If you’re looking to become a nurse in Massachusetts, you may be considering an accelerated nursing program.
Accelerated nursing programs can help you get into the healthcare workforce faster, but what exactly is an accelerated program? How do they differ from traditional nursing programs? What are the best schools in Massachusetts that offer these programs?
This guide will answer all of those questions and more. We’ve put together this comprehensive guide on accelerated programs at schools throughout Massachusetts so that you can find out if one of these top-notch institutions is right for your needs.
Overview of Accelerated Nursing Programs in Massachusetts
An accelerated nursing program (also known as ABSN) is a post-baccalaureate program that provides students with a solid foundation in nursing theory, as well as clinical experience to accelerate the time it takes for them to become licensed registered nurses.
These programs typically last two years and can result in a bachelor’s degree (BSN), or master’s degree in nursing (MSN).
Benefits of ABSN Programs
There are many benefits of an accelerated nursing program, including:
- Accelerated programs allow students to finish their studies sooner than they would if they enrolled at a traditional school.
- Students who attend accelerated programs have access to clinical experiences while they’re still in school and don’t need to wait until after graduation before working as nurses.
- Accelerated programs are less expensive than traditional schools because they allow students to obtain more credits toward their bachelor’s or master’s degrees by completing more courses within a shorter period of time (as opposed to taking one course per semester).
General Admission Requirements
If you’re considering pursuing an accelerated nursing program in Massachusetts’ colleges and universities, here are some key points about the admissions process:
- All applications must be submitted online through the application portal provided by most universities/colleges. These application portals can be accessed from their websites.
- Applicants should submit official transcripts from previous institutions attended along with letters of recommendation if applicable (these recommendations should come from people familiar with your abilities).
- Must be a high school graduate or equivalent (GED).
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must not have any felony convictions or misdemeanors involving drugs, alcohol, or violence.
- You must also have earned at least a 2.5 GPA in your college coursework and meet certain GPA requirements within the last two years.
This will ensure that your academic performance is strong enough for success in your accelerated program.
Curriculum
| Typical Coursework in ABSN – Elms College |
| Introduction to Contemporary Nursing Practice, Medical Dose Calculations, Health Assessment of the Adult, Pathophysiology, Fundamentals of Nursing, Pharmacology, Nursing Care of the Adult I, Nursing Skills Lab I, Nursing Skills Lab II, Nursing Care of the Adult II, Mental Health Nursing, Evidence-Based Nursing, Childrearing, Childbearing, NCLEX, Nursing Care of the Older Adult, Population-based Health Nursing, Nursing Leadership and Management of Care, Senior Seminar, Health Care Ethics, Introduction to Cultural Competence. |
At different levels of nursing education, students may be required to meet certain requirements in performance before they can advance to the next level of their education.
Cost of Tuition
| S/N | Nursing Schools in Massachusetts | Tuition Fees (Per Year) * |
| 1 | Curry College | $55,350 |
| 2 | Elms College | $38,735 |
| 3 | MCPHS University | $50,210 |
| 4 | MGH Institute of Health Professions | $80,300 |
| 5 | Northeastern University | $40,260 |
| 6 | Regis College School of Nursing | $88,088 |
| 7 | Simmons College | $47,028 |
| 8 | The University of Massachusetts – Amherst | $40,300 |
| 9 | The University of Massachusetts – Boston | $18,433 (in-state students) $35,980 (out-of-state students) |
| 10 | Boston College | $31,475 |
Salary of Nurses with BSN Degrees in Massachusetts
The income of registered nurses in Massachusetts varies drastically. Two factors responsible for this are experience and the employer. Entry-level RNs can expect to earn a little above $45,000, which is considered a good pay.
The average salary of registered nurses in Massachusetts is $99,287 as reported by Zip Recruiter; which translates to a whopping sum of $47 per hour. This salary is high enough to make nurses one of the top-earning healthcare practitioners in the U.S.
Experienced nurses with BSNs and MSNs earn in the 95th percentile bracket of $159,072 per year, in Massachusetts, U.S.
