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Brooklyn College Accelerated Nursing Program

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    what is an accelerated nursing program

    Accelerated nursing programs are designed for people who already have a bachelor’s degree in any other discipline. They allow you to use the credits you earned as part of your current degree toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree—the most common degree held by registered nurses (RNs).

    This means you won’t have to start from scratch—you’ll be able to jump straight into nursing courses instead of spending four years pursuing the traditional BSN path. The programs are intensive and demanding, but they can allow you to make a career move in less than two years. 

    How Does it Work?

    Accelerated nursing programs allow you to earn a BSN degree quickly. You’ll complete the same nursing courses and the same amount of clinical hours as you would in a traditional BSN program, but you’ll be able to use your previous credits to meet non-nursing requirements. This allows you to focus on your nursing coursework, begin the clinical portion of your degree sooner, and potentially earn your BSN in less than two years.

    An accelerated nursing program allows you to begin the clinical portion of your degree sooner and potentially earn your BSN in less than two years.

    You will need to meet some prerequisites before you begin an accelerated program. Your previous degree will likely influence what prerequisites, if any, are required.

    “Before students can begin our program, their college transcripts are reviewed to ensure that all prerequisites are met,” says Maureen C. Creegan, EdD, RN, nursing program director at Dominican College in Orangeburg, New York. “Almost all students meet the arts and social sciences requirements; most do not meet the natural sciences requirements, including anatomy and microbiology. To assist students, we offer back-to-back prerequisite courses just prior to the start of the accelerated program.”

    Typical science prerequisites include:

    • Biology I
    • Organic Chemistry
    • Microbiology
    • Inorganic Chemistry
    • Statistics

    How Long Does it Take?

    Accelerated programs have a very short completion time, generally between 11 and 18 months. Completion time includes the 700 to 800 hours of clinical time most programs require. The programs are full-time and intensive, with no breaks between course sessions. Additionally, because you already have a bachelor’s degree, you will only need to take nursing courses.

    Accelerated programs to have a very short completion time, generally between 11 and 18 months.

    What Will My Classes Look Like?

    Your time in the program will be focused on nursing courses. You won’t be taking any general education or elective courses. Instead, you’ll take classes that will prepare you to provide safe and effective nursing care to patients.

    Common classes include:

    • Pharmacology
    • Medical Terminology
    • Nursing Ethics
    • Introduction to Professional Nursing
    • Cardiac and Critical Care
    • Health Assessment
    • Community Health
    • Mental and Behavioral Health

    You’ll also complete supervised clinical hours at a local medical facility. Your clinical hours will give you real-world experience with patients and the skills you’ll need in a nursing role. You’ll be supervised and guided by an experienced nurse who will assist and teach while you complete your hours.

    Are Online Programs Available?

    Many schools offer students the ability to complete their accelerated program courses entirely online. Your clinical hours, however, will need to be completed in person at a healthcare facility. Many students find online nursing programs more convenient than traditional campus learning. You can attend classes on your own schedule without needing to be in a classroom during set hours. This makes it a great fit for students with families and other obligations.

    It’s important to note that an online accelerated program will still be intensive and demanding. You might be able to do your coursework at late hours or on the weekends, but you will still be committing to a heavy workload. 

    Is an Accelerated Nursing Program the Same as a Bridge Program? 

    Both accelerated nursing programs and bridge programs offer paths to nursing degrees, but they are very different. Accelerated programs are designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in another area. It allows them to take nursing courses at a fast pace and earn their BSN quickly. They aren’t meant for people with prior nursing experience.

    In contrast, bridge programs are designed for current nurses who want to further their nursing education and seek a higher-level. For example, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) can use a bridge program to earn their BSN without needing to spend four years in school. Similarly, an RN who has earned an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) can pursue their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with an RN-to-MSN bridge program.

    What do they have in common? Both accelerated nursing programs and bridge programs save students time and money by allowing them to earn their degrees more quickly than they would pursuing traditional pathways.

    Accelerated nursing programs are best for people who are certain they’re ready for a career change. The programs are a serious commitment: You’ll need to be prepared for an intense and demanding academic environment. 

    Students come to accelerated programs from a variety of backgrounds. Many students decide to pursue nursing after spending years in other people-oriented careers such as teaching or human services. Often, people coming from these fields make the change to nursing because it offers more opportunities to advance, take on leadership roles, and increase earnings.

    Many students decide to pursue nursing after spending years in other people-oriented careers such as teaching or human services.

    However, students of any background can be successful in an accelerated nursing program. An accelerated program could be right for students who initially pursued business, English, political science, or any other discipline. The dedication to a future nursing career and the motivation to succeed matter more than your individual academic or career background. 

    Real Nurses Who Pursued Accelerated Nursing Degrees

    Nursing is a fast-paced and demanding career. It often draws compassionate people who are dedicated to helping others. People who make the switch to nursing later in their careers are often motivated by the need for change, and also by the appeal of nursing as a field. Students who apply to accelerated programs are generally adults who are ready to move on from their current jobs due to lack of growth or burnout. It is common for students to be drawn to nursing after experiences with nurses, either personally or professionally.

    Amanda Criner is a Chicago-based RN who also holds journalism degree. Before entering her accelerated nursing program, she was teaching preschool and was unhappy with her job. After her father spent time in the hospital, Criner realized going back to school to become a nurse might be a great career move.

    “The nurses were amazing,” she says. “They were smart, and they cared about my dad and us. I said, ‘I think I can do this.’”

    Jessica Mooney, a Boston-area RN who originally earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, was inspired to change careers after working with RNs at a hospital.

    “My first job was working as an administrative assistant in a large teaching hospital in Boston in the neonatal intensive care unit,” Mooney says. “Working alongside the clinicians, especially the (neonatal) nurses, made me want to enter the field.”

    Accelerated Second-Degree Nursing Program

    If you are looking to change careers by entering into the dynamic profession of nursing, or if you are a recent college graduate looking for a challenging career focus, you should consider the Accelerated Second-Degree Program.

    The program is designed for people with bachelor’s degrees outside of nursing to fast-track their entry into professional nursing. Students complete the program in 16 months.

    Upon graduation, you will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and will qualify to take the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). You will be prepared to launch your new career as a registered nurse—making a difference for your patients, their families, and communities.

    • Begin your studies in any semester, Fall, Spring or Summer 
    • Study and learn in a state-of-the-art, nursing simulation center
    • Get hands-on experience at one of more than 50 clinical affiliates

    The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) will be visiting Long Island University Brooklyn, Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing September 15-17, 2021 for an accreditation review of the Undergraduate Nursing Programs. CCNE invites comments about the Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing from interested third parties prior to the visit. Should you choose to provide written comments to our accrediting agency, you may do so and send your comments to the following email address no later than August 25, 2021.

    thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org
    ACCELERATED NURSING – ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

    Admissions Requirements

    • Have a previous bachelors degree and maintain a college GPA of 3.3 or better (88% or higher).
    • Achieve grades of B+ or better (3.3/88% or higher) in each of the following courses: Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, and Statistics.

    Note: All science courses must have been completed within 5 years of acceptance to the program.

    Upon acceptance to the nursing major, freshman (and transfer students whose English and mathematics courses have not been accepted by the University) are required to take a placement exam to assess skills in reading, English and Mathematics. Exam results are used to program the student’s first courses in the appropriate English and mathematics courses.

    Courses

    NUR 210 Contemporary Topics in Nursing

    The focus of this course is to introduce students to concepts and topics that are important to contemporary nursing practice and professional development of the nurse. Selected concepts are explored and include professionalism, clinical judgment, communication and collaboration, informatics, the interprofessional health care team, licensure, health care law and ethics, evidence-based practice, safety, health care economics, quality and health promotion.

