This article was updated on January 12, 2024

As the need for skilled nurses continues to rise, many individuals are considering a career in the field. If you are wondering how to take the first step toward a nursing career, it’s helpful to know that 72% of hospitals and healthcare settings say they strongly prefer to employ registered nurses who have earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, and 28% require their new hires to have a BSN.

Does that mean that individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a different field need to enroll in another 120-hour bachelor’s degree program? Fortunately, no. A unique accelerated degree program called an ABSN exists for professionals looking for a second career in the rewarding field of nursing.

Learn more about Rockhurst's online ABSN Program

What Is An ABSN?

If you’re a professional who hopes to transition into the medical field but you hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, you may think that you need to start your undergraduate education all over to become a nurse. An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree program can help you earn necessary nursing credentials in a much shorter period of time than a four-year bachelor’s degree. ABSN programs can prepare skilled nurses in just 16 months.

The ABSN offers an accelerated pathway for aspiring nurses. Whether your bachelor’s degree is in biology or business, education or engineering, an ABSN program provides the additional coursework needed to become employed as a skilled nurse.

The ABSN program curriculum is strategically designed to equip nurses with the theoretical and practical skills they will need in the field. Here’s a sample of the course offerings at an accredited ABSN program.

Foundations of Professional Nursing

This course provides a foundation in the essential principles, concepts and skills needed for the beginning nursing student who is learning the nurse generalist role. Emphasis is placed on the nurse's role in providing safe patient care, effective communication, patient teaching, health promotion and practically applying the theories of nursing to patient care. Students have the opportunity to apply fundamental nursing principles in lab and clinical settings.

Adult Health Nursing

This course provides a foundation in the essential principles, concepts and skills needed for caring for adult patients with health conditions and concerns. The course integrates the concepts of aging, preventative care, and restoration of health. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts and skills in the lab and clinical settings.

Maternal Child Health Nursing

This course prepares students to meet the nursing needs of childbearing and childrearing families. Students are given the opportunity to display their knowledge, skills and attitude in providing family-centered care in acute and community settings.

Population-Based Health Care

This course focuses on the nurse’s role in the health of populations and global society. Factors that impact the health of populations, including health promotion and risk reduction, are introduced. Areas of study include population/community assessment, epidemiology, environment, vulnerable populations, disaster management, global health and the impact of public policy on the health of populations. The practicum incorporates concepts and theories related to the health of populations in a variety of community settings.

Nursing Health Assessment Across the Lifespan

This course prepares students to perform comprehensive and focused physical health assessments for clients across the lifespan. This course includes assessments of health and illness parameters in clients using developmentally and culturally responsive approaches. Learning experiences occur in the classroom and clinical/laboratory.

Additional ABSN courses include:

• Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology
• Introduction to Statistics
• Professional Development
• Evidence-Based Practice

ABSN vs. BSN

A few primary distinctions exist between an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

ABSN

• Designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
• May take just 16 months
• 60 credit hours
• For individuals with a bachelor’s degree in another field, those general education credits are completed, so the ABSN degree program does not include them.

BSN

• Designed for students who only hold a high school diploma.
• Typically takes 4 years of full-time schooling
• 128 semester credit hours
• Includes approximately 60 hours of general education credits

	BSN	ABSN
Program Length	Four years	16 months
Semester Hours	~128 hours	~60 hours
Eligibility Requirement	High School Diploma	Bachelor's Degree

While the ABSN and BSN have many differences, they also share similarities.

• Clinical Hours: For example, both programs will include clinical hours in which students put into practice what they are learning in their courses. These clinical hours will be completed in environments such as hospitals, private medical practices and nursing homes.
• NCLEX-RN exam: Both ABSN and BSN programs prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination RN Examination (NCLEX-NGN exam) upon graduation.
• Nursing Community: Another similarity between the ABSN and BSN is the opportunity to build a network of nursing experts and peers. Whether a student enrolls in a traditional, on-campus BSN degree program having just graduated from high school or in an online ABSN after years of work in another field, pursuing a nursing degree will lead to connections with professors and students that can become a professional network.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs tend to be less expensive than a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and take much less time. However, the ABSN admission requirements are more rigorous than a traditional BSN, with a higher undergraduate GPA expectation and college science course prerequisites for admission . Consider the cost, length and admissions requirements for entering an ABSN degree program.

How much does an accelerated BSN cost?

