Program Overview
Built in collaboration with Stormont Vail Health — clinicals run at its Magnet-designated hospital and the system offers jobs to graduates — delivered in a work-friendly format with 100% online coursework and clinicals scheduled over long weekends. 100% of graduates are employed within four months.
The Accelerated BSN program at Baker University lets students complete a nursing degree in just 14.5 months. Created in collaboration with Stormont Vail Health to expand the nursing workforce, it’s designed for career changers who want to keep working: didactic courses are 100% online, while in-person clinical experiences take place at a Magnet-designated hospital and are scheduled over long weekends to minimize time away from a current job.
Small cohorts (about 30 students per theory class and a 1:10 student-to-faculty ratio in clinicals) ensure personalized attention
First-time NCLEX pass rates average around 95% (well above state and national levels), and 100% of graduates are employed within four months, with Stormont Vail Health offering jobs to Baker BSN graduates.
Accreditation and Outcomes
Baker University’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN), and Baker University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN, with first-time pass rates averaging around 95%, and 100% of graduates employed within four months of graduation.
Admission Prerequisites
Prerequisites may be completed at Baker’s Baldwin City campus or transferred from a two- or four-year regionally accredited institution (minimum grade of C). Applicants also submit personal essays, a resume, and letters of recommendation.
General Education Prerequisites (3 credit hours each unless noted)
- Public Speaking
- English I
- English II
- General Psychology
- Developmental Psychology / Human Development
- College Algebra
- Statistics
- Humanities/fine arts/religion/social science electives (9 hours; no more than 6 in any one discipline)
Science Prerequisites (4 credit hours each unless noted)
- Anatomy with Lab
- Physiology with Lab
- Microbiology with Lab
- Chemistry with Lab
- Nutrition (3 credit hours)
Science prerequisites must be completed within the past 10 years, though considerations may be made for relevant work experience. Nursing course transfers must have been completed within one year of ABSN enrollment.
Curriculum
The curriculum delivers 62 credit hours of nursing coursework within a total of 120 credit hours for the BSN, blending 100% online didactic instruction with in-person clinicals at a Magnet-designated hospital. It is organized across four levels.
First Level (14.5 hrs)
NU 301 Pharmacology I (1)
This course lays the groundwork for safe medication administration by exploring drug classifications, pharmacogenomics, and technology-driven resources. Students learn evidence-based calculation methods and nursing implications to enhance therapeutic care in clinical settings.
NU 305 Pathophysiology (4)
Building on anatomy and physiology, this course delves into the altered biological processes underlying common diseases. It emphasizes theory-based assessments, genetic influences on health, and risk-factor reduction through health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
NU 324/324L Foundations of Nursing (5 + 1.5 clinical)
Students are introduced to the nursing role, nursing process, and core concepts such as safety, communication, culture, and leadership. Laboratory practice reinforces evidence-based, patient-centered care and the critical thinking skills needed for clinical judgment.
NU 330 Health Assessment across the Lifespan (3)
Focusing on holistic health histories and physical examinations, this course teaches techniques for distinguishing normal from abnormal findings across all age groups. Hands-on labs develop students’ ability to perform, document, and interpret comprehensive head-to-toe assessments.
NU 323 LPN Bridge (4)
Designed for Licensed Practical Nurses entering the BSN track (taken in place of NU 324/324L), this bridge course reviews foundational nursing concepts — including the nursing process, professional accountability, and evidence-based practice — while fostering critical thinking in clinical decision-making.
Second Level (16 hrs)
NU 381 Pharmacology II (2)
A continuation of Pharmacology I, this course deepens students’ knowledge of drug mechanisms and classifications, with a focus on pharmacogenetics and safe, technology-enhanced medication management in nursing practice.
NU 375/375L Nursing of Childbearing Families (3)
This family-centered course covers care from preconception through early neonatal periods, emphasizing cultural sensitivity, genetics, and patient education. Students apply evidence-based practice and ethical principles in specialty clinical settings to support maternal and infant health.
NU 383/383L Nursing of Adults I (5)
Students apply foundational knowledge to care for adult patients undergoing medical or surgical interventions. Emphasis is placed on compassionate, culturally tailored care, health promotion, and clinical judgment based on current research.
