Program Overview
- Duration: 12 Months
- Tuition: $27,590
- Location: Omaha, NE
- Application Deadline: July 1
- Program Web Page
The University of Nebraska Medical Center offers a 12-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing designed for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The program begins each January and runs continuously through December using a compressed schedule.
Students complete the same core nursing curriculum as traditional BSN students but in an intensive format with shorter academic sessions.
Graduates from the College of Nursing achieved a 97.64% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2024.
The program delivers 765 hours of clinical training across hospitals and health systems.
Students train at state-of-the-art simulation labs located on four campuses: Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, and Norfolk.
ABSN Admission Summary
Admission is competitive and focuses heavily on prerequisite GPA and overall academic strength. Applicants must meet minimum academic standards and complete all required foundation courses before enrollment.
Key Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in prerequisite coursework
- Minimum grade of C in each prerequisite course
- Completion of 58 prerequisite credits
- Active CNA certification before starting the program
- NursingCAS application submission
- Interview for qualified applicants
- Personal statement and positive references
Application Timeline
- Application Opens: March 1
- Application Deadline: July 1
- Program Start: January
Transfer Credit Policy
- Transfer credits from accredited institutions may be accepted
- Final approval rests with the College of Nursing
- Transfer grades may factor into admission review
English Proficiency
- TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE required for non-native English speakers
- Test scores must be within five years
Prerequisite Coursework
Students must complete at least 58 credit hours before entering the nursing curriculum. Courses marked with an asterisk must be completed within seven years.
Required Courses
- English Composition I & II
- Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Sociology
- Human Growth and Development*
- Chemistry*
- College Algebra*
- Statistics*
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II (or separate Anatomy and Physiology)*
- Microbiology*
- Nutrition*
- Ethics
- Humanities elective
- Culture/Race/Ethnicity/Gender course
- Family or Human Behavior course
- Political Science or Social Organization course
- Free elective
These courses build the scientific and behavioral foundation needed for success in the compressed nursing sequence.
Curriculum
The Accelerated BSN follows the traditional BSN framework but compresses it into four academic blocks:
- Fall (16 weeks)
- Early Spring (9 weeks)
- Late Spring (10 weeks)
- Summer (10 weeks)
Coursework includes the following:
NRSG 391 Honors Nursing Research
Students engage in faculty-led research projects to explore nursing research principles and skills. Coursework includes writing proposals, abstracts, and presenting findings. Completion of 4 credits earns a transcript designation as an Honors Nursing Research Scholar.
NRSG 393 Introduction to Primary Care Nursing
This course introduces the role of nurses in primary care and managing chronic diseases. Students focus on communication, safety, collaboration, ethics, leadership, and healthcare systems. Emphasis is placed on improving care delivery in primary care settings.
NRSG 394 Hematology/Oncology Care Considerations
Students gain deeper insight into caring for patients with cancer across the continuum from prevention to end-of-life care. Topics include cancer biology, treatment modalities, survivorship, and the professional role of oncology nurses. Ethical, legal, and financial concerns are also addressed.
NRSG 395 School Health Nurse Scholar
This course focuses on school health nursing, emphasizing the nurse’s role in health promotion and system improvement within school settings. Students observe and analyze key nursing concepts like care coordination, communication, and healthcare policy in real-world environments.
NRSG 413 Population Centered Care
Students apply public health and nursing concepts to vulnerable populations in diverse clinical settings. The course emphasizes health disparities, care coordination, emergency preparedness, and community health partnerships. Learning includes clinical experiences, case studies, and population data analysis.
NRSG 415 Policy and Issues in Healthcare Delivery
Students examine how social, political, and economic forces influence healthcare policy and system operations. The course promotes leadership development through critical analysis of health care issues and policy-making processes. Selected case studies help illustrate key concepts.
NRSG 419 Transition to Professional Nursing
Students complete a clinical practicum with a nurse preceptor to strengthen clinical decision-making and leadership skills. Emphasis is placed on delivering safe, high-quality care and integrating professional nursing roles through evidence-based practice and collaboration.
NRSG 421 Patient Centered Care IV
Students focus on managing complex patients in unstable conditions using clinical reasoning and nursing research. Coursework emphasizes quality, safe patient care, integration of prevention strategies, and achieving positive patient and family outcomes across the life course.
NRSG 422 Patient Centered Care Clinical IV
In clinical practice, students deliver high-quality care to complex patients and families in unpredictable health situations. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, evidence-based care, prevention strategies, and informatics use in patient-centered environments.
NRSG 351W Health Promotion
Students apply epidemiological principles to develop health promotion strategies for individuals, families, and age groups. The course focuses on building health goals using patient profiles and healthcare concepts, designed for registered nurses expanding their practice skills.
NRSG 386W Evidence-Based Nrsg Pr
This course introduces students to evidence-based practice and research methods in nursing. Students learn how to identify, appraise, and apply the best available evidence to clinical practice. Focus is on practical research skills to improve patient outcomes.
NRSG 426W Nursing Interventions and Healthcare Outcomes
Students apply assessment strategies and chronic care models to enhance patient and family self-management. Emphasis is placed on proposing improvements in nursing interventions using evidence-based practices, healthcare infrastructure analysis, and critical thinking skills.
NRSG 443W Population Centered Care
Students integrate nursing concepts to care for vulnerable populations across healthcare settings. The course emphasizes care coordination, emergency preparedness, environmental health, and the use of epidemiological data. Community partnerships and public health roles are central learning components.
NRSG 451W Leadership in Healthcare Delivery I
Students explore leadership, management, and professionalism within internal healthcare system structures. Topics include delegation, interprofessional collaboration, quality and safety, and evidence-based care. Problem-solving and critical thinking are major themes for future nurse leaders.
NRSG 452W Leadership in Healthcare Delivery II
Students study the external forces shaping healthcare policy and delivery, including environmental, social, and political influences. Coursework focuses on advocacy, legislative processes, policy evaluation, and global health needs. Clinical experiences enhance leadership development in healthcare settings.
The program consists of two 16-week semesters and one 13-week summer session, with full-time and part-time options available to accommodate different student needs.
More details about the curriculum here.
Clinical Training
Students complete 765 hours of supervised clinical training. Clinical rotations occur at regional hospitals, medical centers, and community health agencies.
Training includes:
- Acute care hospital rotations
- Community health placements
- Specialty experiences in maternal and pediatric care
- High-fidelity simulation lab practice
Simulation centers provide structured skills development before students enter patient care settings. Faculty supervision ensures consistent clinical standards across all campus locations.
Tuition and Estimated Cost
The estimated total tuition for Nebraska residents is approximately $27,590 based on 62 credit hours at $445 per credit. Nonresident tuition is approximately $74,275 based on $1,198 per credit.
Additional required student account fees total approximately $11,625 across the program year. These include lab, technology, and learning system fees.
Estimated Tuition (Tuition Only):
- Resident: ~$27,590
- Nonresident: ~$74,275
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The BSN program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. This accreditation confirms that the curriculum meets national academic and professional standards for baccalaureate nursing education.