Program Overview
A faith-integrated path into nursing with standout outcomes — Gardner-Webb’s Hunt School of Nursing delivers a 16-month ABSN grounded in Christian values, with a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2024, no TEAS requirement for degree-holders, and a seamless pathway to its graduate nursing programs.
Gardner-Webb University’s Hunt School of Nursing offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) as a 16-month, on-campus program starting annually in January for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field. The program combines a previous bachelor’s degree with 60 credit hours of nursing courses to equal 120 total credit hours, preparing graduates to practice as registered nurses through coursework focused on clinical competence, therapeutic relationships, and social awareness grounded in Christian values.
Students completing the BSN and passing the NCLEX-RN may be seamlessly admitted into Gardner-Webb’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs.
Accreditation & Outcomes
The baccalaureate nursing program at the Hunt School of Nursing at Gardner-Webb University is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) with Continuing Accreditation status, and the program is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Gardner-Webb University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The program reports strong outcomes, including a 100% aggregate first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for BSN test-takers in 2024 and a 61% on-time completion rate for 2024-25. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
ABSN Admission Summary
Admission is selective: the Hunt School of Nursing Admissions Committee considers academic performance, completed coursework, and other factors, establishing waiting lists as necessary. Application is made through the Digital Learning Enrollment Office, and admission to the university does not guarantee acceptance into the Hunt School of Nursing.
Academic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any area of study from a regionally accredited institution, conferred prior to the admission application deadline
- Minimum GPA of 2.85 (4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework (applicants with fewer than 60 hours have their entire record evaluated)
- No TEAS entrance exam required for applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Students with a prior bachelor’s degree are not required to complete traditional undergraduate general education requirements at Gardner-Webb
Prerequisite Courses (minimum grade of C)
- BIO 105 Microbiology with lab (4 hours)
- BIO 203 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 hours)
- BIO 204 Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 hours)
- PSY 201 General Psychology (3 hours)
- PSY 206 Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
Only courses recognized as equivalent by Gardner-Webb satisfy requirements; the most recent course attempt is evaluated. Applicants previously unsuccessful in another nursing program within the past 5 years must submit a letter from the Program Chair/Director/Dean verifying academic integrity, professionalism, and safe practice.
Health and Safety Requirements (before clinical courses)
- Satisfactory health/physical report signed by a healthcare provider
- Satisfactory criminal background check (within 12 months of admission, via gardner-webbcompliance.com) for all states of residency during the past 10 years
- Satisfactory drug screen (no older than 30 days from the start of nursing coursework)
- American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider certification
- Required immunizations (DTP, TDAP, MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, two-step TB skin test or Quantiferon TB Gold, and annual influenza)
Curriculum
The ABSN requires 60 credit hours of nursing major coursework delivered over 16 months starting in January, combining clinical practicum experiences, laboratory components, and theoretical foundations across adult health, maternal-child nursing, mental health, community health, and professional nursing leadership. A minimum grade of B is required in each nursing course for progression; no more than one nursing course may be repeated, and a second grade below B results in dismissal.
Professional Development
NURS 261 – Introduction to Nursing
Introduces client-centered care, professional communication, and the nursing process within ethical and legal frameworks.
NURS 300 – Concepts in Professional Nursing (2 credits)
Examines professional nursing roles, scope of practice, and the evolution of nursing as a discipline.
NURS 307 – Communication Skills in Nursing (3 credits)
Develops written, oral, and electronic communication skills essential for safe documentation and team-based care.
NURS 442 – Nursing Trends and Issues (2 credits)
Explores transition-to-practice topics, delegation, management challenges, and current healthcare trends.
NURS 470 – Research for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
Introduces research methods and critical appraisal skills used to apply evidence to nursing practice.
Health Assessment & Foundations
NURS 239 – Nursing Assessment
Focuses on physical and psychosocial assessment, data collection, therapeutic communication, and cultural awareness.