    Credits: 2

    NUR 211 Informatics for Nurses

    This course examines information management and technological advances for practice of professional nursing care, using the concepts of technology and information, professionalism, communication, health care law/policy, health care ethics, and patient education. Background information, informatics applications, health care information systems, patient privacy considerations, costs and consequences are reviewed. This course explores future directions in computerized integrated health care delivery.

    Credits: 2.5

    NUR 220 Health Assessment and Health Promotion

    This course provides pre-licensure nursing students with beginning skill development to perform a comprehensive health and physical assessment of adults and older adults. Students will acquire the requisite knowledge and cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills related to interviewing techniques, history taking, general survey, physical assessment, cultural assessment, health promotion, risk assessment, documentation, and communication of findings required for beginning nursing practice. The importance of culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate care and evidence-based practice are integrated into all aspects of patient assessment. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation of subjective and objective data, physical examination, documentation, and communication of assessment findings that provide accurate information from which to form valid nursing diagnoses and integrated plans of care. This course is taken concurrently with NUR 220 lab.

    Credits: 3.5

    NUR 321 Principles of Nursing Practice

    This course focuses on concepts and exemplars essential to safe, quality nursing care of patients with basic health care needs, particularly the older adult.  Classroom discussions and activities will focus on knowledge essential to developing competencies and the core values associated with professional nursing practice and focuses on the Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) competencies. Core principles include safety and infection control, health and wellness, comfort and care, the nursing process, principles of medication administration, therapeutic communication, teaching and learning, and cultural and spiritual care of the patient. This will provide the theoretical basis for nursing skills taught in the laboratory and simulation settings. Skills related to the physiologic health process such as mobility, hygiene and comfort, infection control, vital sign monitoring, oxygenation, skin and wound care, nutrition and elimination will be taught and practiced in a laboratory/simulation setting. This course is taken concurrently with NUR 321L and NUR 321C.

    Credits: 6

    NUR 330 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice

    This course introduces students to basic principles and processes of the concepts of pathophysiology and altered health states in relation to normal body functioning aspects of physical and physiologic changes occurring in disease processes. These include descriptions of cellular biology; genes and genetic diseases; forms of cell injuries; fluids and electrolytes and acids and bases; immunity; and tumor biology.  Knowledge of these processes is applied to the pathophysiology of common diseases based upon selected concepts. The presentation of each disease/disorder entity includes relevant risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and a brief review of treatment.  Clinical reasoning will be augmented by applying models for nursing clinical judgment to clinical case studies. The course provides a foundation for future study in examining responses to illness in subsequent courses.

    Credits: 3

    NUR 340 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice

    The purpose of this course is to explore core concepts and scientific basis of pharmacotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of illness and the promotion, maintenance and restoration of wellness in diverse individuals across the lifespan. Emphasis is on the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics in the treatment of selected illnesses including therapeutic and toxic effects, dosage calculations, and challenges related to drug therapy.  The focus is safe administration and monitoring the effects of pharmacotherapeutic agents through the application of selected concepts important in nursing practice. Prototypes of the major drug groups are emphasized including evidence for best practice and critical thinking. Legal and ethical principles and regulatory guidelines and standards of practice will be discussed as they affect the role of the nurse generalist in delivering varied drug therapies. This course is taken concurrently with NUR 340L Pharmacology for Nursing Practice lab.

    Credits: 4

    NUR 362 Introduction to Health Systems and Policy

    This course provides an overview of the health care system and the policy, political, economic and social factors that shape it. The course includes particular emphasis on how these factors affect the nursing profession and nursing practice. It also examines the roles that nurses, other health professionals, and consumers play in shaping health policy. This is a writing-intensive course that fulfills LIU Brooklyn’s writing-intensive requirement. For graduation, all students are required to take nine credits of writing-intensive courses. These courses include English 16 and a writing-intensive course in the major.

    Credits: 3

    NUR 363 Research/Evidence for Nursing

    This course introduces nursing students to the processes and methods of research and evidence based practice. Focus is placed on identifying clinical questions, searching and appraising the evidence for potential solutions/innovations, and identifying additional gaps in nursing knowledge. Students explore the research process and critique research studies for quality and application to professional nursing practice. Ethical and legal implications in research are explored.

    Credits: 3

    NUR 410A Maternity/OB Nursing

    This seven week course focuses on the nursing care of the childbearing woman and newborn within the context of family-centered care. The course provides a global perspective and will explore social, economic, and political factors that impact the health of the maternal newborn population and the role of the registered nurse in caring for the childbearing and neonatal population. This course explores health promotion and maintenance behaviors across the lifespan in relation to maternal and newborn health. Clinical, lab, and simulation experiences provide opportunities for students to use clinical reasoning and the nursing process to provide quality nursing care to mothers, newborns, and families.

    Credits: 3

    NUR 410B Pediatric Nursing

    This seven week course focuses on the knowledge and skill acquisition needed to care children and adolescence across the continuum of care. Emphasis is placed on family-centered care through transitions in the illness and recovery phases. The course accentuates family centered strategies for optimizing health and maintaining individuality; promoting optimal developmental, physiological, and psychological functioning; and enhancing strengths within the context of family. Preventing disease through healthy environments: an assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks social, economic, and political contexts affecting children bears examination. Clinical, lab, and simulation experiences provide opportunities for students to use clinical reasoning and the nursing process to provide quality nursing care to infants, children, adolescents, parents, and families.

    Credits: 3

    NUR 420 Behavioral and Mental Health Nursing

    This clinical course focuses on promotion, maintenance, and restoration of behavioral health across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on therapeutic communication, critical thinking, and nursing interventions with clients in acute care and outpatient settings.  Behavioral Health Nursing includes the School of Nursing (SON) core concepts, scope and standards of practice, basic mental health concepts, including developmental theories, issues related to client advocacy, therapeutic relationships, psychopharmacology, milieu management, models and theories related to individual, group, and family therapy, and clinical disorders from a nursing perspective. Cultural influences are discussed as they relate to communication and behavior. Students are introduced to principles of evidence-based practice as they relate to health promotion, prevention and treatment of mental illness across the lifespan. This course is taken concurrently with NUR 420C.

    Credits: 4

    NUR 430 Nursing Leadership and Management

    This course examines leadership concepts, including communication, evidence, ethics, law/policy, quality, and professionalism in the health care delivery system.  Theories regarding leadership, management, power, chaos, change, influence, delegation, communication and empowerment are analyzed.  Strategies for effective multidisciplinary collaboration are explored.  Through a mentorship with a nursing leader, students apply leadership and management theory, plus participate as members of the healthcare team with a commitment to health equity in partnership with communities and other health professionals. This course is taken concurrently with NUR 430C.

    Credits: 3.5

    NUR 440 Medical Surgical Nursing I

    This is the first of two courses, which focus on the health care needs for adults across their life span using selected concepts as a framework for study.  Building on the foundations of previous nursing courses and the nursing process, students will examine the impact of altered health states including social determinants that integrate physiologic, sociocultural and behavioral alterations throughout.  Emphasis is on prevention of complications, caring, empowerment, and critical thinking to promote optimal well-being in the patient and family. The clinical experience provides students with opportunities to apply the nursing process in acute care settings. This course is taken concurrently with NUR 440L and NUR 440C.

    Credits: 6

    NUR 450 Medical Surgical Nursing II

    This is the second of two courses, which focuses on evidence-based nursing care of adult and geriatric clients using selected concepts as a framework for study. Building on the foundations of previous nursing courses and the nursing process, students will examine the impacts of altered health states, including social determinants and plan nursing care for patients experiencing specific basic and complicated health alterations. Emphasis is on nursing care designed to prevent complications and to promote optimal well-being in the patient and family.  This course is taken concurrently with NUR 450L and NUR 450C.

