What do you do in nursing school? With Madonna University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you can expect a blend of online and hands-on learning experiences. This program may be difficult and time-intensive, but you can succeed with proper preparation and focus.
Nursing school is unlike many other degree programs because it involves both didactic instruction and hands-on learning to prepare future nurses to save lives and improve health.
What do you do in nursing school, exactly? At Madonna University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you’ll work through an intensive, fast-paced curriculum that teaches all fundamental aspects of nursing care and health promotion. Although the pace is intense, you’ll have the guidance of supportive faculty to help you each step of the way.
How does nursing school work? To understand what to expect, explore the curriculum of online nursing classes, hands-on skills and simulation labs and in-hospital clinical rotations.
What Is Nursing School Like?
Every nursing school is a little different. In a traditional four-year nursing program, for instance, students will take general education courses as well as nursing classes. If you already have a non-nursing degree or at least 60 non-nursing college credits, however, you may not need to enroll in a four-year program. Instead, you may be eligible for Madonna University’s ABSN program. Here, you will experience an accelerated curriculum that provides the same nursing education as a traditional program but without the general education courses.
Madonna’s ABSN program blends online and in-person hands-on learning components. In this educational environment, students will develop practice-ready nursing skills. One of the main factors that makes an ABSN program unique is the fast pace.
It’s a Fast-Paced, Accelerated Experience
Unlike traditional nursing programs, the ABSN program at Madonna makes it possible for you to earn a quality Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in as few as 16 months. “It's an accelerated program, which means you really have to commit a hundred percent of your time to the program,” says Roxanne Roth, ABSN Program Director.
How does nursing school work like this? It’s possible because the program leverages your non-nursing bachelor’s degree or existing 60 non-nursing college credit, allowing you to bypass general education requirements and focus solely on nursing curriculum.
For many students, this quick timeframe can be a significant advantage. Plus, with three start dates each year in January, May and August, students are able to begin their nursing education sooner. Having the ability to pursue your nursing education and begin a new career so quickly can be a boost to a student’s career trajectory.
Learn everything you need to know about getting into a nursing program.
What to Expect in Nursing School: Key Components of an ABSN Program
Madonna University’s ABSN program uses a blended learning model with both online and in-person learning. The ABSN online coursework is delivered through a digital learning platform while in-person skills and simulation labs, as well as clinical rotations, teach students how to apply critical nursing skills when caring for patients.
Online Learning
Online courses at Madonna University play a pivotal role in your success with becoming a registered nurse. You’ll be responsible for completing most online coursework on your own time while still meeting deadlines and taking exams on schedule.
You’ll use an e-learning platform where you’ll work through lessons and assignments that cover basic nursing concepts and theory. If you need assistance, our faculty is ready to provide answers and guidance along the way. Online learning specialists are also available to help you with any questions you might have about the learning system.
You might be wondering: “What is the hardest class in nursing school?” or “What is the easiest class in nursing school?” Every student’s perception of the difficulty of material is unique and dependent on skills and experience.
Hands-On Labs
In addition to online learning, you’ll need hands-on experience before caring for patients in a clinical environment. This is where skills and simulation labs come into play. Together, skills and simulation labs teach you how to safely and effectively put nursing concepts into practice in a mock clinical environment.
In skills labs, you’ll apply nursing theory by practicing hands-on nursing techniques. You’ll learn how to perform a variety of skills, such as performing physical assessments, measuring blood pressure and placing IV lines and nasogastric tubes.
Simulation labs, meanwhile, prepare you to deal with complex clinical situations as they arise. In these labs, you will perform tasks on a high-tech medical manikin that can mimic symptoms and responses. Your instructors will provide feedback to help you develop clinical judgment and decision-making skills.
Learn more about our skills and simulations labs and how they can enhance your education.
In-Hospital Clinical Rotations
During your first semester, you will experience the clinical nursing environment via clinical rotations at regional healthcare facilities, including Henry Ford Health. Clinicals let you practice the nursing skills you’ve gleaned online and in labs in a real-world setting with patients. This clinical experience in a variety of settings helps prepare you for working as a nurse after graduation.
“Clinicals are fun and interactive, especially if you're hands-on and like being in a fast-paced atmosphere. You definitely get to apply some of the tools and skills that you learn into practice,” says Theresa Ellis, a Madonna ABSN Student.
Madonna’s clinical partners introduce nursing students to a variety of nursing specialties. These can include:
- Acute care
- Adult and older adult health
- Maternity and pediatrics
- Mental and behavioral health
Preparing for an Accelerated BSN Program
What is nursing school like in terms of the workload? Nursing school can be stressful because of the intense workload, especially when it involves an accelerated timeline. It’s important to know what to expect in nursing school, so you can feel prepared and confident as you tackle the program. Additionally, there are a few things you can do to combat this stress and make the process a little easier.
1. Find Your Motivation
One way you can prepare for nursing school is to remember your motivation for becoming a nurse. In the ABSN program, the coursework moves quickly. Self-motivation will help you stay on top of your work and ultimately find success as a practicing nurse.
2. Establish Good Study Habits
Nursing school will require you to master many complex competencies quickly, and it’s important to stay on top of your responsibilities. If you fall behind or don’t study enough, you run the risk of earning poor grades or having to repeat classes.
What grade is sufficient? Is a 3.0 in nursing school good? Each school establishes its own academic requirements, of course, but a 3.0 may generally be considered a minimum level of academic achievement. Ideally, you’ll want to aim higher than this.
Although you can expect to study a lot while in the nursing program, there are ways you can prepare and make the process more efficient. One thing you can do is establish good study habits. Whether you learn best through repetition, self-quizzing or outlining, knowing how you study best will make you more productive. Effective studying can optimize your time and ease your stress.
Use these 5 study tips specifically for ABSN students.
3. Develop a Support System
Developing a support system can be helpful in managing the challenges of nursing school. Having a strong support system you can rely on makes the transition to nursing school easier, as you’ll have someone to talk to when you are feeling overwhelmed. Your fellow students in your cohort will be a great source for this.
“We're close and we study together, we communicate. It's awesome. We definitely could not make it without [the support of] each other,” Ellis says.
You might also be able to lean on your loved ones for practical help, like childcare, to free up more time for studying.
Begin Your Nursing Journey at Madonna University
What do you do in nursing school? Now that you have the gist of what nursing school is like, it’s time to find out for yourself what it’s really like to work toward becoming a nurse. At Madonna University, we’re committed to providing exceptional student support through our dedicated faculty members and admissions representatives. You’ll also be able to work one-on-one with an Academic Success Coach right from enrollment until you sit for the NCLEX licensing exam after graduation.
Thanks to our values-based education, our nursing students graduate as practice-ready nurse candidates who are prepared to practice with compassion, integrity and skill. When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help. Contact an admissions rep today.