Every ABSN student rotates through Mass General Hospital and the broader Mass General Brigham system — clinical access the Institute calls an advantage no other accelerated RN program in Massachusetts offers.
The MGH Institute of Health Professions’ Accelerated BSN sets itself apart through where its students train: all ABSN students complete clinical rotations at Massachusetts General Hospital, spending their first two semesters there, with access across the Mass General Brigham system — including Brigham & Women’s, Spaulding Rehabilitation, and Boston Children’s Hospital — plus community hospitals and health centers statewide.
Designed for college graduates with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, the program runs full-time in 12 months or part-time in 24, covering 54 credits.
It posts strong outcomes: a 91% first-time NCLEX pass rate (above state and national averages), a 96% employment rate, and a 95% graduation rate since inception.
Clinical groups stay small at a 1:6 faculty-to-student ratio, and U.S. News & World Report ranks it a Top 5 program in New England.
Curriculum
The 54-credit curriculum emphasizes foundational nursing skills, pharmacology, pathophysiology, mental health, and community health nursing, progressing across three semesters.
Semester 1
NS 501U Pathophysiology
Explores the fundamental disease processes in the human body through a systems-based approach. Students examine etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of common diseases, using selected case studies to link theoretical knowledge with practical understanding.
NS 500U Foundations of Nursing Practice
Introduces foundational nursing skills for diverse patient care, focusing on evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and wellness promotion. Emphasizes psychomotor skills, patient-centered communication, and understanding social determinants of health in care delivery.
NS 502U Health Assessment
Teaches students comprehensive health assessment techniques, including history-taking, physical exams, and documentation. Emphasizes holistic evaluation, considering lifespan diversity and cultural backgrounds.
NS 503AU Pharmacology
Covers pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic use of drugs in treating common conditions. Students develop clinical judgment to assess patient responses, manage side effects, and ensure safe administration of medications.
NS 504U Mental Health Nursing
Focuses on holistic approaches to mental health care, examining therapeutic relationships, treatment models, and nursing interventions. Includes simulation for practicing clinical skills in a mental health context.
NS 510U Adult and Population Health I
Introduces nursing care for adults and populations with acute and chronic health issues. Emphasizes the nursing process, clinical judgment, and social determinants of health in managing care for diverse patients in both acute and community settings.
Semester 2
NS 503BU Pharmacology
Advances pharmacological knowledge with a focus on complex patient conditions. Students examine drug interactions, side effects, and nursing responsibilities in managing pharmacotherapy for acute and chronic illnesses.
NS 520U Adult and Population Health II
Builds on Adult and Population Health I, deepening knowledge of disease prevention and care for complex conditions. Students apply clinical judgment to manage patient care, focusing on the impact of social determinants on health recovery and outcomes.
NS 521U Nursing Care of Childbearing Families
Explores nursing care for expectant families, covering prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum health. Emphasizes holistic assessment, cultural competence, and health education.
NS 522U Nursing Care of Children and Families
Uses a family-centered approach to deliver nursing care to children from infancy to adolescence. Focuses on developmental, bio-behavioral, and cultural factors affecting health and wellness in pediatric populations.
NS 530U Adult and Population Health III
Concludes the series on adult health by focusing on care for those with complex conditions. Students integrate clinical judgment and previous knowledge to manage acute and chronic health issues in diverse settings.
Semester 3
NS 523 Ethical and Political Influences on Nursing Care
Examines ethical and policy issues in nursing, focusing on decision-making in complex health care environments. Students analyze policy development, legal influences, and ethical principles shaping nursing practice.
NS 545 Nursing Theory, Research, and Leadership
Introduces nursing theory, research fundamentals, and leadership principles, preparing students for evidence-based practice. Students explore quality improvement, informatics, and develop a personal philosophy for their nursing career.
NS 540U Nursing Care of Complex Adult Health Conditions
Focuses on care for adults with multi-system health issues. Students design care plans addressing complex pathophysiology and psychosocial needs, emphasizing interdisciplinary teamwork.
NS 550U Transition to Nursing Practice
Facilitates the transition to professional practice with a precepted clinical experience. Students hone leadership skills and clinical judgment, coordinating care and making evidence-based decisions in real-world patient management.
More detail is available in the full-time curriculum catalog.
Learning Environment and Clinical Experience
Clinical placements begin in the first semester, with all students at Mass General Hospital for their first two semesters before branching across the Mass General Brigham network and community sites. The program includes a 180-hour one-to-one direct-care experience with a bachelor’s-prepared registered nurse, completed alongside clinical seminars and simulations. The Dr. Charles A. and Ann Sanders IMPACT Practice Center — home to the Ruth Sleeper Nursing Center for Clinical Education and Wellness — lets student teams from nursing and other health professions deliver supervised care to Greater Boston residents. High-tech simulation labs with acute-care rooms and high- and low-fidelity simulators round out hands-on learning, and clinical instructors work with small groups of five to six students.
Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive and runs through NursingCAS. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution (may be in progress, with proof of completion before matriculation) and submit:
- NursingCAS application and fee
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Two recommendation letters (one academic, one professional)
- Personal statement (approximately three pages, double spaced)
- Resume and MGH Institute custom questions
A minimum baccalaureate GPA of 2.70 is required (3.0 preferred); applications below 2.70 are not reviewed. The TEAS is not required. Each applicant meeting admission criteria is automatically considered for a need- and/or merit-based MGH IHP scholarship.
Prerequisite Coursework
All prerequisites must be completed with a C+ or higher within the last seven years (a waiver may be requested for extenuating circumstances), and all are offered online by the MGH Institute. No lab components are required.
- Chemistry (Basic Chemistry, Intro to Chemistry, or Intro to Chemistry for Health Professions)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II (or Human Anatomy and Human Physiology)
- Human Growth & Development (lifespan: physical, cognitive, and emotional)
- Microbiology (must include microbe content)
- Human Nutrition
- Statistics (must include inferential statistics)
Applicants may have up to two prerequisites outstanding at the time of application, but all must be complete before the program begins.
Tuition
Tuition is approximately $85,000 for the full program; confirm the current figure, as published rates change annually. Every admitted applicant who meets criteria is automatically considered for a need- and/or merit-based scholarship, and special tuition benefits are available for Mass General Brigham employees, affiliates and their families, employees and preceptors at clinical affiliation sites, and Institute alumni.
See the official program page for tuition, the tuition calculator, and financial-aid resources.
Format and Schedule
The program is delivered onsite, not online — classes are typically on campus about two days a week, with clinicals on other days, and students can expect to be in class or clinical five to six days per week. (Prerequisite courses, however, are offered online through the Institute.)
Because of the intensive schedule, students are strongly advised not to work during the full-time program; the part-time option spreads coursework, clinical, and lab over two to three days per week across 24 months.
Accreditation and Outcomes
The MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing prelicensure programs are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, and the school is recognized as an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. Graduates achieve a 91% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, a 96% employment rate (most within three to six months), and benefit from the Institute’s affiliation with the Mass General Brigham system.
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