Is an ABSN Worth It?
If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in nursing in the top schools in Boston, you probably already know that it’s a life-changing decision. You’ll be responsible for caring for people who are at their most vulnerable—and that’s something that can make you feel really good about yourself, or really terrible. It all depends on how much you’re willing to put into the role of a nurse.
But what if you don’t want to become a registered nurse? What if, instead, you just want to gain the skills needed to work in the field as an assistant or support staff?
For example, if you’re interested in working as a phlebotomist or EMT technician, then going through an ASN program might be right up your alley.
So, is an ABSN worth it? Well… yes and no. The degree itself is not directly applicable to any specific job; rather, it provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical experience that they can apply to any number of different careers within healthcare and related fields.
However, if you want to move up the ranks and become a nurse practitioner, or if you want to work in a specialty area like pediatrics or geriatrics, then spending two more years getting your bachelor’s degree might be worth it.
But keep in mind: even if you get your bachelor’s degree, you’re still going to have to take the boards (examinations) after graduation. And there’s no guarantee that they’ll be any easier than they were when you were working towards your ABSN degree.
List of Accelerated Nursing Programs in Massachusetts
This is the list of all the accelerated nursing programs in Massachusetts, U.S.
In total, there are 10 nursing schools in Massachusetts that allow you to accelerate your nursing undergraduate study; out of which only 5 offer a Master’s in Nursing degree (MSN).
Here’s the list:
Curry College, Milton (ABSN)
Curry College, located in Milton campus, Massachusetts (and Plymouth for England students), offers a decent accelerated nursing program in Massachusetts called an “ACCEL” program. The institution offers a cohort-based two-year accelerated nursing program that can be completed in approximately 16 months.
Curry also offers three-, four-, and post-baccalaureate accelerated nursing programs. These programs take between two and three years to complete depending on whether students have any prior experience with health care or higher education.
Elms College, Chicopee (ABSN)
Elms College is a private, independent, coeducational college located in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Elms College offers accelerated nursing programs in Massachusetts.
Elms College offers a nursing bachelor’s degree program that takes a total of 20 months to complete.
The curriculum includes both academic coursework and clinical experiences that help you prepare for a career as a registered nurse (RN), including a course program dedicated to helping you pass the NCLEX-RN license examination.
MCPHS University, Boston (ABSN)
MCPHS University is a private university located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school offers accelerated BSN programs and has a clinical simulation center, nursing simulation center, and nursing research center.
MCPHS University has a long history of providing quality education to students. It was originally a school for training teachers, but over the years it has expanded to offer more programs that focus on healthcare and nursing.
The school offers an ABSN degree program that prepares students for careers as registered nurses in hospitals or other medical settings.
The ABSN program is offered at two different locations: Boston and Brockton, Massachusetts. The program takes 32 months to complete and includes courses such as:
- Healthcare Concepts;
- Health Assessment;
- Pharmacology, etc.
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston (ABSN & MSN)
MGH Institute of Health Professions is a nursing school in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded as the New England Hospital School of Nursing, it is one of the oldest nursing programs in the country.
The MGH Institute of Health Professions offers an accelerated BSN program that takes place on campus and online, with clinicals at hospitals throughout Boston.
It also has a BS to MSN program that requires students to complete their undergraduate degree at another college before starting their master’s studies at MGH.
The accelerated BSN program can be completed in just 16 months (four terms per year). Admission requirements include an RN license or an active application with official transcripts from all colleges attended; applicants must also submit GRE scores for admission consideration.
Northeastern University, Boston (ABSN & MSN)
Northeastern University is a private, not-for-profit university with a main campus in Boston, Massachusetts. Frank Palmer Speare was the founding president of Northeastern University. The university was founded in 1898 as an Evening Institute of the Boston Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).
Like most other accelerated nursing programs in Massachusetts, Northeastern University’s ABSN program is programmed to allow students to graduate in 16 months and begin working as nurses as soon as possible. The program also features long hours of clinic during the summer, and art-related college courses.