    Credits: 7

    NUR 460 Community/Population Health Nursing

    This course will explore the role of the nurse caring for individuals, families, and populations with a focus on health promotion and prevention of population-based health problems and disease. Healthy People 2020 provides the basis for the identification of social determinants of health, at-risk assessment and reduction among diverse populations across the lifespan. Concepts derived from nursing theory, clinical practice, epidemiology, ecology, and social sciences are integrated throughout this course. Students learn to provide culturally competent care that demonstrates an understanding of community models for health/illness and the sociopolitical and economic forces governing health care regulation, choices, and services. Emphasis is placed on a real-world community-centered project that addresses the health and educational needs of a specific population. This course is taken concurrently with NUR 460C.

    Credits: 5.5

    Clinical Placement Eligibility Criteria

    • Satisfactorily complete the required health forms – including titers, health clearance, and vaccine
    • Pass a background check*
    • Pass a drug screen
    • Complete HIPAA and OSHA certification courses
    • Complete an American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers Course and provide a certification card.
    • Comply with criminal background checks and drug screening as required for eligibility to access entrance into specific clinical agencies as related to clinical course objective.*

    *Pending review by the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, persons who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation could be ineligible for Registered Nurse Licensure in the State of New York, even though they have successfully completed the program.

    Progression Criteria

    Generic BS Nursing Program / Accelerated BS Nursing Program

    • Achieve a C+ or better in all science and nursing courses and maintain a minimum nursing and overall GPA of 2.75. 

    Note: All science courses must have been completed within 5 years of acceptance to the program.

    accelerated nursing programs


    1. University of Washington – Seattle, WA

    Program Details:

     The University of Washington is ranked at the top of the list for the best accelerated BSN programs in the United States. Students can complete this program in four consecutive quarters, rather than the six quarters required in the university’s traditional BSN program.

    As a student in the accelerated BSN program at the University of Washington, you will engage in a rigorous seventy-nine credit hour curriculum taught by industry-leading, nationally recognized faculty. Faculty first prepare students through classroom instruction, instilling a theoretical knowledge of nursing.

    Students build upon nursing theory by learning clinical nursing skills in the school of nursing’s “Learning Lab”. The Learning Lab offers students the opportunity to practice hands-on nursing skills in a safe, monitored environment before entering the clinical component of the program.

    This exceptional accelerated BSN program prepares graduates to provide high-quality, effective patient care and deliver and advocate for health equity through care coordination, health promotion, and disease prevention, based on the Nursing Code of Ethics. Graduates understand leadership skills, concepts, and decision-making, demonstrate critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and the psychomotor skills necessary for delivering safe, competent, holistic, evidence-based nursing care to individuals, families, communities, and populations.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the University of Washington’s accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program is contingent upon meeting specific criteria. Prospective students must have a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field, and a cumulative GPA of 2.8 for all college-level coursework. Also, required is 100 hours of paid or volunteer healthcare experience earned in one setting within a three-month span during the twelve months prior to applying to the school of nursing. Students for whom English is a second language must show proof of English proficiency.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The University of Washington offers a free, weeklong camp geared toward high school sophomores and juniors interested in learning about the nursing industry and how to get into nursing school. UW Nurse Camp promotes participation from a diverse population of high school students. Students must be sixteen years old by the first day of camp.
    • The University of Washington hosts “Nursing Dawg Tank” annually. Nursing Dawg Tank allows nursing students to present a sales pitch for what they believe is the next big innovation in nursing. Peers review the participant’s pitch and choose one project to receive a $15,000 award allocated to address pressing healthcare issues in the community.

    2. New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing – New York, NY

    Program Details:

     The New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing offers another outstanding ABSN program. Prospective students can enter the program with an advanced standing of forty-four liberal arts credits based on their first baccalaureate program. Successful applicants who have completed nursing prerequisite courses prior to starting the program can graduate in as few as fifteen months. The accelerated BSN program includes an additional sixty-four credits earned in nursing coursework.

    NYU Rory Meyers School of Nursing has a footprint that spans from local communities to worldwide settings. The university promotes diversity and inclusion, recruiting and enrolling students from diverse backgrounds locally, throughout the United States, and worldwide.

    Admission Requirements:

     Eligibility criteria for the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing ABSN program include holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and completion of all prerequisite coursework with a grade of “C” or higher before starting the program. You must demonstrate strong college-level academic performance. It is essential to review all the required criteria to ensure acceptance of prerequisite courses.

    Interesting Highlights

    • NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing publishes its own Nursing Magazine, keeping students and alumni up to date on current issues and trends related to nursing and healthcare.
    • NYU Rory Meyers’s nursing graduates have the highest median salaries among all NYU programs.
    • The New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing received “Center of Excellence” recognition from the National League of Nursing twice.

    3. Emory University – Atlanta, GA

    Program Details:

     Do you want to pursue a second bachelor’s degree and become a registered nurse? Would the opportunity to utilize distance learning make that dream seem more achievable? If so, the distanced based accelerated BSN program at Emory University could be a perfect fit for you!

    Emory University’s distance ABSN program enables full-time students to earn a nursing degree in one year or three semesters.

    As a student at Emory, you will participate in online team-based learning designed to help you develop sound critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. The curriculum includes lectures and clinical practice. You may experience clinical rotations based in your local community, on the Emory campus, and there are also options for global learning. Students complete the program with forty-eight credit hours and eight hundred ten hours of hands-on clinical training.

    Admission Requirements:

     Applicants seeking admission to Emory’s distance ABSN program must submit an application for admission, official transcripts for all post-secondary education, and a current resume and/or curriculum vitae. If you have an international transcript,you must provide an evaluation from World Education Services. All applicants must complete prerequisite courses including General Chemistry with Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II with Lab, Microbiology with Lab, Nutrition, Introductory Statistics, and Human Growth and Development or Life Span Development. While these prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application, they must be complete with a minimum grade of “C” before the start of the class.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Emory University hosts a bi-weekly podcast called The Nursing Station. The podcast addresses current topics of interest and relevance to nurses and nursing students.
    • Although the ASBN program was established in 2011, Emory University has offered the baccalaureate nursing program since 1944.
    • Graduates of the School of Nursing at Emory have an overall NCLEX pass rate of 99%, which is excellent, compared to the national average of 85%.

    4. Duke University – Durham, NC

    Program Details:

     Duke University understands nurses are essential members of society and values the importance of high-quality education to help develop expert nurses. The university offers another of our featured second-degree, fully accredited ABSN programs.

    The accelerated BSN program is structured as a full-time, campus-based program that takes sixteen months to complete. The program, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, offers a curriculum consisting of fifty-six credit hours of coursework and eight hundred hands-on clinical hours.

    Duke University offers state-of-the-art learning facilities and technology to meet the highest standards for clinical teaching. Some benefits of the program include interactive modules, high-fidelity simulators, standardized patients, lectures and videos in digital format, and case studies.

    The School of Nursing appreciates the culturally rich, diverse populations of North Carolina and ensures students have opportunities to experience them through various clinical experiences. Students in the ABSN program care for vulnerable groups, including the homeless, refugees and immigrants, and the elderly. Students may also choose to learn about diverse healthcare systems, treatment protocols, and community-based initiatives in different cultural settings by participating in a two-week international clinical immersion. Learn more about the international clinical opportunity by visiting Global Academic and Clinical Sites.

