Jun 14, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Nursing, Accelerated BSN (ABSN)

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The Rockhurst Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is available for students who already hold a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than nursing and desire to enter the profession of nursing by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. 

Since ABSN students have already completed general education requirements in their first Bachelor’s degree and are required to complete all prerequisite coursework before starting the program, the accelerated nursing curriculum includes only professional nursing courses and requirements. 

Rockhurst’s 60-credit ABSN program can be completed in four consecutive semesters over 16 months. The accelerated students transfer into Rockhurst their completed prerequisite credits and then complete the accelerated nursing program to earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Note that students who enter the accelerated BSN program are not eligible for graduation honors.

All post baccalaureate students interested in pursuing the accelerated program must have completed these prerequisite credits before admittance into the Accelerated BSN program:

  • Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 2 with lab (8 credits)
  • Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
  • General Chemistry or General/Organic/Biological Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
  • Statistics (3 credits)
  • Lifespan/Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
  • Nutrition (3 credits)

Note: all science courses must be completed within 7 years of entering the Accelerated BSN program

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. The student will practice safe, effective, holistic, and client/family-centered nursing with diverse individuals, families, and populations. 
  2. The student will demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and leadership in nursing practice. 
  3. The student will collaborate with other disciplines and organizations to develop interventions and strategies that optimize client outcomes from the local to global context. 
  4. The student will synthesize multiple ways of knowing to inform practice. 
  5. The student will use principles of quality improvement, evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, and cost effectiveness to enhance client outcomes, and participate in opportunities to engender change.  
  6. The student will communicate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members to foster a positive care environment.  
  7. The student will utilize various forms of technology to manage knowledge and support decision making.  

Accelerated BSN Program Requirements:

Semester I:

Semester II:

Semester III:

Semester IV:

Total Required:

Total nursing credits: 60

Total program credits: 120

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