NU 393/393L Nursing of Persons with Mental Health Alterations (3)
This course equips students with therapeutic communication skills and pharmacological knowledge to care for clients with mental health disorders. It integrates safety, cultural awareness, and ethical considerations in assessment, intervention, and outcome evaluation.
NU 384L Integrated Clinical for Level II (3 clinical)
In this clinical immersion, students synthesize care-provider, manager, and professional roles across acute, pediatric, and community settings. They practice holistic assessment, critical judgment, and leadership principles in caring for patients with complex health needs.
Third Level (17.5 hrs)
NU 418 Research, EBP and Informatics (3.5)
Introducing nursing research and informatics, this course teaches students to appraise scientific evidence, perform literature searches, and use data-analysis software (SPSS, Excel, EHR). Ethical issues in human-subjects research and quality improvement are also highlighted.
NU 419/419L Nursing of Adults II (5)
Students build on Level II competencies to care for adults with chronic and complex illnesses. Emphasis is on synthesizing evidence for advanced clinical judgments, promoting health, and preventing disease across acute and community settings.
NU 414/414L Nursing of Communities (3)
Focusing on population health, students learn community assessment, epidemiology, public health promotion, and policy advocacy. Clinical and didactic components prepare them to address the needs of vulnerable groups and influence health outcomes at the community level.
NU 425/425L Nursing of Children (3)
Covering pediatric growth, development, and family-centered care, this course emphasizes health promotion, chronic and acute care, and palliative interventions. Students apply genomic and cultural insights to make age-specific clinical decisions.
NU 421L Integrated Clinical for Level III (3 clinical)
This clinical practicum integrates obstetrical, pediatric, and medical-surgical nursing in diverse settings. Students refine safe technology use, interdisciplinary communication, and culturally sensitive care for patients across the lifespan.
Fourth Level (14 hrs)
NU 476 Leadership and Management in Professional Nursing (3)
Preparing students for the RN role, this course explores leadership theories, conflict resolution, team dynamics, and resource management to drive quality improvement and patient safety across healthcare systems.
NU 485 Nursing of Adults III (3)
Focusing on critical-care nursing, students learn to assess and manage adults with life-threatening conditions. The curriculum incorporates AACN evidence-based modules, ethical considerations, and holistic approaches to complex clinical judgments.
NU 486 Transition to Professional Practice (2)
This seminar guides students through healthcare trends, ethical-legal issues, and political advocacy as they prepare to assume professional nursing roles. Evidence-based practice underpins discussions of quality improvement and nursing education.
NU 489L Professional Nursing Clinical Practicum (2 clinical)
In this advanced practicum, students function as professional nurses in adult acute-care and population-health settings. They perform comprehensive assessments, apply leadership skills, and integrate quality-improvement strategies in real-world care delivery.
NU 498L Capstone Clinical Experience (4 clinical)
As the program’s culminating immersion, students coordinate and implement safe, evidence-based care across the continuum. They lead interdisciplinary teams, manage patient-care technologies, and demonstrate readiness for independent nursing practice.
More detail is available in the Baker University School of Nursing catalog.
Clinical Experience
Students master foundational skills in high-fidelity simulation labs and a 15-bed skills lab — on the same equipment used in their clinicals — before entering rotations totaling hundreds of hours.
In-person clinical experiences take place at a Magnet-designated hospital (through Baker’s partnership with Stormont Vail Health) and are scheduled over long weekends to minimize disruption for those working part-time. Weekly Zoom meetings, student success coaches, faculty advisors, and student tutors support students throughout.
Tuition
Full-time ABSN tuition is $9,875 per semester, so the four-semester program totals approximately $39,500 in tuition (about $44,000 with fees).
Additional program fees include ATI testing ($400-$900 per semester), Skyscape access ($135), an educational resource fee ($100/semester), liability insurance ($15/year), a $125 graduation fee, and licensure-related costs (NCLEX processing $200, KSBN application $100-$125, background checks $58, transcript fees $15).
Because didactic coursework is online, there’s no on-campus room and board built into the cost. Grants, loans, and scholarships are available.
Confirm current figures via the official nursing tuition and aid page.
Related Programs
Baker University also offers a BSN + Bachelor’s in Public Health dual degree and Master of Science in Nursing programs in Nursing Education or Administration for graduates who want to specialize or advance.