Life in the fast lane. An evaluation of an accelerated RN-MSN program

The Pew Health Commission on professional education has recommended innovative educational programs to promote career mobility among nurses. To assure continued quality of nursing education in the face of innovation, the Philip Y. Hahn School of Nursing conducted a comprehensive evaluation of its accelerated RN-MSN program. Designed to enhance career advancement in the profession, the program was evaluated after its fourth year of operation using the Discrepancy Evaluation Model (DEM). Based on comparison with both relative and absolute standards, the program shortened the time required to obtain BSN and MSN degrees and appeared to reverse declining enrollments in the baccalaureate nursing program. Accelerated students were as successful as other masters nursing students in specific courses and in the program in general. Adverse program effects included declining enrollments in some under-graduate courses and the increased complexity of advising.