Northeastern University pegs its tuition fee at $40,260 per year, and even that price is less expensive when compared to other equally good schools like MGH and MCPHS.
Regis College School of Nursing, Weston (ABSN & MSN)
Regis College School of Nursing is a private, not-for-profit school that’s located in Weston, Massachusetts. Regis College School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with concentrations in adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, clinical research, health systems administration, maternal child health nursing practice, and policy management.
Regis has a comprehensive 16-month accelerated nursing program in Massachusetts for students who do not have a nursing background; and an online accelerated nursing program that lasts for 24 months.
There are several accelerated online programs available for RNs interested in becoming LPNs or LVNs:
- RN to LPN Online Program at Mt. Wachusett Community College
- Accelerated LPN/LVN Program at Massasoit Community College
Simmons College, Boston (ABSN & MSN)
Simmons College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Boston, Massachusetts. It has a total enrollment of 2,378 undergraduate students and 1,979 graduate students (as of fall 2015).
Simmons College is a member of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium. The school’s programs emphasize professional preparation for careers in health services management and leadership roles within organizations and businesses.
The 16-month accelerated nursing program at Simmons prepares nurses to provide care to individuals across all age groups while working collaboratively with other members of the healthcare team.
The curriculum includes courses in leadership skills, ethics, and law as well as an intensive clinical component that includes hands-on patient care activities at one or more healthcare facilities throughout Massachusetts.
Furthermore, Simmons offers a 5-year accelerated nursing program that awards students both a BSN and MSN degree at the end of the program; this is reasonably expensive but we consider it a good bargain for those who want to explore this option.
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst (ABSN)
The University of Massachusetts has an Accelerated Nursing program that allows students to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing after just 17 months.
The curriculum is designed to be challenging and rigorous but also flexible enough to enable students with other majors or previous work experience to complete their degrees on schedule.
The program’s admission requirements include:
- An acceptance letter from the School of Nursing.
- Copies of high school transcripts.
- A personal essay was written by the applicant describing why he/she would make a good nurse (optional).
- Official GRE scores (preferably taken within three years of application submission).
The University of Massachusetts-Boston, Boston (ABSN)
The University of Massachusetts-Boston’s ABSN program is a great option for students who want to pursue a career in nursing, but don’t have the time (or the money) to go back to school for an undergraduate degree.
The program can be completed in two years and is designed for students who already have a degree in another field.
There are two different tracks. The first is a general track, which prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN exam and get your license as a registered nurse.
The second is an accelerated track, which allows you to take classes online and complete the program in one year.
If you choose this option, you’ll spend your first year learning about health care policy, leadership skills, and how to work with patients as part of a team.
You’ll also learn about anatomy and physiology as it relates to nursing practice. In your second year of study, you’ll complete clinical rotations at local hospitals that allow you to apply what you’ve learned in real-world settings.
Boston College, Chestnut Hill (MSN)
Boston College’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is another one of the fastest ways to become a nurse.
With this accelerated program, you will earn your bachelor’s degree and a nursing degree in just 16 months—two years less than the traditional route.
Boston College is ranked number #1 in the list of the best accelerated MSN programs in Massachusetts. So, with this school, you are sure of receiving a quality education.
Check out what you can expect from our ABSN program:
- You will complete clinical hours at Boston Medical Center and other partner hospitals in the area.
- You will learn from experienced faculty members with clinical experience and a passion for nursing.
- You will have opportunities to participate in service-learning projects.
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in an accelerated nursing program, there are several things to keep in mind before applying. The best programs offer a rigorous curriculum, excellent faculty, and affordable tuition. They also have flexible options for working students.
When making your research, you can ask yourself these questions further, and also get answers from these schools we have listed so that you can draw a conclusion on what accelerated nursing program in Massachusetts suits your needs.
- Are there any drawbacks to accelerated nursing programs?
- What are the entry requirements for accelerated nursing programs?
- How much do accelerated nursing programs cost?
Wrapping It Up
There are many things to consider when deciding which accelerated nursing program to attend, but most importantly you should make sure that it is the right fit for you.