Accelerated second degree advanced practice nurses: How do they fare in the job market?

Accelerated, nontraditional, advanced practice nursing programs are an alternative way to increase the supply of nurse practitioners. This study profiles demographic and job characteristics of second degree, non-nurse college graduates who pursued graduate degrees in nursing. Graduatesʹ sex, age, income, previous education, nursing experience, factors describing the scope of the advanced practice role, and quality of the educational experience were studied. Data were collected from 29 graduates (57%) from Virginia Commonwealth Universityʹs accelerated second-degree nursing program from 1995 through 1999. The findings have implications for nursing educators, health care administrators, employers, and other persons who plan and recruit for this type of nursing education program.