    Admission Requirements:

     Duke University uses a holistic approach to review all applications for the ABSN program, meaning admissions faculty assess an applicant’s unique experiences as well as review their academic achievements, grades, and test scores. Applicants must have proof of a minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average measured on a 4.0 scale and complete all prerequisites with a minimum grade of “C” in each course.

    Interesting Highlights

    • As a student in Duke University’s accelerated BSN program, you have access to “ Center for Nursing Discovery ”, which is the only accredited health care simulator in North Carolina.
    • ABSN students can earn up to nine credits toward a master’s degree.
    • Small faculty-to-student ratio of 1:6 makes the learning experience more personal.
    • Students have the option to participate in international clinical immersion by applying through the Office of Global and Community Health Initiatives.

    5. Oregon Health and Science University – Portland, OR

    Program Details:

     Oregon Health and Science University is committed to excellence in nursing education and offers one of the best accelerated second-degree BSN programs in the nation. The university’s faculty includes nationally, and internationally renowned educators, scholars and clinicians dedicated to the pursuit of discovery & knowledge, and high-quality, compassionate patient care of individuals, families, & populations.

    The ABSN campus-based program is fast-paced with students graduating in 5 full-time quarters or 15 months. Students complete seventy-two total credits, which includes an integrative practicum. The program is available on both the Ashland and Portland campuses of Oregon Health and Science University.

    As a student in the Oregon Health and Science University ABSN program, you will develop strong leadership skills through engagement in interprofessional education, practice, and evidence-based learning. Faculty prepare students by helping to develop an understanding of health systems and leadership, public health and communications, interdisciplinary care, and critical thinking and judgment skills.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission criteria for the ABSN program include a cumulative and individual prerequisite GPA of 3.0 on all college-level courses, and completion of all prerequisite coursework. Interested applicants must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary schools. Transcripts must reflect a minimum grade of B- in all prerequisite coursework.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Oregon Health and Science University School of Nursing is ranked #7 by U.S. News & World Report for the best Undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs for 2023.
    • Oregon Health and Science participated with Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic, which offers free, student-run clinics focused on enriching the nursing student’s professional education and providing care to meet the needs of underserved populations.

    6. University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA

    Program Details:

     The University of Pittsburgh is home to another exceptional ABSN program. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Students in this program obtain the educational foundation to engage in scholarly activities, conduct evidence-based practice, and use knowledge to improve healthcare delivery. Faculty are dedicated to helping students develop critical thinking, appraisal, and research skills, and high standards of clinical practice knowledge to provide exceptional patient care.

    The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing fosters an environment that promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity for people of all religions, races, cultures, and ethnicities. The university respects individual rights to exhibit all parts of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

    This program consists of three full-time, on-campus terms offering rigorous nursing and science coursework. The curriculum includes forty-six credit hours of nursing coursework and eight hundred ten clinical hours in diverse clinical settings, including local teaching hospitals and more than fifty local healthcare facilities.

    Admission Requirements:

     Individuals with a baccalaureate or graduate degree or senior baccalaureate students may apply for admission to the University of Pittsburgh accelerated BSN program. Admission to this accelerated second-degree BSN program is highly competitive and based upon the applicant’s history of proven academic achievements and prerequisite course grades. Successful applicants will have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous undergraduate or graduate coursework.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing offers several groups and activities to engage students. From University and School of Nursing Organizations, Student Events and Volunteer Opportunities, there is something for everyone.
    • The nursing school for the university is located right across from a Level 1 Trauma center, directly in the center of UPMC’s Medical Center.
    • The university is an urban campus that promotes appreciation of cultural diversity and independence.

    7. University of Florida – Gainesville, FL

    Program Details:

     The University of Florida, known as a leader in healthcare growth and innovation, offers an accredited accelerated BSN program available on both, their Gainesville and University of Florida Health campuses. The ABSN program is formatted to build upon previous knowledge and experience while transitioning students toward a career as registered nurses.

    The University of Florida acknowledges and addresses gaps in the healthcare systems by using technological initiatives and resources to connect students with diverse international populations. The university has an extensive healthcare delivery network giving students access to an integrated system of community clinics, hospitals, veterans’ healthcare systems, and the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital System.

    The ABSN program, which takes four full-time consecutive terms to complete, begins each May. As a student in the University of Florida accelerated BSN program, you will engage in classroom and laboratory experiences as well as supervised clinical practice opportunities. The program requires students to complete sixty credit hours of nursing coursework and seven hundred sixty-five hands-on clinical hours.

    Admission Requirements:

     Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from the most recent sixty credits earned from a previous bachelor’s degree or a cumulative 3.0 GPA from master’s or doctoral coursework. The University of Florida requires all students to be proficient in the English language, both written and spoken. International students must take an English proficiency exam. Prospective students must complete prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The University of Florida College of Nursing has several scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Some are needs-based while others have no special criteria.
    • The college offers two publications to help nursing students stay up to date on current events and trends in nursing and healthcare, the Heartbeat Newsletter and Discover Magazine.
    • The average GPA for baccalaureate nursing students at the UF accelerated BSN program is between 3.5 and 3.6.
    • 82% of the ABSN graduates pursue graduate studies within one year of earning their BSN.

    8. University of Nebraska Medical Center – Omaha, NE

    Program Details:

     The University of Nebraska Medical Center offers an accelerated BSN program at its five campuses in Omaha, Kearney, Lincoln, Scottsbluff, and Norfolk. The curriculum plan is predicated upon the traditional baccalaureate nursing structure but compresses the two-year traditional program into a twelve-month program, beginning each January.

    Students in the ABSN program experience an education-packed, challenging plan of study focused on active learning, critical thinking, independent evaluation, and clinical application of knowledge and skills. Faculty encourage an atmosphere conducive to learning how to promote patient-centered care that improves health outcomes.

    The intense twelve-month program is divided into two sixteen-week semesters and one thirteen-week summer semester. Students complete sixty-two credit hours of nursing coursework as well as clinical intensive supervised by nursing faculty and clinical preceptors.

    Admission Requirements:

     If pursuing one of the best accelerated BSN programs is your goal, the University of Nebraska is definitely worth considering. Prospective students must meet specific admission criteria. After choosing which campus you wish to attend, submit your NursingCAS and all official post-secondary transcripts. Transcripts must reflect a cumulative minimum 3.0 GPA. Two letters of professional recommendation and a Personal Statement of Intent are also required.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s ABSN students have an average NCLEX-RN pass rate of 93.8%.
    • UNMC offers programs that allow students to discover nursing in greater detail, including the Veterans Affairs Academic Scholar program and the Honors Research Program.

    9. University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio, TX

    Program Details:

     If you have a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a non-nursing field and want to transition to a nursing career in a short amount of time, the accelerated BSN program at the University of Texas Health Science Center is an excellent option.

    The program is fifteen months and includes sixty credit hours of coursework. All BSN coursework, labs, and clinical rotations are conducted in person. Class attendance is held on UT Health’s beautiful San Antonio campus. UT has approximately four hundred clinical affiliate partners within a sixty-mile radius of the school.

    Like the traditional BSN track, the accelerated BSN program at the University of Texas HSC includes co-curricular experiences in high-impact practices as described by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. As a student in this program, you have the option to participate in high-impact practices including Research Distinction, clinical Distinction, and Methodist Internship.

    Admission Requirements:

     Prospective students who wish to enroll in the accelerated BSN program at the University of Texas Health Science Center must have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, a prerequisite grade point average of at least a 3.0, and a minimum TEAS exam score of 65 overall.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Fifteen faculty members at the UT Health Science Center are fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
    • The University of Texas HSC School of Nursing is the only academic health science center in South Texas.
    • The UT-HSC has prepared nurse leaders, nurse scientists, and clinicians to work in the thirty-eight-county underserved South Texas Population for more than fifty years.

