The Best Online Accelerated BSN Programs

Do you want to balance work or life commitments with your studies? Do you want to avoid all the late-night studying that is often synonymous with a traditional course? Or do you simply want to reduce the time it takes to get your nursing degree?

With the increasing demand for nurses in the healthcare industry, it's a great time for you to pursue an online degree program. Let's look at the most in-demand programs and what sets them apart from other programs online.

What is a BSN Program?

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year program offered in many US universities and colleges. Popular among international students, this degree puts you in the running for a competitive salary and higher chances of getting a job. The program lasts for four years, but you can save time by choosing online accelerated BSN programs. You'll qualify for patient-care entry-level positions with the BSN, but you will grow to leadership roles with time.

What Are the Benefits?

Some benefits of a BSN program include having more job opportunities, higher pay than a Registered Nurse, higher chances for leadership and supervisory roles. According to research by the American Association of the Colleges of Nursing (AACN), BSN nurses provide better patient care. The same research further shows that BSN nurses have lower patient mortality rates, and they make good diagnoses. With a BSN, you can advance from basic clinical duties to administrative or teaching roles.

Who Can Participate?

Any first-time college student can do BSN as an entry-level degree. It's also suitable for people who have graduated from other fields and would like a career in nursing. For Registered Nurses who would like to expand their career opportunities, it's a superb choice too. There's a growing demand for BSN as the older generation retires. BSN nurses earn better pay and have more patient responsibilities.

How Do You Find the Right BSN Program for You?

An online BSN program is doable in a year or two, and the design is for nurses who have a diploma in Nursing or graduates from other fields. It offers classes designed to earn a BSN solely online. This makes it easier for RN to work as they continue the program, and there are many programs to choose from.

Some of the more traditional campus-based university programs are:

1. Duke University's Program - The program offered by Duke University, recognized as the best research University in the world, is among the top nursing programs. The only program to choose from is an accelerated BSN.

2. The University of Pennsylvania - The school is one of the oldest and is an excellent choice for students who prefer personalized education. Those interested in leadership and administrative roles can take the administrative graduate degrees. Students can take the accelerated program.

3. Georgetown University - This private institution has one of the respected and well-established programs in nursing. Students enroll directly from high school. Students earn over 800 clinical experience hours by the time they graduate.

4. Johns Hopkins University - Known for leading in research in the world. This highly recognized institution offers an MSN to non-nursing majors. Anyone with a non-nursing degree can enroll for MSN.

5. The University of Michigan - With over 100 years of nursing experience, this is one of the best programs. The BSN program at the University of Michigan offers two options; a sophomore year transfer program and a direct entry.

After reviewing that list, you may ask yourself whether it's better to pursue your bachelor's degree online or on campus. Obviously you want a program offering flexible scheduling and easy access to professors in person. You also want a high-quality and accredited program that won't leave you with any gaps in your degree.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is also a growing issue in the States, and this condition can lead to things like strokes, heart failure, and heart attacks. The foods you eat can both reduce your blood pressure and help you maintain a healthy heart.

Risk of Cancer

Eating a variety of foods that are high in antioxidants can actually reduce the risk of cancer because it protects your cells from damage. Having free radicals present in the body can actually increase the risk of cancer, but those antioxidants can assist with removing them and helping to lower the risk of this debilitating and deadly condition. Phytochemicals that are found in legumes, nuts, vegetables, and fruits act as antioxidants, including Vitamins A and C, lycopene, and beta carotene.

Mood

It's been suggested that diet plays a role in your mood. Diets that feature a high glycemic content might trigger an increase in the symptoms of fatigue and depression. This includes those that contain a lot of carbs, like those found in things like biscuits and white bread, cakes, and soft drinks. Most of the time when you're eating wastefully packaged products, the foods themselves are also stuffed with unhealthy additives. Alternatively, your mood may be better if you consume a diet rich in foods like whole grains, whole fruit, and vegetables that feature a glycemic load that's lower.

Make Your Diet Count

There are a lot of positive, small ways for you to make improvements to your diet. You might swap out the soft drinks for herbal tea or water, or try not eating any meat for a single day each week. Always try to make sure that each one of your meals contains at least 50% content that's fresh produce. Also, go back to drinking cow milk as opposed to plant-based milk if that makes you feel better or helps you lower carbs in your daily intake. Try to eat whole fruits as opposed to just drinking fruit juice, pretty much all of the time these have more sugar added and less fiber heling you have more consistent bowel movements and better gut health overall.

You might also benefit from taking some sort of cooking class where you can learn how to incorporate more fresh veggies into your meals. Small changes in your diet can yield big results.