An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers the potential to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in far less time than a traditional four-year BSN program. In fact, you might graduate in as few as 12 months after completing the prerequisites.
If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits, one option that could be a good fit for you on your journey to earning a nursing degree is an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. What is an ABSN program? It is a fast-track option that allows you to earn a B.S. in Nursing (BSN) more quickly than a traditional BSN program.
The University of St. Thomas Houston’s ABSN program can allow you to graduate in as few as 12 months, over four consecutive semesters, after completing any needed prerequisites. Despite the program’s accelerated nature, the ABSN degree program at UST offers a high-quality, comprehensive nursing education that fully prepares you to tackle modern challenges in nursing.
What Is an Accelerated BSN Program?
An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a nursing program that confers a BSN. It offers the same nursing curriculum as a traditional BSN program but compressed into a shorter timeframe.
Fast-track nursing programs exist because many individuals with non-nursing backgrounds may decide to transition to a nursing career. At the University of St. Thomas Houston, nursing students can graduate in as few as 12 months with the ABSN, meaning they can sit for the NCLEX and enter the nursing workforce sooner. An ABSN program can be appropriate for individuals with any type of non-nursing background.
How Does an ABSN Program Work?
How can a high-quality nursing degree be earned in as few as 12 months? This model of learning works because it builds upon students’ prior non-nursing education. You won’t have to take general education courses during your nursing program since you’ve already completed a degree or a minimum number of college credits. Plus, an ABSN program takes place over consecutive semesters. Without a summer vacation, you can graduate much more quickly and prepare to enter the nursing workforce.
What is an ABSN in nursing like for the students? It involves a fast-paced, rigorous curriculum. To support their success, ABSN students at UST receive exceptional support from our dedicated faculty members and Academic Success Coaches. The curriculum includes online coursework, in-person nursing skills and simulation labs, and clinical rotations.
Online Learning
Online classes teach nursing concepts. Our intuitive e-learning platform keeps you engaged with videos, discussion boards, and modules that guide you through each component of nursing theory. Plus, you can complete your coursework at your own pace, within the deadlines set by instructors, and from anywhere convenient for you. With our online nursing courses, you can review the learning materials as often as you need to feel confident with the concepts.
Skills and Simulation Labs
Skills and simulation labs allow you to implement your online work in a safe, no-risk environment. Our labs are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, giving our nursing students an edge when preparing for real healthcare settings.
In nursing skills labs, you’ll develop fundamental nursing skills.
These include:
- Performing head-to-toe assessments
- Checking vital signs, such as blood pressure
- Providing wound care
- Inserting nasogastric tubes
- Placing IV lines
You’ll be challenged to apply your new skills in nursing simulation labs. Simulation labs feature simulations of patient care scenarios like allergic reactions, drug overdoses, and heart attacks. These adverse events are simulated on the life-like medical manikins. You will practice applying the nursing process to work through each patient care scenario.
Clinical Rotations
Clinical rotations take the hands-on experience a step further. You’ll complete your rotations inside top Houston-area hospitals, where you’ll help actual patients under the supervision of an instructor. Clinical placements can pave the way for networking and building relationships with members of the local healthcare community.
Clinicals also provide opportunities to work in various nursing specialties. You may work shifts in specialties such as:
- Adult health
- Community health
- Mental health
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
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Benefits of an ABSN Degree
What is an ABSN program’s main benefit? Again, the time to completion offers a very compelling benefit. By graduating in as few as 12 months, you can sit for the NCLEX much sooner and start searching for your first nursing job in far less time than students in a traditional BSN program.
Additional benefits of an ABSN program include:
- Convenient coursework: While you’ll still be held accountable to deadlines, online classes offer a more flexible approach to nursing education.
- Strong clinical skills: ABSN programs emphasize experiential, hands-on learning, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop the strong clinical skills that healthcare employers seek.
- Flexible start dates: Traditional BSN programs typically offer two start dates yearly. In contrast, UST’s ABSN offers three start dates: January, May, and August.
- Multiple Program Locations: UST’s ABSN program offers three locations throughout Houston for in-person learning components. While we can’t guarantee you’ll get your first choice in location, our advisors do their best to consider students’ preferences.
- Close-knit cohort: An ABSN program’s schedule is intensive, and each cohort tends to be close-knit. During experiential learning opportunities, you’ll have plenty of chances to forge long-lasting connections with other cohort members.
FAQs About ABSN Programs
You may have some questions before applying to the ABSN program at UST. Your admissions advisor can provide any information you need.
What Is the Difference Between BSN and ABSN Programs?
The most significant difference between a traditional BSN and an accelerated BSN is the time it takes to earn the degree. Traditional BSN programs take four years to complete, but most ABSN programs take 12 to 16 months, not including prerequisites.
In addition, traditional BSN programs are intended for students with no previous college experience, requiring only a high school diploma for acceptance.
Conversely, ABSN programs are designed for students with non-nursing degrees or college credits. They are highly career-focused programs designed to jumpstart entry into the nursing workforce.
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ABSN or BSN: Which Is Right for You?
Determining which program is right depends mainly on your current education level, dedication, and time commitment. For example, a traditional program may be a better fit if you need to hold a full-time job while in school because it’s not as fast-paced.
If you are ready to become a nurse and already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or a minimum number of college credits, the ABSN program may be the quickest path to your new career. If you have fewer than 60 non-nursing college credits, however, a four-year BSN program is probably a better fit.
How Can I Get Into an ABSN Program?
Your first step should be to contact an admissions advisor at UST’s ABSN program. They’ll help you determine if you’re eligible to apply. The admission requirements for our program include:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (including a 3.0 GPA for all prerequisite science courses)
- A score of 80 or higher on the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) Admission Assessment exam (required 80% in each of the following sections: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Math, and A&P), or 78% on all sections of the TEAS exam
In addition, you may need to complete some prerequisites. Your admissions advisor will review your transcripts to determine which courses you need to take.
Why Is an ABSN Better Than an ADN?
It’s possible to become an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). However, a BSN is preferred because nurses with baccalaureate degrees are better prepared to facilitate better patient outcomes. Employers tend to prefer to hire BSN-prepared nurses. Furthermore, a BSN can pave the way toward graduate-level nursing education and potential career advancement.
Make a Bold Move for Your Future as a Nurse
The ABSN program at UST delivers values-based nursing education to prepare future nurses to tackle modern challenges in healthcare. Our nursing school is committed to supporting your success with small class sizes, a supportive faculty, and Academic Success Coaches who can work with you one-on-one.
Interested in graduating in as few as 12 months? Contact an admissions advisor today.