    10. University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, PA

    Program Details:

     The University of Pennsylvania offers a path to a bachelor’s degree in nursing streamlined for individuals who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from any college or university. The program is an excellent option for anyone who wishes to work in nursing before choosing or pursuing an advanced nursing path.

    This accredited accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program requires forty-one course units for graduation. The fifteen-month program offers the same hands-on experiences as the traditional BSN program. Students engage in state-of-the-art simulations, clinical practice, comprehensive mentorship, and community engagement.

    Admission Requirements:

     To meet admission criteria, for the University of Pennsylvania’s accelerated BSN program, you must complete an online application, provide two letters of professional recommendation and provide transcripts of all post-secondary education endeavors. Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses and submit a Personal Statement in essay form. The question for the Personal Statement will be distributed when you begin the application.

    Interesting Highlights

    • As a student in the second-degree accelerated BSN program at the University of Pennsylvania, you may begin graduate-level coursework through their submatriculation program while finishing your BSN degree.
    • You may also apply to the accelerated BSN program and Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation BSN-PhD simultaneously.
    • Students who exercise the option to submatriculate may choose from eleven master’s specialties and dual degrees in bioethics, law, and public health.

    11. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, NC

    Program Details:

     The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill offers another featured accredited accelerated BSN program. The program, which is featured in an on-campus format, offers committed faculty, innovative approaches to learning, and student research opportunities.

    The program’s format is designed to be completed in four semesters of full-time study. Students complete the ABSN program by earning sixty credits, including five hundred clinical practice hours. Clinical instruction begins in the first semester and culminates with an intensive capstone in the last semester.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the accelerated BSN program is competitive. The admissions committee evaluates academic performance, community service history, and descriptive essays to determine each applicant’s skills and abilities to contribute to the nursing profession. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 from all post-secondary coursework and a minimum 3.0 in all key science courses. Any applicant who applies must be eligible to return to any previously attended institution of higher education.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ABSN students have a 98% NCLEX pass rate!
    • UNC-Chapel Hill’s accelerated BSN program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Commission on Collegiate Nursing, and North Carolina Board of Nursing.

    12. University of Kentucky – Lexington, KY

    Program Details:

     The University of Kentucky offers a unique opportunity to earn accelerated BSN in that the program is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, a current licensed practical/vocational nurse, or individuals who served as a medic in the United States military.

    The accelerated ABSN program takes sixteen months to complete, including a summer term and is formatted in a block schedule consisting of eight blocks, each eight weeks long. The curriculum includes fifty-five credits of nursing coursework and nine hundred sixty clinical hours.

    As a student in this program, you will have the benefit of online didactic/lectures and participate in clinicals in Lexington, Kentucky at the university’s clinical affiliate sites. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses and military medics may opt to demonstrate their skills and earn credit for beginner labs.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission criteria vary somewhat, depending on an applicant’s previous education. Second-degree BSN and MedVet applicants require a 2.75 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. LPN/LVN applicants need a 2.4 on a 4.0 GPA scale. All applicants must have a minimum grade of “C” in Human Anatomy and Physiology, General Biology, General Chemistry, General or Developmental Psychology, Composition, and Communication. Background-specific admission requirements are available for individuals interested in this exceptional accelerated BSN program by visiting here.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The University of Kentucky College of Nursing offers four internships available to junior and senior nursing students. Students may choose from the Health Equity Scholars Program, Nursing Practice Internship, Nursing Research Internship, or Nursing Education Internship.
    • Students in the ABSN program at the University of Kentucky may explore specialized skill sets in areas such as health equity, addiction, pediatrics, and global health by taking a variety of cognate courses.

    13. Villanova University – Villanova, PA

    Program Details:

     Villanova University offers an accelerated second-degree BSN program with two options for study, allowing students to choose a study path that fits their lifestyle. The program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, and it is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

    The ABSN program incorporates every standard component of the university’s traditional BSN program but presents it in a concentrated format. Once accepted into the school of nursing, you may apply to the fourteen-month Express ABSN track or the twenty-three-month Flex ABSN track. You will complete between seventy-two and seventy-five credits.

    As a student in Villanova’s accelerated BSN program, you will have access to experienced faculty members and opportunities for professional membership and collaboration with faculty on research projects and other relevant initiatives. The university also offers graduate studyopportunities you could pursue after earning your ABSN degree.

    Admission Requirements:

     If the ABSN program at Villanova University is appealing to you, the next step is to meet admission criteria. The first step is to email copies of any college or university transcripts for review. Submit an essay that answers the question, “Why are you choosing to enter the field of nursing at this time in your life or career?” Applicants must complete all prerequisites and submit a current resume. International students whose first degree was earned outside the United States must submit TOEFL scores.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Villanova University is one of few universities that offers accelerated BSN of varying lengths.
    • Villanova University’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing has affiliate agreements with Arcadia University, Alfred University, Saint Joseph’s University, Ursinus College, Juniata College, and University of the Sciences through which at least five students meeting admissions requirements are accepted into the second-degree accelerated BSN track called the BSNExpress. The BSNExpress is a fourteen-month option.

    14. Medical University of South Carolina – Charleston, SC

    Program Details:

     The Medical University of South Carolina offers one of the best accelerated BSN programs in an academic health science center environment. In addition to nursing, the university is home to colleges of Medicine, Graduate Studies, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and other Health Professions. The diversity of healthcare studies makes the university attractive as it promotes and encourages interprofessional academic and extracurricular activities.

    As a student in this program, you will learn from diverse, experienced faculty and develop the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to succeed in the multi-dimensional, ever-changing field of professional nursing practice.

    The ABSN program at MUSC is a 16-month, 4-semester program, including a summer semester. The program is offered on-campus only and includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical components. The university does not offer prerequisite coursework. Therefore, prospective students must complete them before entry into the program.

    Once enrolled in the program, you will complete sixty credits of undergraduate coursework. Clinical rotations take place at clinical sites close to or on the MUSC campus, including the MUSC Health University Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and Institute of Psychiatry. The ABSN program also offers clinical rotations with affiliate partners such as Roper Hospital, Summerville Medical Center, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, and the Ralph H. Johnson Veteran’s Administration Medical Center.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the MUSC accelerated BSN program is competitive, admitting only ninety-six of approximately three hundred fifty applicants each fall and spring. Prospective students must submit all post-secondary education transcripts and an updated vaccination record for review. Other admission criteria include applying to both the college and the School of Nursing, preparing a Statement of Intent, provide three letters of professional recommendation, and a current resume.

    Interesting Highlights

    • MUSC offers one of the accredited ABSN programs in the nation that does not require a non-nursing bachelor’s as part of admission criteria. If you complete all necessary prerequisites from an accredited college or university, you may apply for admission.
    • The ABSN program has a 99% NCLEX pass rate!
    • No pre-admission testing such as SAT, TEAS, or GRE is required.

    15. George Washington University – Washington, DC

    Program Details:

     If you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and want to transition your career path to nursing, the George Washington University accelerated BSN program could be an excellent option for you.

    The program is an in-person, campus-based program located at the Virginia Science and Technology Campus of GWU in Ashburn, Virginia. This second-degree option is a fifteen-month program taught by some of the best nurse educators in the country. The program includes sixty credit hours of undergraduate nursing coursework and five hundred hours of hands-on clinical experience.

    You will learn to utilize the nursing process to promote and support health among individuals, families, groups, and populations, apply theories to clinical practice, and demonstrate ethical nursing practice. Faculty guide students as they develop accountability for practice and learn to utilize management and leadership skills to meet the healthcare needs of all patients.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission is contingent upon holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a preferred scholastic GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. You must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary schools, regardless of whether you graduated their program, two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a Statement of Purpose.

