The conclusion of the fall semester at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) marked the start of a new chapter for students in the College of Nursing’s Fast-Track Program, an initiative that helps them graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree six months ahead of schedule.
Students in the Fast-Track Program represent the top tier of their class, selected based on exceptional academic and clinical performance before their senior year. They complete the same senior course load as their peers on the traditional track, but the work is condensed into the summer and fall semesters.
“This accelerated timeline helps position them to enter the nursing workforce sooner, and it directly supports Arkansas’ growing health care needs,” said Brittany Beasley, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor in the College of Nursing and coordinator of a Care and Management of Adults course in the Fast-Track Program.
The College of Nursing invited 24 students to join the program’s Class of 2025. Participants completed 13 credit hours in the summer term. In the fall semester, when most students take about 15 credit hours, the fast-track students did about 18.
Beasley said the addition of even a few credit hours each semester requires students to devote significantly more time to their studies and skills training.
“While the workload is very intensive, we’ve also seen that it’s manageable for these highly motivated and capable students,” she said.
Typically, scholarships are awarded for fall and spring terms — but not for summer. Because of the intense summer schedule, students are limited in how much they can work to help pay their tuition. External funds, such as grants, have aided students in the Fast-Track Program.
The College of Nursing started the Fast-Track Program in 2024 with the goal of helping students reach the workforce more quickly to address the chronic nursing shortage in Arkansas. The initial class was made up of 14 students, all of whom graduated that December.
Beasley said the first-year successes helped pave the way for the Class of 2025, noting that students were more enthusiastic about joining the program after watching others complete it.
“I think there’s always some trepidation about being the first to take part in something like this,” she said. “But once you have those peer mentors who have been through it, you can see what’s possible when you’re willing to put in the work.”
Jayla King, a student in the Fast-Track Program, described her experience as “challenging but rewarding.” She said she was able to find success by organizing her study materials and trusting in the support of her family, friends and classmates.
King said students who consider this program should make sure they’re fully committed and confident in their reasons for entering the nursing field. “You need to be able to hold on to this when times get hard — when it’s the night before a test, and you are reviewing the material but want to give up,” she said. “You must have something to fall back on that is stu