Can a nursing degree be completed in just one year? It can if you meet the eligibility requirements for our 1 year nursing program! UST’s ABSN program combines online nursing theory coursework with in-person labs and clinicals so you can graduate ready to care for patients.
Are you ready for a change in your career? Perhaps you’re considering transitioning to healthcare but aren’t interested in years of additional study. Did you know that earning a high-quality nursing degree in just one year is possible?
The University of St. Thomas Houston’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) is a one-year nursing program that can help you reach your nursing goals sooner. Its supportive admissions team, easy-to-use online learning platform, and accelerated coursework make it a great choice.
Below, we’ll outline the steps to becoming an RN on an advanced timeline through UST’s ABSN program. First things first: Contact our admissions advisors.
What Is a 1 Year Nursing Program Online?
Before reaching out to an admissions advisor, it can be helpful to learn about the program and how it differs from a traditional nursing program. For instance, a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is designed for students without prior college credits and typically takes four years of full-time study.
If you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 credits from an accredited university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, however, you might be eligible for our ABSN program. The ABSN program at UST leverages your prior education toward your nursing degree, so you can graduate more quickly. The ABSN program confers a BSN, just like a traditional four-year program.
While you can complete our ABSN program in as few as 12 months, factors like completing prerequisite courses, sitting for and passing the NCLEX exam, and getting licensed as an RN can extend the process beyond 12 months.
Can You Get a Nursing Degree Online?
Our curriculum’s hybrid approach makes our online nursing program attractive for students seeking flexibility in higher education.
You’ll be able to complete your coursework online, but you’ll also need to visit an ABSN program site in Shenandoah, Sugar Land, or our main campus in downtown Houston, Texas, to complete the in-person requirements. These include nursing skills labs and nursing simulation labs. You’ll also work through clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities to gain hands-on, practical experience providing patient care.
Is a 1 Year Nursing Program Right for You?
The ABSN program at UST has enabled many individuals to graduate with a nursing degree and pursue a meaningful healthcare career. A one-year nursing program may be a good choice for those who are:
- Highly motivated and driven to succeed
- Willing to put in long hours of schoolwork and studying
- Eager to pursue a meaningful career that makes a difference for others
- Interested in making a career change as quickly as possible
Individuals with solid time management, organizational, and critical thinking skills might do well in this environment. It’s also helpful to have a strong support system available, such as reliable childcare.
Key Benefits of a 12-Month Nursing Program
If you have the qualities described above, a one-year nursing program could suit you. It also helps to review the benefits of this learning model. The clearest benefit of the ABSN program is the ability to earn a high-quality nursing degree in as few as 12 months.
Consider the following additional benefits:
- The ABSN program confers a BSN, which you can use as a springboard to pursue graduate-level nursing education and career advancement.
- The hybrid learning approach helps reduce the number of commutes to the program site.
- You’ll be able to work on developing a professional network while in nursing school by getting to know your nursing cohort and other working nurses in healthcare facilities during your clinicals.
HESI vs. TEAS: Learn about these nursing admissions tests and determine which you should take.
How to Apply to a 1 Year Nursing Program
You can start the admissions process by completing the form on our website. You’ll schedule a call with one of our admissions advisors to discuss your academic qualifications and nursing career goals and determine if you’re a good fit for our program. Your advisor will serve as your main point of contact throughout the rest of the process.
Your counselor will review your eligibility requirements, which include:
- A completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 60 college credits
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Either the HESI or TEAS entrance exam (score of at least 80% on all sections of the HESI and at least 78% on all sections of the TEAS)
After choosing from three start dates in January, May, or August, your admissions advisor will help you develop an academic plan that allows you to fulfill all requirements in time for your chosen start date. Your advisor will also inform you of the application deadline for your intended start date.
Part of that plan will include guaranteeing you can complete your prerequisite courses. While the ABSN program at UST doesn’t require any prior healthcare experience to apply, you must meet specific academic requirements to be prepared when you start your path toward becoming an RN in one year.
You’re not alone in this. Your admissions advisor will help you register for all the prerequisite courses, then check in periodically to help you stay focused and on track to pass them with the minimum grade requirement of C or higher. UST’s ABSN program requires fewer prerequisites than many other nursing programs, and your prior education may already fulfill some of them. They include:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with lab recommended)
- Microbiology (with lab recommended)
- Algebra or Statistics
- Nutrition (recommended but not required)
Know What to Expect From the Program
While it’s a great start, getting into UST’s ABSN program alone won’t be enough to become a nurse in one year. You’ll need dedication, commitment, and perseverance to get the most out of the ABSN program and become a practice-ready nurse.
To be successful, you’ll need to create study plans and use your resources. At UST, those support resources include success coaches who can help you map out study schedules and nursing faculty and instructors who are available via phone, email, and in-person office hours to answer any questions you may have about course material.
In addition to the online coursework, you’ll work through the following during our 1 year nursing program:
Skills Labs
Our skills labs mimic the hospital setting and feature all the high-tech medical equipment and supplies you’d expect to find in such an environment, as well as realistic medical manikins.
Combined with nursing theory knowledge learned in the online portion of our ABSN program, you’ll use this facility and its tools to gain nursing skills such as:
- Holistic assessment
- Nasogastric (NG) tube insertion
- Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring
- Wound care
Simulation Labs
Once you master nursing skills, you’ll put them to the test during nursing simulation labs. These are realistic patient care scenarios you’ll work through with other members of your nursing cohort. You’ll apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration to develop appropriate nursing responses. This environment is perfect for trying new things and learning what works well and what doesn’t.
At the end of every simulation, you’ll participate in debriefing sessions with instructors and classmates to reflect on the experience and learn from it without judgment.
Clinical Placements
Next, you can show off those nursing skills in a real-world environment. During clinicals, you’ll work under the guidance of experienced clinical instructors across a variety of specialties, including:
- Adult health
- Community health
- Mental health
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
During the ABSN clinical rotations, you’ll find your niche and place in the profession after graduation. With such a wide variety of clinical settings, it’s a great opportunity to try different specialties and find the one that interests you most. Clinicals are also invaluable opportunities for professional networking, which can help you during your job search.
Upon graduation with your BSN, you’ll be ready to sit for the NCLEX, after which you can obtain your state nursing license.
Check out these five reasons why a BSN is important for your future and your patients.
How a 1 Year Nursing Program Can Help You Advance Your Nursing Career
You already know that a 12-month BSN program can help you get on the fast track toward starting a nursing career. But what about advancing it? Unlike graduates of an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, BSN-prepared nurses can apply to graduate school after gaining some clinical experience.
You could earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree or both. With a graduate degree, you could pursue any number of positions, such as:
- Nurse manager
- Nurse administrator
- Certified nurse-midwife
- Nurse practitioner
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist
Ready to make a bold move for your future?
The University of St. Thomas welcomes inquiries from individuals eager to pursue a rewarding and meaningful career in nursing. With small class sizes, dedicated faculty members, and Academic Success Coaches, you’ll have exceptional support as you work through the 12-month curriculum. Plus, with no personal statement required, the admissions process is easier than you might think.
Contact our admissions team today to get started and explore your future in nursing.