    Interesting Highlights

    • ABSN students can enroll in unique electives including health information and technology, pediatric adversity and childhood development, perioperative care, and global health.
    • George Washington University has state-of-the-art facilities that allow students to learn core nursing concepts through formats such as standardized patients and interactive online modules and high-fidelity simulators.
    • GWU’s accelerated BSN program students have opportunities for international travel through the school’s international clinical opportunities in countries such as Ecuador, Uganda, Haiti, and Costa Rica.

    16. Baylor University – Dallas, TX

    Program Details:

     Baylor University has one of the best ABSN programs in the nation. Baylor University is a Christian university and seeks to teach nursing students the art of healing with a Christian worldview.

    The ABSN program, offered through the university’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, is an intense, full-time program. As a student in the program, you will learn from nursing faculty with strong academic and clinical experiences with excellent reputations in the nursing industry.

    The program includes sixty-two hours of nursing coursework and is designed for completion in one year. Each course ranges from three to ten weeks long. Most coursework is online. However, you will participate in one 2-week on-campus intensive followed by clinical experiences in the field.

    In addition to coursework, all students complete a total of seven hundred twenty-hours of clinicals. Baylor’s nursing administration faculty collaborate with students individually to identify clinical preceptors and sites that meet the school’s guidelines but are as close to the student’s home as possible.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the ABSN program is selective. Prospective students must complete fifty-two prerequisite courses before the start of the program. College transcripts must reflect a cumulative 3.0-grade point average for all prerequisite courses, including a minimum 2.5 GPA on all science-related prerequisites. All applicants must take the HESI exam, and submit a current resume and letters of recommendation.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Baylor University has a 96% NCLEX pass rate for first-time testers.
    • Baylor University, home to one of the best accredited accelerated BSN programs in the United States, ranks in the top 6% of the Best Colleges in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report.
    • Ninety percent of ABSN program graduates receive a job offer by the time they graduate.

    17. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Lubbock, TX

    Program Details:

     Texas Tech University Health Science Center offers an outstanding, fully accredited accelerated BSN program. The program prepares students to meet the constant, complex changes associated with 21st-century nursing.

    The ABSN program is offered through each of the campuses in Austin-Hill Country area, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock, Permian Basin, and Dallas. This program is structured for completion in twelve months. Didactic coursework is delivered online by nursing faculty. Clinical instruction is guided by nursing clinical faculty and clinical coaches. Students in this program complete sixty-one credit hours of coursework as well as participate in clinical immersion.

    Texas Tech’s accelerated BSN program is offered as both a second-degree accelerated BSN program and a Veteran to BSN option. Veterans who wish to enroll in the Veteran to BSN program must submit their DD214 to provide evidence of healthcare training. Healthcare Specialist Rating includes medic, vocational/practical nurse, and corpsman. The curriculum is the same for both pathways.

    Admission Requirements:

     Texas Tech UHSC recognizes the importance of non-academic accomplishments. Therefore, although academic history is reviewed and relevant for admission, it is not the only thing considered in the school’s holistic admission review process. Some admission criteria include holding a bachelor’s degree in Science or Arts from an accredited college or university, completion of fifty-five general education coursework, and completing at least three science-related prerequisite classes. The minimum cumulative GPA considered is 2.5, but preference is given to those with a 3.0 or higher. All applicants must complete a medical terminology course, certified nursing assistant training, and be certified by the American Heart Association in BLS/CPR before starting the program.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Although TTUHSC does not require COVID-19 vaccination for students, clinical partners do. All students must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before being accepted into the clinical component of the program, which is mandatory to meet graduation criteria.
    • Veterans who wish to participate in the Veteran to BSN track must be a resident of Texas or be willing to sign an affidavit expressing willingness to relocate to Texas.

    18. University of Rochester – Rochester, NY

    Program Details:

     The University of Rochester is home to one of the most respected Schools of Nursing in the United States. The school recognized the need for well-educated and highly qualified registered nurses nationwide and implemented their accelerated BSN program.

    The ABSN program is a rigorous, twelve-month, on-campus program. As a student in this program, you will earn forty-nine nursing credits. You will participate in ninety hours of laboratory simulation and more than seven hundred clinical hours. Clinical rotations include experiences in pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatry, and medical-surgical care at the University of Rochester Medical Center campus.

    The program offers robust academic support to help you succeed in the program. Tight-knit, diverse cohorts help students establish relationships and learn from experiences of non-nursing peers from various backgrounds and promotes cultural awareness.

    Admission Requirements:

     If you hope for acceptance to the University of Rochester’s ABSN program, you must meet specific criteria. A bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited school with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 grading scale from your most recent relevant degree is mandatory. Written and spoken English proficiency is required. International students must demonstrate English proficiency. You must also complete twenty-one to twenty-four credits in general and natural-science-based prerequisite coursework. Submit official transcripts, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references, current resume, and written responses to essay questions provided.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The University of Rochester is an Apple Distinguished School, which means it is officially recognized by Apple for its leadership, innovation, and educational experiences. All students are given an iPad during orientation.
    • The ABSN program has three start dates yearly, allowing prospective students to accelerate a career change on their timeline.
    • ABSN students have opportunities to participate in organizations that serve the Rochester homeless and which promote advocacy, leadership, and diversity.

    19. University of Southern Maine – Portland, ME

    Program Details:

     The University of Southern Maine School of Nursing offers one of the best accelerated BSN programs in the nation. The program, which is offered on the Portland campus, is designed to “meet you where you are and take youwhere you want to go.” The expert faculty of the ABSN program will help expand your knowledge and skills and help you identify and develop your professional identity.

    You can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just fifteen months at the University of Southern Maine. The program involves a rigorous plan of study. Your course sequence is determined by previous academic and life experiences.

    As a student in this accredited accelerated BSN program, after classroom instruction about concepts and theories and skills development in simulation labs, you will provide direct care to patients in a clinical setting. Clinical experiences include assignments at tertiary and community hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term-care facilities. You will also participate in acute care of adults and pediatric patients, mental health/behavioral clients, and patients in reproductive health groups.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the University of Maine ABSN program requires meeting specific admission criteria. Candidates must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3 on previous bachelor’s coursework. Prerequisite courses including Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology with Lab, and Statistics must be completed before starting the program. Submit official transcripts, two letters of professional recommendation, and copies of any professional certifications. You must also submit an Admissions Essay discussing, in five hundred words or less, why you have chosen to transition to nursing and what you believe you can offer the profession.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The School of Nursing is partnered with the Office of International Programs and created opportunities for students to serve on International Primary Health Care Missions. Through this mission, nursing students and faculty travel to rural villages in the Dominican Republic to provide primary healthcare services.
    • Nursing faculty represent a broad range of specialties, which enrich student experiences. Faculty are board members of national and state nursing associations and many are frequently published in leading nursing journals.

    20. University of Central Florida – Orlando, FL

    Program Details:

     The University of Central Florida is home to another of our featured accredited accelerated BSN programs. The program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

    The four-semester ABSN program includes a vigorous curriculum of sixty credit hours of coursework completed online and at UCF’s Orlando campus. You will complete the clinical requirements for the program at approved nursing practice facilities throughout the Orlando metro area.

    Admission Requirements:

     The University of Central Florida ABSN program is a second-degreeprogram. Therefore, all applicants must hold a non-nursing bachelor’s or higher degree. The degree-granting institution must be accredited and meet the UCF’s transfer eligibility requirements. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on pre-nursing bachelor’s and any other post-secondary coursework is mandatory. All applicants must take and submit TEAS exam scores and complete all state-mandated prerequisite courses before beginning the program.