Nursing degree programs vary widely when it comes to cost. You can expect to spend anywhere from $17,000 to over $100,000 for your ABSN degree.

How long is an accelerated BSN program?

ABSN programs tend to take anywhere between 11 and 18 months of full-time study.

What are the ABSN requirements?

There are several requirements when it comes to qualifying for an ABSN program. Those requirements include coursework, a prior bachelor’s degree and a grade point average (GPA) standard.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree in any field, applicants for an ABSN program need to have completed (or be in the process of completing) the following courses. For those who do not have these courses in their transcript, many ABSN applicants can work with the enrollment advisor to take these classes before starting their ABSN program. For example, some schools may require:

• Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab
• Microbiology with lab
• General Chemistry or Organic Chemistry with lab
• Nutrition
• Statistics
• Life Span/Developmental Psychology

The GPA requirement for the applicant’s prior bachelor’s degree will vary based on the school, but a cumulative 2.7 GPA or above is a useful reference point. Applicants may also need to submit a resumé detailing their prior work experience.

Is an ABSN worth it?

ABSN costs you money, time, and effort. On top of that, some ABSN programs require that students don’t work for the duration of the program so that you can focus on learning the material and performing well during your clinical hours. The question of if an ABSN is “worth it” is really an individual one.

In the long run, earning an ABSN creates earning opportunities that far outweigh any income lost during the program duration. Graduates with a BSN are almost always able to earn more as registered nurses than their counterparts who don’t have the degree. Many RNs with an ABSN find that the difference in salary pays for the cost of their program tuition within just a year of working as a nurse.

An ABSN also decreases the amount of time you need to spend in nursing school before you can start working full-time as an RN. By choosing an ABSN, you’re jumping into the nursing workforce more quickly and could be adding years to the span of your nursing career. In the long run, an ABSN is an investment in yourself that has a high return potential. For many who choose this option, there’s no doubt that the ABSN is worth it.

What is the Job Outlook for ABSN Degree Holders?

The job outlook for skilled nurses with a BSN degree is very positive. Because the United States is currently facing a nursing shortage, there are many opportunities and career paths for ABSN graduates to consider.

Employment of RNs will increase by 6% between 2022 and 2032, which is higher than the national average of 3% for all occupations.

(Site: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects)

The aging Baby Boomer population requires more complex health care.

• 4.7 million nurses are expected to retire by 2030, which is faster than the expected rate of new nurses joining the field
• A shortage of nursing faculty is forcing some nursing schools to cap their admission numbers

According to the BLS, the median salary for registered nurses is $89,010. Consider some of the industries with the highest employment levels for registered nurses and the associated annual mean wages:

• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 30.85% of industry employment, $90,600
• Offices of Physicians: 7.5% of industry employment, $79,810
• Home Health Care Services: 11.31% of industry employment, $82,920
• Outpatient Care Centers: 14.87% of industry employment, $97,200
• Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): 9.28% of industry employment, $77,190

While all states across the US are regularly hiring nurses and in need of an ongoing trained, skilled nursing workforce, there are several states with exceptionally high levels of employment of registered nurses. Those states, with their correlating employment per thousand jobs and annual mean wages, are:

• California: 18.46, $133,340
• New York: 20.91, $100,130
• Texas: 17.78, $84,320
• Pennsylvania: 23.74, $80,630
• Florida: 21.46, $79,910

When it comes to the highest-paying states for registered nurses, the following five states have the largest annual mean wages:

• California: $133,340
• Hawaii: $113,220
• Oregon: $106,610
• Massachusetts: $104,150
• Alaska: $103,310

Learn more about Rockhurst's online ABSN Program

While many registered nurses work in traditional, familiar settings like hospitals or clinics, many more workplaces employ nurses. These are some of the opportunities available to ABSN-degree holders:

