Program Overview
A fast track into nursing with a built-in head start on graduate study — DeSales University’s 15-month ABSN offers an “ABSN+” option that embeds graduate courses and grants direct entry into an MSN or DNP, backed by a 92% five-year NCLEX average and accessible admission in the heart of the Lehigh Valley.
The DeSales University Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to earn their BSN in just 15 months. This full-time, in-person program begins every May, with applications due by January 1.
A Catholic university in the Salesian tradition, DeSales pairs rigorous clinical preparation with strong NCLEX outcomes — a five-year average pass rate of 92%, surpassing both state and national averages — and offers an ABSN+ pathway for students who want to move directly into graduate nursing study.
Accreditation & Outcomes
The Accelerated BSN program at DeSales University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. DeSales University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
DeSales ABSN students consistently achieve high NCLEX-RN pass rates, with a five-year average of 92%, surpassing both state and national averages. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the DeSales ABSN program is competitive, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
- Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field
- Minimum 2.75 GPA (3.0 for the ABSN+ option)
- Prerequisite coursework completed within five years of program entry, including anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, and nutrition
- Selected applicants are invited for an interview
Curriculum
The 63-credit curriculum covers essential nursing topics, including leadership, pharmacology, mental health nursing, and healthcare informatics.
NU 205 Fundamentals of Nursing
Introduces students to foundational nursing concepts, including the nursing process, basic care, therapeutic communication, and the nurse’s role. Includes 45 hours of lecture and 30 hours of lab.
NU 215 Health and Physical Assessment
Teaches comprehensive health assessment techniques, including history-taking, interviewing, and physical examination skills across the lifespan. Includes 45 hours of lecture and 30 hours of lab.
NU 220 Pharmacology
Explores pharmacological principles, drug classifications, mechanisms of action, and patient-centered medication administration. Integrates physiology, pathophysiology, and disease processes.
NU 230 Therapeutic Nursing Intervention
Provides theoretical and clinical nursing experience focusing on fundamental nursing skills and integrating theory with hands-on practice in various healthcare settings.
NU 305 Therapeutic Nutrition
Examines the role of nutrition in health, incorporating physiological, cultural, and spiritual perspectives. Covers wellness nutrition and therapeutic diets for various conditions.
NU 320 Health Risk Models and Research
Integrates health theories and research with nursing practice, emphasizing health risk reduction strategies for individuals, families, and communities.
NU 335 The Chronically Ill Adult
Focuses on nursing care for adults with chronic illnesses, emphasizing health promotion, maintenance, palliation, and rehabilitation. Includes clinical experience.
NU 340 Mental Health Nursing
Introduces principles of mental health nursing, therapeutic communication, and mental status assessment in various clinical settings.
NU 350 Nursing of the Childbearing Family
Explores family-centered nursing care from pre-conception to postpartum, with an emphasis on diverse cultural perspectives. Includes clinical experience.
NU 365 Nursing Care of Children
Covers pediatric nursing care, emphasizing developmentally appropriate interventions for children and families in wellness and illness settings.
NU 370 The Older Adult
Examines aging theories, health promotion, and coping mechanisms for physical and emotional changes in older adults. Addresses end-of-life issues.
NU 380 Healthcare Informatics
Introduces healthcare informatics, patient safety, data analytics, and regulatory policies impacting health information management.
NU 430 Nursing of the Acutely Ill Adult
Focuses on nursing care for adults with acute and complex illnesses, emphasizing critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration.
NU 440 Community and Public Health Nursing
Explores public and community health nursing concepts, emphasizing epidemiology, health promotion, and disease prevention.
NU 452 Senior Integrating Seminar
A capstone course that integrates clinical concepts, leadership theories, and preparation for the State Board examination.
NU 454 Clinical Nursing Internship
Provides an advanced clinical internship experience, allowing students to apply their knowledge in a supervised clinical setting.
NU 475 Creating a Healthy Lifestyle: Values Seminar & DeSales Experience
Explores motivations behind health practices, examining the formation of individual values and choices from an interdisciplinary perspective.
NU 476 Health Literacy in a Global Context
Focuses on contemporary health literacy issues, with opportunities for application through field experiences in the U.S. or internationally.
More detail is available in the DeSales nursing catalog.
ABSN+ Option
DeSales offers an ABSN+ pathway that allows students to take up to three graduate courses as part of their BSN curriculum. Qualified ABSN+ students gain direct entry into an MSN or DNP program, expediting their path to advanced nursing roles. The ABSN+ option requires a 3.0 GPA for admission.
Learning Experience
Students gain hands-on experience through clinical placements, simulation labs, and internships across the Lehigh Valley region. The program mirrors the traditional BSN structure but in an accelerated format, preparing students for clinical practice efficiently with strong faculty support.
The ABSN is delivered fully in person — all coursework, labs, and clinical experiences take place on campus and at clinical sites, not online.
Tuition
Total tuition for the ABSN program is $48,800, divided across four terms. This figure includes nursing coursework, fees, standardized program testing, and NCLEX preparation (it does not include housing, meals, or personal expenses).
Confirm current figures via the official tuition and aid page.
Additional Programs Offered
DeSales University also offers a part-time evening/weekend BSN program and graduate nursing degrees, including MSN and DNP options, providing pathways for continued nursing education and career advancement.