Program Overview
A small-cohort, closely supported path into nursing with standout results — Shenandoah’s accelerated second-degree BSN posted a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2024, taught through small classes and small clinical groups with clinical training at INOVA and Valley Health System hospitals.
Shenandoah University offers an Accelerated Second Degree BSN for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The program runs about 15 months across four consecutive semesters, using small classes, small clinical groups, and close faculty support. Students train in specialized nursing labs with high- and low-fidelity simulation and skills practice, and the Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing reports a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2024, with strong first-time pass rates in prior years.
Accreditation
Shenandoah University’s baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The university is approved to offer nursing programs by the Virginia Board of Nursing and is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
ABSN Admission Summary
Shenandoah’s ABSN uses a second-degree plan focused on nursing major courses, with priority deadlines; the school may stop reviews once seats fill.
Admission requirements
- Earned baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution (or equivalent)
- Official transcripts from all prior colleges
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on all prerequisite courses
- Minimum 3.0 GPA across four core science prerequisites: Microbiology with lab; Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab; Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab; and Chemistry, biochemistry, or organic chemistry with lab
- TOEFL required for many non-native English applicants (minimum internet-based score of 83)
- Science courses older than 10 years do not count and must be repeated
Application timing
- Fall admission priority consideration: February 15
- Spring admission priority consideration: October 1
- The school may stop accepting applications after deadlines or once seats fill
Transfer credit
- The degree requires 121 total credits to graduate, with at least 30 credits taken at Shenandoah
- The ABSN track is designed to use prior-degree credits for many non-nursing requirements
Curriculum
The accelerated track totals 65 nursing credits and includes lecture plus clinical lab components (many courses include an NLAB clinical pairing). The program runs in four terms, with the sequence depending on a fall or spring start.
Prerequisites
- Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
- Chemistry, biochemistry, or organic chemistry with lab (3-4 credits)
- English Composition (3 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Psychology (general, developmental, or abnormal) (3 credits)
- Sociology (3 credits)
- Electives (25-26 credits), as needed to reach the stated prerequisite total
Core Nursing Courses
First Term
N 201 – Health Assessment (4)
Introduces techniques for conducting comprehensive, head-to-toe health assessments. Students learn to gather holistic physical and psychosocial data and communicate findings clearly in preparation for clinical practice.
N 209 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (4)
Focuses on how biological, psychological, and social factors shape mental health across the lifespan. Emphasizes therapeutic communication, caring behaviors, and nursing interventions that support emotional well-being in diverse populations.
N 218 – Foundations of Professional Nursing Concepts (4)
Covers essential nursing principles and basic clinical skills for safe, patient-centered care. Combines classroom learning and lab practice to begin building sound clinical judgment.
N 272 – Pathophysiology (3)
Examines how disease processes alter normal cell, tissue, organ, and body system function. Provides a framework for understanding clinical signs and symptoms in individuals with common health conditions.
N 283 – Nursing Pharmacology (3)
Introduces core pharmacologic concepts, major drug classes, and mechanisms of action. Highlights indications, adverse effects, and the nurse’s role in safe medication management across the lifespan.
Second Term
N 214 – Nursing Care of Adults I (5)
Covers nursing care for adults with common health problems such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances, respiratory and cardiac issues, diabetes, chronic illness, disability, and perioperative needs. Stresses coordinated, evidence-based care for diverse and older adult populations.
N 314 – Nursing Care of Adults II (5)
Builds on Adult I to address nursing care for patients with cancer, genetic disorders, hematologic conditions, and genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and endocrine diseases. Emphasizes managing complex, multi-system needs in acute and chronic settings.
N 319 – Ethics and Genomics in Nursing Practice (3)
Explores ethical principles and dilemmas nurses face in contemporary practice. Introduces foundational genetics and genomics concepts and their application in providing compassionate, holistic care.
N 306 – Nursing Theory, Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
Connects nursing theories and research methods to real-world clinical decision-making. Prepares students to interpret evidence and integrate best practices into patient care.
N 321 – Advancing Nursing Practice and Clinical Judgment (2)
Expands students’ skill sets with more advanced procedures and decision-making strategies. Uses lab and didactic work to deepen clinical judgment for direct care across the lifespan.
Third Term
N 307 – Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents (4)
Focuses on nursing care for infants, children, and adolescents in the context of their families and communities. Emphasizes individualized interventions grounded in growth and developmental needs.
N 308 – Nursing Care of Childbearing Families (4)
Covers maternal-newborn nursing care from preconception through postpartum and early newborn periods. Addresses family-centered care in varied birth and reproductive health settings.
N 315 – Nursing Care of Adults III (5)
Addresses care for adults with musculoskeletal, neurosensory, integumentary, and selected immune conditions, as well as rehabilitation needs. Builds on earlier adult health courses to strengthen coordination of complex, ongoing care.
Fourth Term
N 414 – Leadership and Management in Professional Nursing Practice (3)
Examines leadership and management theories relevant to contemporary nursing roles. Prepares students to function as ethical leaders and mentors within interprofessional teams.
N 406 – Community and Population Health (4)
Prepares students to plan and deliver nursing care in public and community health settings. Uses a population-focused lens to address health promotion, disease prevention, and collaboration with diverse communities.
NLAB 403 – Senior Nursing Capstone (3)
Provides an immersive clinical experience in a selected practice area under supervision. Supports the transition from student to independent nurse through advanced care coordination and professional role development.
N 407 – Advancing to Professional Practice (3)
Helps seniors consolidate nursing knowledge and refine critical-thinking skills in preparation for licensure. Focuses on readiness for entry-level practice and ongoing professional growth.
N 415 – Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Nursing (3)
Explores the nurse’s role in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery at local and global levels. Addresses emergency care delivery, systems coordination, and community impact during crises.
More detail is available in the Shenandoah nursing catalog.
Clinicals
Clinical learning starts early and continues across the program, with each clinical course paired with a lab/clinical component. Students complete clinical rotations in hospital and community settings, with partners including INOVA facilities, Valley Health System hospitals, and other regional hospitals and community sites. The program uses high- and low-fidelity simulation in its nursing labs, and the Senior Nursing Capstone term provides focused transition-to-practice preparation.
Tuition
The total estimated cost is about $75,880 in tuition plus required nursing program fees, based on published rates:
- Full-time tuition (12-18 credits): $18,165 per term; part-time tuition: $1,065 per credit
- Estimated tuition across four terms: $18,165 (fall) + $18,165 (spring) + ~$13,845 (summer, 13 credits) + $18,165 (final) = $68,340
- Accelerated Second Degree Nursing fee: $1,885 per term × 4 = $7,540
- Estimated total (tuition + nursing fee): ~$75,880
Confirm current figures via the official tuition and fees page.