• Bedside registered nurse: This is likely the first role that comes to mind when hearing the word “nurse”. They work in direct care and are often employed by hospitals or residential care facilities.
• Triage nurse: These nurses work in doctor’s offices, hospital emergency rooms, urgent care clinics and trauma centers (as well as other healthcare settings), triage nurses assess the care a patient requires by evaluating present illness and reviewing medical history.
• Public health nurse: Work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or agencies, public health nurses work to address inequities that communities or populations face. They work with community health in mind and are interested in systemic health issues.
• School nurse: These nursing professionals support students in school settings by providing the first line of emergency care and promoting health initiatives across the student body.
• Nurse manager: These nurses work as supervisors in hospitals or clinical facility departments. They often serve as treatment decision resources, oversee staff members and coordinate schedules. Collaboration with fellow medical professionals like physicians is also a large part of their role.
• Nurse educator: These nurses often work within nursing schools as teachers as well as evaluators and creators of their nursing school’s curriculum. While an ABSN is a great first step for aspiring nurse educators, they will likely need to earn a master’s or doctoral degree as well.
• Clinical research nurse: These nurses provide direct patient care to individuals who are participating in clinical trials while also performing research. They may be employed by laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, research organizations, and clinical research units in hospitals.
• Informatics nurse: Often employed by hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, or research organizations, informatics nurses work with health data to optimize electronic medical records in the interest of improving the patient experience. They may train fellow nurses in medical technology as well.
• Legal nurse consultant: Typically working in a self-employed capacity, legal nurse consultants are hired by legal practices and insurance companies to aid attorneys who are working on healthcare-adjacent lawsuits.

How to Become a Nurse

The steps to becoming a registered nurse with a BSN can vary slightly according to the educational pathway you choose and the state that you live in.

The steps to become a nurse generally include:

1. Complete an educational program in nursing, such as a BSN or ABSN
2. Study for and successfully pass the NCLEX-NGN (formerly known as the NCLEX-RN) exam to become licensed in your state of practice
3. Pay your state’s licensing fee and send in your licensure application

This process can take anywhere from 12 months to 4 years, depending on which program you choose, whether or not you pass the NCLEX-NGN on the first try, and the wait times in the state where you apply to practice.

What Comes after BSN?

The BSN is not necessarily the final step in a nurse’s continuing education. ABSN graduates must complete any continuing education hour requirements in their state in order to practice as a nurse. In addition, graduate-level and postgraduate coursework opens up new opportunities. Nurses with an MSN (Master’s of Science in Nursing) or DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) -level education can practice as primary care providers, assessing and diagnosing patients as well as providing treatment plans and prescribing medications.

Options for advanced practice nursing education include:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs, which can lead to nurse practitioner (NP) roles in a wide array of specialties
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs
• Post-graduate certificate programs

Nurses who choose to continue their education increase their earning potential as well as the autonomy of their practice.

Take the Next Step Toward an In-Demand and Flexible Career With an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Are you ready for a career change into nursing? Do you have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing? Does the nursing shortage and the idea of a new role within the nursing field inspire you to a meaningful career change? If so, the hybrid Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) at Rockhurst University may be the right degree program for you.

The online ABSN at Rockhurst University takes just 16 months and was created with bachelor’s degree holders in other fields in mind. The program features 100% online coursework and a 10-day on-campus clinical immersion. The clinical immersion experience allows students to hone their skills in a simulation lab and enter real clinical settings so that hands-on training is quickly integrated into the degree program.

During the 10-day immersion, students:

• Receive hands-on instruction from Rockhurst faculty
• Practice their skills
• Complete high- and low-fidelity simulation
• Demonstrate competencies in various critical elements

Clinical placement specialists ensure a smooth clinical placement experience for the hours students need to complete. Depending on the student’s area of interest, the clinical placement team will work to find an ideal setting for clinical hours. In any clinical hours setting, students will work under the direct supervision of a licensed RN preceptor and the indirect supervision of a Rockhurst clinical faculty supervisor.

ABSN Program Director Lindsey Carlson and Associate Dean of Nursing/Chief Academic Administrator of Nursing Kristina Henry, joined by Hybrid ABSN Students Carly Tomlin and Abbey Clark, to share their goals, experiences and what students can expect from Rockhurst University’s Hybrid Accelerated BSN program.

The Rockhurst ABSN curriculum introduces students to a multi-disciplinary approach that takes a wide view of the possibilities as a nurse. A Jesuit institution, Rockhurst University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Rockhurst University and Saint Luke’s ™ College of Nursing and Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Students from Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Vermont are welcome to apply to the ABSN program. Applicants must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field with a 2.7 cumulative GPA or higher
• Submit a resumé
• Complete prerequisites:
  • Must complete 2 of 4 science prerequisites for your application to be reviewed
  • Science credits must be no older than 7 years; older credits trigger an ATI TEAS admission exam
  • Cannot repeat science courses more than once
  • Minimum of grade C in all prerequisite coursework

Learn more about the hybrid ABSN program at Rockhurst University.