NURS 240 – Nursing Assessment Lab
Provides hands-on practice of assessment skills to support individualized care planning.
NURS 262 – Introduction to Nursing Lab
Covers foundational nursing skills using simulation, with a focus on safety, technology, and quality improvement.
NURS 263 – Introduction to Nursing Practicum
Applies basic nursing skills in clinical settings, emphasizing teamwork, nutrition, and safe medication support.
Pharmacology
NURS 339 – Pharmacology in Nursing Practice (2 credits)
Covers medication classifications, dosage calculations, and the nurse’s role in safe medication administration and monitoring.
Adult Health Sequence
NURS 344 – Adult Health I (4 credits)
Addresses common adult health needs, focusing on homeostasis, comfort, and foundational nursing interventions.
NURS 342 – Adult Health I Lab (1 credit)
Uses simulation to apply adult health theory, pharmacology, and therapeutic nursing interventions.
NURS 343 – Adult Health I Practicum (2 credits)
Provides clinical experience caring for adults with physical and mental health conditions using evidence-based practice.
NURS 461 – Adult Health II (6 credits)
Focuses on complex acute and chronic adult conditions across care settings.
NURS 462 – Adult Health II Lab (1 credit)
Simulates complex adult care scenarios, emphasizing prioritization and interdisciplinary collaboration.
NURS 463 – Adult Health II Practicum (3 credits)
Offers immersive clinical experience with a mentor to prepare students for professional nursing roles.
Maternal-Child Nursing
NURS 361 – Maternal/Child Nursing (6 credits)
Introduces nursing care for women, newborns, and children, integrating growth, development, and cultural factors.
NURS 362 – Maternal/Child Nursing Lab (1 credit)
Simulates care of childbearing families, focusing on health maintenance and developmental needs.
NURS 363 – Maternal/Child Nursing Practicum (2 credits)
Provides clinical experience caring for children and families using patient-centered, evidence-based care.
Mental Health
NURS 345 – Mental Health Nursing (3 credits)
Teaches psychiatric nursing principles for promoting mental health and managing mental health disorders.
Community and Public Health
NURS 443 – Essentials of Public Health and Community Nursing (3 credits)
Introduces population health concepts, illness prevention, and health promotion in community settings.
NURS 444 – Essentials of Public Health and Community Nursing Practicum (1 credit)
Applies public health principles through supervised clinical experiences in community environments.
Leadership and Management
NURS 460 – Essentials of Nursing Management and Leadership (3 credits)
Explores leadership theories, management roles, and collaboration strategies in healthcare systems.
More detail is available in the Gardner-Webb ABSN catalog.
Clinical Requirements
The ABSN includes extensive clinical practicum hours integrated throughout nursing courses, providing real-world experience at local healthcare agencies in North Carolina across acute, chronic, and community-based settings.
Clinical practica include Introduction to Nursing (1 credit), Adult Health I (2 credits), Maternal/Child Nursing (2 credits), Adult Health II (3 credits), and Community Nursing (1 credit), complemented by laboratory and simulation components in assessment, foundations, adult health, and maternal-child nursing.
Clinical components emphasize therapeutic relationships, clinical judgment, and social awareness grounded in Christian values. Students must maintain BLS certification, current immunizations, drug screening within 30 days, a criminal background check within 12 months, and a health/physical report; clinical sites may impose additional requirements at the student’s expense and may deny access based on background or drug screening results.
Tuition
Gardner-Webb charges part-time undergraduate per-credit-hour rates for the ABSN. For 2025-2026, tuition is $520 per credit hour, so the 60-credit program totals $31,200 in tuition.
With required fees (such as a digital learning fee of $85 per semester), the estimated total tuition and fees are approximately $31,350-$32,000. Optional on-campus housing and meal plans are billed separately and are not part of tuition. North Carolina residents may qualify for Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS), and a monthly payment plan is available.
Confirm current figures via the official tuition and fees page.