    Interesting Highlights

    • UCF’s School of Nursing enforces academic excellence by employing nationally recognized faculty to prepare ABSN program students for roles as nurse leaders, promoting the future of healthcare.
    • The University of Central Florida ranks #14 nationwide for Best Bachelor’s Nursing Programs.
    • Graduates of the UCF accelerated BSN program have an excellent 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate.
    • UCF offers a Medical Enlisted Commission Program for active-duty military who wish to enroll in the School of Nursing with options for the second-degree accelerated BSN program.

    21. University of Wisconsin-Madison – Madison, WI

    Program Details:

     If you have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing but are dreaming of becoming a nurse, the University of Wisconsin-Madison could have what you’ve been looking for. UW-Madison offers an accelerated BSN program designed to help you obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to become a strong nurse and effective nurse leader.

    The curriculum is concept-based, teaching and building upon critical thinking and decision making. As a student in this ABSN program, you will develop an understanding of healthcare issues affecting diverse lifespans, cultures, care settings, and illnesses.

    Students complete nursing coursework and clinicals and have out-of-class assignments. Therefore, the university advises that it is not beneficial for students to work while in the program. With this intense curriculum, you will earn one credit weekly, completing the program with forty-nine credits in nursing coursework and nearly five hundred hours of clinical experiences. Clinicals occur in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, long-term care, and residential facilities, medical clinics, and school districts. All clinical assignments and placements are arranged by the School of Nursing.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission criteria for this accelerated second-degree BSN program include demonstrating academic performance and preparation by having a cumulative and prerequisite course grade point average of at least a 2.5. You must submit an online application, participate in a group interview, and submit an in-person writing exercise for review. Admissions faculty consider the rigor of coursework, grade trends, and work/life experiences when reviewing applications and interviewing applicants.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Madison accelerated BSN program work by and beyond the bedside. Previous graduates organize disaster relief efforts, serve in the military, work as nurse researchers, and manage hospitals and large healthcare facilities.
    • The UW-Madison graduates an average of sixty-five ABSN students annually, and these graduates have consistently demonstrated a 98% NCLEX pass rate for the past three years.

    22. Northeastern University – Boston, MA

    Program Details:

     Whether you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or previous credits in liberal arts or sciences, if you dream of becoming a registered nurse, Northeastern University can help make that dream a reality. Northeastern University offers a sixteen-month accelerated BSN program on their Charlotte campus. The program is delivered in a blended learning format including rigorous online coursework and in-person instruction.

    In this ABSN program, over the span of four semesters, you will progress from basic nursing competencies to advanced competence. The program is formatted using three learning components: online coursework, nursing labs, and clinical rotations.

    You will learn nursing fundamentals and theories, including the importance of ethical practice, pharmacology, and health assessment through online coursework. In the university’s state-of-the-art nursing labs, you will learn to apply core skills including IV therapy and wound care in a risk-free setting.

    All students complete at least five hundred clinical hours. Clinical rotations through community partnerships with top local healthcare facilities offer real-world experience in diverse settings and practice specialties such as adult, pediatric, public and community health, and health management and leadership.

    Admission Requirements:

     To be eligible for the ABSN program at Northeastern University you must have a previous bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field or a minimum of 62 credit hours awarded by an accredited institution of higher learning. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is required, regardless of your previous education level. All prerequisite coursework must have a great of “C” or higher. Additional criteria include submitting a personal Statement of Intent, a video essay, and three letters of recommendation.

    Interesting Highlights

    • 95% of ABSN graduates have full-time employment offers before graduation.
    • Northeastern University is ranked in the top twenty colleges in the U.S. and is the #2 college for nursing in Massachusetts, making the ABSN program the school offers, an excellent choice!
    • Northeastern University School of Nursing has more than 200,000 alumni worldwide.

    23. Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, VA

    Program Details:

     Virginia Commonwealth University offers an accelerated BSN program available to individuals holding a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who wish to transition to a nursing career. The program takes five semesters, including two summer semesters to complete.

    In the VCU ABSN program, you will earn sixty-seven credits in nursing classes.

    Admission Requirements:

     Prospective students seeking admission to the Virginia Commonwealth University accelerated BSN program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and be eligible for readmission or in good standing at any previously attended college or university. Official transcripts from post-secondary institutions must show a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on all college coursework. Prerequisite classes include Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology, and these three courses must have a grade of “B” or higher.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The undergraduate nursing program at Virginia Commonwealth University is ranked #4 nationwide by U.S. News and World Report
    • Virginia Commonwealth University graduates have an outstanding 97% NCLEX-RN pass rate for first-time test-takers!

    24. Indiana University-Purdue University (Indianapolis) – Indianapolis, IN

    Program Details:

     Indiana University-Purdue University’s School of Nursing offers one of the best accelerated BSN programs in the United States. With three start dates, each year, if interested you can begin the journey to becoming a registered nurse when it is convenient for you.

    Under the guidance of exceptional nursing faculty, you will learn to demonstrate clinical reasoning, decision-making, and intellectual engagement to deliver healthcare to patients across the lifespan. Students learn to provide high-quality, holistic, individual, family, and population-centered nursing care.

    The sixteen-month ABSN program offers cutting-edge, concept-based curriculum designed to prepare students for careers as professional registered nurses. The curriculum includes sixty-four credit hours of nursing-relevant coursework and will prepare you to pursue graduate education, if you desire. The program does not offer distance learning. However, some didactic courses may have an online option. You will begin clinicals during your first semester as part of the Health Assessment Lab and Fundamentals of Nursing Practice classes. The final semester culminates with a capstone project.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the accelerated second-degree BSN program is competitive. Meeting admission criteria does not ensure admission to the program. Applicants must have a minimum 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale from the first bachelor’s degree. A 3.0 GPA is required for the forty-one prerequisite general education credits. Applicants who have been dismissed from another School of Nursing are not eligible for admission to the program.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Indiana University-Purdue University has generous alumni and donors who have made it possible to administer nearly $750,000 in scholarships annually to IU-PU students.
    • IU-PU ranks in the top ten for Indiana nursing schools with the best NCLEX pass rate.

    25. Loyola University Chicago – Maywood, IL

    Program Details:

     Loyola University Chicago offers a study option for prospective students with a non-nursing background who wish to become nurses. The program is one of the best ABSN programs available nationwide.

    The accelerated second-degree BSN program builds on your previous bachelor’s degree, making it possible to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in sixteen months. The curriculum involves three stages: in-class nursing courses to establish the foundation of your education, nursing simulation labs to demonstrate necessary skills to put classroom knowledge into practice, and diverse, in-person patient care in clinical rotations.

    The ABSN program at Loyola offers both hybrid and fully on-campus options. The Downers Grove campus offers the hybrid program. This option involves online lectures, weekly on-site meetings with faculty, and skills and assessment laboratory simulations. Clinical experiences are scheduled at facilities in the Chicagoland area. The on-campus program is offered at the Maywood campus. All aspects of the program are completed face-to-face with nursing faculty.

    Admission Requirements:

     The demand for the ASBN program at Loyal University Chicago has been high, leading to a competitive applicant pool. Therefore, meeting all admission criteria, including a minimum cumulative first-bachelor’s GPA of 3.0. To be eligible for acceptance, you must satisfy all ASBN prerequisites, including Anatomy and Physiology I & II (with labs), Organic Chemistry or Chemistry for Heal Professionals (with lab), and Microbiology. Prerequisites must be from a regionally accredited institution, and you must earn a minimum grade of “C” in each class.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Loyola University Chicago graduates have a 94.88% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX).
    • Students in the Loyola ABSN program have personal advisors who offer highly personalized support, regardless of whether you choose the on-campus or hybrid pathway.

