in addition to the Saint Paul campus. Flexible online learning, world-class facilities like technologically equipped classrooms and a simulation lab, and a faculty of scholars and clinicians have proven to be the perfect success recipe, making it a popular nursing school alternative.

The Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is a pre-licensure nursing program for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline and want to become registered nurses. It is a seven-semester program that begins in the fall and includes two summer semesters of coursework. Students are grouped into cohorts, which means they stay with the same group of people throughout the program. The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation has endorsed this program, which incorporates holistic nursing concepts and theories throughout the curriculum (AHNCC). This endorsement waives the holistic nursing practice and education requirements for certification for graduates who achieve RN license and sit for holistic nurse certification within two years after graduation.

In Minnesota, the rapid career change track is a Direct Entry MSN program that begins in the fall of each year. You will be prepared for the NCLEX-RN and advanced nursing positions after completing the seven-semester curriculum. To be qualified, you must complete pre-requisite courses in Chemistry, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Microbiology with a grade of C or above by the application date. Admission to the college is extremely competitive, and it will be based on your GPA (which must be at least 3.0), necessary coursework grades, essay, and references. To get your nursing degree, you must complete 29 credits at the undergraduate level and 33 credits at the graduate level after enrolling.

Resultant students

  • As a foundation for professional nursing practice, synthesize information from the arts, sciences, and nursing.
  • To improve nursing care and health outcomes, use leadership skills, teaching, and collaborative tactics.
  • Provide competent, evidence-based nursing care to a varied and underserved population of individuals, families, communities, and populations.
  • Integrate political, economic, social, and ethical information into decision-making processes that affect healthcare quality and professional nursing practice.
  • Demonstrate a dedication to the improvement of professional nursing as well as personal and peer professional development.
  • Improve nursing care for patients across the lifespan by utilizing information systems technology.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the requirements listed for admission to the ELMSN program at Metropolitan State University.

  • Applicants must have a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants whose degrees are from a non-US college shall have their degrees evaluated by a credentials evaluation service to determine equivalency to a US baccalaureate degree.
  • Applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA for all previous post-secondary studies and degrees, including any courses completed that did not lead directly to a completed degree.
  • Applicants must complete the four science prerequisites of chemistry, human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology with their lab components before the application deadline.

The prerequisite courses include;

  • Chemistry with a laboratory component
  • Human Anatomy with a laboratory component
  • Microbiology with a laboratory component
  • Nutrition
  • Life span psychology
  • Medical Ethics
  • Statistics course (college level), which must be completed no more than 4 years before the date of the program application.
  • Applicants must achieve a grade of “C” or above in prerequisite courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.0. one prerequisite course may have a P/NP grade.

Cost Requirements

For more information on this, click HERE

To get familiar with other activities by the school, kindly click HERE 

6.      Saint Catherine University, Saint Paul

Catherine’s Henrietta Schmoll School of Health is renowned for impacting healthcare in Minnesota. Students gain competency and become compassionate healers via the utilization of advanced technology, an innovative curriculum, a diverse range of clinical partners, and the capable guidance of an outstanding faculty. Clinical sites where nursing students put their theoretical knowledge into practice include Allina Health Systems, Fairview Health Services, HeathEast Care System, HealthPartners, Hennepin County Medical Center, and North Memorial Health Care.

After receiving a non-nursing degree, the MSN: Entry Level option is suitable for people considering a career shift. In approximately 26 months, you can become a registered nurse and move to advanced nurse jobs. The curriculum combines online and classroom instruction. Although it provides some flexibility, due to its intensive nature, it is recommended that you do not work while enrolled. Except for select sessions held on weekdays, you will attend lessons largely in the evenings and on weekends. The training will educate you to become a professional with strong leadership, communication, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice abilities. In the previous year, you will have gained valuable real-world experience by serving patients from various backgrounds in either another nation or area community healthcare institutions.

Admissions Criteria

For admission to St Catherine University Accelerated Nursing Masters in Science program, applicants must meet the specified requirements;

  • Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an approved university or college. Applicants with degrees from non-US colleges must have their credentials examined by a credentials evaluation service to determine whether their degrees are equivalent to a US baccalaureate degree.
  • Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all previous post-secondary coursework and degrees, including any courses taken that did not lead to a degree.
  • Before the application deadline, applicants must fulfill the four science prerequisites of chemistry, human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology, as well as their lab components.
  • The following courses are required as prerequisites: – Chemistry with a laboratory component;
  • Anatomy of the Human Body, including a laboratory component
  • Microbiology with a component in the laboratory
  • Nutrition
  • Psychology of the lifespan
  • Medical Etiquette
  • A college-level statistics course that is completed no more than four years before the program application deadline.
  • Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a grade of “C” or above in required courses. A P/NP grade may be assigned to one of the necessary courses.

Cost Requirements

To get an estimate of the fees and tuition plus other costs, please click HERE

For more information on this and any other programs on offer, kindly click HERE

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