Nursing Education

Second-degree nursing education refers to the accelerated programs individuals with an existing bachelor’s degree in another field can take to become nurses. Unlike a bachelor’s degree, a second-degree nursing program typically takes between a year and two years to complete. The duration of an accelerated nursing degree depends on the type of program you choose, the curriculum and the school.

Second-degree nursing education improves inclusivity by providing students from underrepresented ethnic groups the opportunity to advance their careers. In this article, we will delve further into the impact and importance of second-degree nursing education on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We will highlight the importance of DEI in providing comprehensive patient-centered care.

Understanding second-degree nursing education

Second-degree nursing education allows individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field to pursue a nursing career. Secondary degree nursing programs are also sometimes referred to as distance accelerated programs. This is because they have been designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to become qualified registered nurses quickly.

The aim of second-degree nursing programs is to encourage more individuals to pursue a career in nursing due to the shortage of RNs. So far, the programs have been a success as thousands of individuals seeking a career change or professional growth enroll in these programs yearly.

Compared to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs that take four years to complete, second degrees typically take 12-24 months. Most accelerated nursing programs require students to complete 50-60 credits in …