    26. University of Miami – Coral Gables, FL

    Program Details:

     The University of Miami’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers start dates twice yearly in May and January. Students in this program can earn a BSN in twelve months of continuous study. The program involves a combination of classroom education and clinical experiences designed to prepare ABSN students to take and pass the NCLEX exam and begin clinical practice.

    As a student in the University of Miami accelerated BSN program, you will earn a total of fifty-five credit hours, forty-two from nursing coursework, and thirteen credit hours from clinical rotations. You will participate in 140 to 336 hours of hands-on clinicals per semester.

    ABSN students learn in the fifty-three thousand square foot facility, the M. Christine Schwartz Center of Nursing and Health Studies. With multiple clinical simulation labs, smart classrooms, and a simulation academy, the Center is one of the most technologically advanced academic simulation centers in the United States.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the University of Miami ABSN program is contingent upon classroom space and meeting admission criteria. Prospective students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a field other than nursing. Applicants must submit an application for admission and official transcripts reflecting a minimum cumulative and prerequisite grade-point average of 3.0. Other required documents include two letters of recommendation from an academic source, a Statement of Purpose, and current resume or curriculum vitae.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The ABSN program at the University of Miami has the highest NCLEX pass rate for first-time test-takers, 94.95%.
    • The University of Miami offers students the unique opportunity to learn at their state-of-the-art Simulation Hospital. S.H.A.R.E., which stands for Simulation Hospital Advancing Research and Education, offers on-site, extended reality, and virtual simulation experiences.
    • The University of Miami offers three smart classrooms, which make interactive learning with educators from around the world possible.

    27. Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA

    Program Details:

     Drexel University offers another of our featured accredited accelerated BSN programs where students learn critical-thinking and leadership skills and participate in measures to promote health across the wellness spectrum for diverse populations.

    The program, referred to as ACE or Accelerated Career Entry, is designed to deliver student instruction in a full-time, campus-based format. Classes are five days a week with occasional evening or Saturday classes, allowing you to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just eleven months.

    Your curriculum in the ABSN program at Drexel University will consist of four ten-week terms filled with fast-paced, dense nursing content. The curriculum for this accelerated BSN program requires completing one hundred thirty-four quarter credits of nursing-specific coursework.

    After successfully completing the required components of the Drexel University ABSN program, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to demonstrate the behaviors of and transition into leadership roles and integrate technology to support patient-centered based on clinical decision-making. You will be capable of practicing culturally competent nursing care, addressing health promotion and disease prevention, while implementing professional standards and ethical principles into your nursing practice.

    Admission Requirements:

     Once you’ve decided Drexel University is where you wish to earn your ABSN degree, you need to begin the admission process. Candidates for admission to this accelerated BSN program must be college graduates with a 3.0 GPA in their most recent coursework or an overall post-secondary GPA of 3.0. Applicants for whom English is a second language or who were born outside the U.S. must take the TOEFL and the TSE. All prerequisites must be completed prior to start of the nursing component.

    Interesting Highlights

    • ABSN program graduates from Drexel University have demonstrated a 98% overall NCLEX pass rate among first-time testers.
    • Drexel University has established Program Level Outcomes specific to the accelerated BSN program, giving clear guidelines for instruction and learning to promote student success.

    28. Creighton University – Omaha, NE

    Program Details:

     Creighton University is home to one of the longest-running best accelerated BSN programs in the nation. The program, which is designed for bachelor’s-prepared college graduates, is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

    Prospective students have the option of two start dates, depending on which campus they choose to attend. Omaha and Phoenix campuses begin the ABSN program each year in January and August. The Grand Island campus offers one start date in August yearly. The program is delivered in a hybrid or blended format, combining online lectures, classroom activities, and clinical experiences.

    Accelerated BSN program students at Creighton University complete fifty-eight credits including Human Pathophysiology Concepts, Population-Based Health, Professional Concepts: Policy and Advocacy and Transition to a Values-Based Profession. Students learn to use research to support evidence-based practices and quality improvement initiatives to help further the profession and improve healthcare outcomes for patients, families, and societies. The program includes practicum assignments involving population-based learning, on-side patient care, and patient simulation experiences.

    Admission Requirements:

     Eligible applicants will hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including a minimum grade of “C” for all prerequisite courses. If you choose to apply, you must prepare a Personal Statement describing your motivation for success in the program, long-term academic and professional goals, and your ability to meet the program’s rigorous demands. Also submit three letters of recommendation, evidence of prior work and academic success, including official transcripts from all colleges attended.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Creighton University’s accelerated BSN program was initiated in 1975, making it one of the oldest ABSN programs in the nation.
    • Creighton University offers its ABSN program on its campuses in Omaha, Grand Island, and Phoenix, creating opportunities for more students to pursue their degree.

    29. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans, LA

    Program Details:

     Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center offers an accredited accelerated BSN program, referred to as the Career Alternative RN Education (CARE). The program is geared toward non-nursing bachelor’s educated professionals desiring to transition to a career in nursing.

    The CARE/ABSN program admits students each year in the fall and requires two years of study to complete. The two-year period consists of five sixteen-week blocks where students engage in theory and laboratory sequences on campus and clinical practice rotations at local healthcare facilities.

    The rigorous curriculum includes courses such as Nursing Management in the Healthcare System, Health Assessment, Mental Health Nursing, and Critical Care Nursing. Students complete one hundred twenty credit hours, inclusive of on-site, hands-on clinical practice experiences.

    At the completion of this ABSN program, you will have the ability to utilize essential knowledge and skills relevant to professional nursing practice and integrate core values for developing strong interpersonal and interprofessional relationships.

    Admission Requirements:

     Class size for the accelerated BSN program at LSU-HSC is limited, making admission competitive. Admission criteria include completing forty-three hours of prerequisite coursework with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants will prepare a Written Statement during a thirty-minute encounter proctored by the School of Nursing. You must submit one academic and one professional letter of recommendation and participate in an online interview.

    Interesting Highlights

    • Nursing Schools Almanac ranks LSU Health School of Nursing as the #9 nursing school in the United States and the #4 public nursing school.
    • Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing graduates have demonstrated a 99% NCLEX pass rate for the last three years!

    30. Saint Louis University – Saint Louis, MO

    Program Details:

     St. Louis University offers an awesome ABSN program, open to students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field of study. If an accelerated BSN degree interests you and you have at least seventy-seven credits but not a bachelor’s degree, you may still be eligible.

    This accelerated second-degree BSN program begins yearly in May and extends through three semesters, including one summer semester. The Saint Louis University Valentine School Nursing offers state-of-the-art classrooms and clinical simulation labs where students learn from faculty in a structured, low student-to-faculty ratio environment.

    This one-year bachelor’s in nursing program prepares students for the same outcomes as the university’s four-year BSN option. Course requirements for this program require a total of fifty-three credits, which include clinical practicum experiences.

    Admission Requirements:

     Admission to the Saint Louis University accredited accelerated BSN program requires meeting the following admission criteria. You must possess a bachelor’s degree with a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or meet the minimum undergraduate coursework required for the junior-entry option. All general education prerequisites must be from a regionally accredited institution and have a great of “C” or better.

    Interesting Highlights

    • The ABSN program at Saint Louis University was introduced by the school’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing in 1971. It was the first accelerated BSN program in the United States.
    • Niche ranks Saint Louis University as the #8 best college in the country for nursing.
    • Graduates of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing have an average NCLEX pass rate of 91%.

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