Nursing school is worth it because benefits of becoming a nurse include strong earning potential and opportunities for advancement. There are also many benefits to an ABSN program, such as Concordia Texas’s ABSN track, including an accelerated timeline and immersive learning experiences.
Nursing school is an investment in your future. It could be worth it for you if you’re interested in nursing science, diverse specialization options, and strong earning potential. Is nursing school worth it if you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree? With a completed bachelor’s degree or a minimum number of college credits, you may be eligible for an accelerated nursing program, which provides a faster entry into nursing.
Concordia University Texas’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track enables you to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months after completing prerequisites. You’ll be able to re-enter the job marketplace sooner and achieve your goal of becoming a registered nurse (RN).
To decide if an ABSN track is worth it for you, it’s helpful to examine the benefits of an ABSN. First, explore the question, “What is an ABSN like?” Then, review the many benefits of an accelerated BSN program, such as the quality education and faster timeline.
Is Nursing School Worth It?
To answer this question, you may find it helpful to reframe it. When asking, “Is nursing school worth it?” the question you’re really asking is, “Is becoming a nurse worth it?” Becoming a nurse may be worth it if you’re interested in a career that offers:
- Options for specializing
- A wide range of work settings
- Opportunities for career advancement, both in clinical and non-clinical roles
In addition, nurses have strong earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs made a median annual salary of $93,600 as of May 2024. The BLS also projects a 5% job growth rate for RNs from 2024 through 2034, faster than average for all professions.
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What Is an ABSN?
An ABSN is an accelerated nursing program that confers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. These programs offer the same breadth and depth of nursing education as a traditional BSN program, but are designed for transfer students and career switchers. At Concordia University Texas, the ABSN track is open to eligible applicants with at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor's degree.
Because your previous college education can fulfill general education requirements, and thanks to the prerequisites you’ll take before enrolling, an ABSN track enables you to graduate in as few as 16 months.
Like a traditional BSN program, the ABSN track is designed with three main learning components:
- Nursing theory coursework
- Nursing skills and simulation labs
- Clinical rotations
The curriculum teaches foundational nursing concepts and hands-on skills, from inserting a nasogastric tube to identifying signs of hypoglycemia.
5 Benefits of an ABSN
Is a nursing degree worth it for you? Explore some of the top benefits of an accelerated nursing program to determine if it’s right for you.
1. High-Quality Nursing Education
Concordia University Texas’s ABSN track creates a pathway for career changers to quickly enter the nursing profession. Our nurse educators are distinguished nurses who have helped us design an industry-aligned, practice-focused curriculum for our nursing track.
Our nurse educators understand the real-world needs of nursing students and the challenges they will face every day in the workforce, and as a result, they teach with the real world in mind, not just passage of the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.
Although the ABSN track can be completed in as few as 16 months, it doesn’t compromise on the quality of education. Nursing students at Concordia University Texas receive the same high-quality nursing education in our accelerated track as they do in our traditional BSN track. This includes didactic coursework and hands-on, immersive learning experiences in labs and nearby healthcare facilities.
2. Multiple Start Dates
Concordia University Texas’s ABSN track offers multiple start dates each year to help address the shortage of qualified RNs. Across the country and right here in Texas, there is an ongoing shortage of RNs to meet patients’ needs.
According to the Texas Hospital Association (THA), it’s expected that Texas will have a deficit of more than 57,000 full-time RNs by 2032. THA reports that over half of the hospitals that responded to their survey have had to cut beds and reduce healthcare services due to the RN shortage, potentially leaving patients without the care they need.
To better meet the needs of patients and hospitals in Texas and across the country, our ABSN track enrolls students on three enrollment dates each year: January, May, and August. This enables qualified students to start classes when they are ready, not just when there is an opening. If prospective students have completed their required prerequisites and earned a 3.0 or higher, they can start the ABSN track curriculum at the next available start date.
3. Accelerated Timeline
Another top ABSN benefit is the accelerated timeline. If you’ve already earned a non-nursing degree or at least 60 college credits, you don’t need to complete the general education requirements all over again.
The ABSN track offers a compressed timeline and a curriculum focused entirely on nursing education, enabling you to graduate in as few as 16 months after fulfilling prerequisites. You’ll be able to take the NCLEX-RN sooner and apply to your first nursing job.
4. Strong NCLEX-RN Preparation
All aspiring RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain a nursing license. In 2024, the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for all nursing graduates in the State of Texas was 92.69%, which is slightly over the national first-time pass rate of 91.16% for 2024. That year, Concordia University Texas students achieved an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 97.18%.
Our ABSN track includes an NCLEX-RN review class for focused test preparation. The NCLEX-RN review class helps students make a plan for studying and reviewing the coursework before sitting for the test. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s (NCSBN) NCLEX-RN review tools, especially the NCLEX test plans.
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5. Engaging, Hands-On Learning Experience
Another benefit of enrolling in our ABSN track is the many opportunities for hands-on learning. In nursing skills labs, our students learn step-by-step how to perform essential nursing skills, from performing head-to-toe patient assessments to administering treatments and more.
In nursing simulation labs, our students practice navigating clinical situations using high-tech medical manikins. Additionally, clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities enable our students to gain experience providing direct patient care under supervision.
Do the Benefits of an ABSN Make Nursing School Worth It?
Only you can determine if the ABSN benefits are worth it for you. When making your decision, consider your personal strengths, academic and career interests, and work preferences. You might also wish to consider the different nursing specialties and work settings that interest you to decide if a nursing career is right for you.
If you’re still having trouble making up your mind, consider volunteering at a healthcare facility. An internship or job shadowing opportunity can also give you an inside look at what it’s like to work in healthcare.
Get Started Today at Concordia University Texas
Is a nursing degree worth it for you? If you’ve decided that nursing is the right path for you, you can get started soon at Concordia University Texas. Our values-based curriculum prepares future nurses to deliver evidence-based care with compassion and integrity. If you’re ready to get to work, we’re here to support you with faculty mentorship and Academic Success Coaches, who provide personalized guidance.
Request information and connect with an admissions counselor today.