Nursing, A.B.S.N.
Accelerated B.S.N. Program for Students Who Already Have an Earned Bachelor's Degree and Are Not Registered Nurses
The A.B.S.N. program is taught over five sessions that are each approximately 10 weeks long, with a total program length of 14 to 15 months. The calendar of session dates is available from the School of Nursing.
Admission to the A.B.S.N. Program
To be admitted to the ABSN program, students
- Must have completed their bachelor’s degree prior to the A.B.S.N. start date
- Must have at least a 3.2 GPA
- Must have completed these courses, which do not have to be taken at GCU, prior to the A.B.S.N. start date. Minimum grade of B- in:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (GCU BI213 Human Anatomy & Physiology I); 4 credits
- Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (GCU BI214 Human Anatomy & Physiology II); 4 credits
- Microbiology with lab (GCU BI219 Microbiology); 4 credits
- Statistics (must include inferential statistics) (GCU MA103 Introduction to Statistical Thinking (preferred), or BU221 Business Statistics & Probability, PS232 Intro to Stats for the Beh Sciences, SO201 Social and Crime Statistics/CJ202 Social and Crime Statistics); 3 credits
- Chemistry with lab: Inorganic, Organic, or Biochemistry; a course that includes some biochemistry is preferred (GCU CH151 Chemistry for the Health Sciences); 4 credits
- Psychology: A course in developmental psychology (GCU PS221 Child & Adolescent Development, PS224 Adult Development, or PS227 Lifespan Development); 3 credits
Course Progression
The nursing curriculum is designed to progress logically from simple to more complex material and builds continuously on knowledge and skills from previous courses. All nursing courses must, therefore, be taken in sequence so that students achieve increasing levels of professional competency. A minimum grade of B- is required in all nursing courses for progression to the next courses in the sequence. Students may earn less than a B- in or withdraw from only one nursing (NU prefix) course only one time to remain in the program. The prerequisite requirements listed for each nursing course must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in the nursing course. To graduate from Georgian Court University with a B.S.N., students must meet the following requirement: the overall GPA must be 3.0 or higher with no nursing course below the grade of B-.
Other Requirements
Prior to entering the first clinical nursing courses, students must pass a Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers course, pass a health examination, meet all the health requirements of the program, procure professional liability protection insurance in the amounts specified by the clinical placement site, and undergo a criminal background investigation.
Upon successful completion of the program of studies for Nursing, the student will receive a B.S.N. in Nursing and will have given evidence of the following outcomes and goals:
- Demonstrate competent evidence-based nursing care, centered on enhancing the clinical judgment and decision-making ability to promote health & wellness across the lifespan.
- Apply critical thinking and clinical synthesis based on Watson's Theory of Caring to integrate knowledge from the humanities, liberal arts, social and natural sciences and the discipline of nursing to inform humanistic, holistic and equitable care to individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Utilize interprofessional communication and collaboration to foster a positive team dynamic in the delivery of person-centered care while recognizing the needs, preferences and value systems of the patients, resulting in mutually beneficial partnerships with the healthcare team.
- Integrate scholarly inquiry, evidence-based practice guidelines, professional standards and emerging fields of study for the delivery of high quality, safe patient care.
- Utilize data information, innovative emerging technologies, and effective communication to provide and evaluate patient care across the continuum.
- Analyze economic, legal and political factors in conjunction with local, national, and global trends in health policy to influence care delivery and the deployment of resources within the dynamics of the health-care system.
- Engage with compassion in health promotion, disease prevention and population-focused interventions while respecting the inherent dignity of all persons.
- Assume a leadership role within one's scope of professional nursing practice and apply leadership concepts, skills and decision-making in both delivering and evaluating patient care while incorporating the Mercy Core Values.
- Promote the image of nursing by modeling professional behavior, practicing self-renewal, and engaging in lifelong learning. Establish a supportive professional network and interprofessional partnerships to foster an environment of mutual learning, respect, integrity, and service.
- Demonstrate moral and ethical behavior within a context of rendering compassionate and inclusive care to diverse populations. Strive to eliminate health inequities and improve health outcomes while advancing equity across the health care continuum.
Major Sequence
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUA111 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NUA211 | Foundations of Professional Nursing | 4.0 |
| NUA221 | Health Assessment | 3.0 |
| NUA271 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care of Adult I | 6.0 |
| NUA275 | Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| NUA285 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3.0 |
| NUA322 | Nursing Care of Childbearing Families | 4.0 |
| NUA325 | Evidence-Based Behavioral Health | 5.0 |
| NUA343 | Evidence for Professional Nursing Pract | 3.0 |
| NUA371 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care Adult II | 8.0 |
| NUA421 | Evid-Based Nursing Practice in Community | 6.0 |
| NUA423 | Evid-Based Nursing Care of Childrear Fam | 4.0 |
| NUA471 | Evidence-Based Leadership & Management | 3.0 |
| NUA472 | Senior Seminar for Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NUA496 | Transition Into Professionl Nursing Prac | 6.0 |
| Related Courses | ||
| Foundational Course (required of students without bachelor's degree from GCU) 1 | 0.0-3.0 | |
| Total Credits | 64.0-67.0 | |
- 1
GCU will offer a section of PL354 during the A.B.S.N. program for students who have not satisfied this requirement.
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| NUA111 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NUA211 | Foundations of Professional Nursing | 4.0 |
| NUA221 | Health Assessment | 3.0 |
| NUA275 | Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| Credits | 13.0 | |
| Second Term | ||
| NUA271 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care of Adult I | 6.0 |
| NUA285 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3.0 |
| NUA325 | Evidence-Based Behavioral Health | 5.0 |
| Credits | 14.0 | |
| Third Term | ||
| NUA322 | Nursing Care of Childbearing Families | 4.0 |
| NUA371 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care Adult II | 8.0 |
| GCU Common Intellectual Experience (PL354) | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 15.0 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| NUA343 | Evidence for Professional Nursing Pract | 3.0 |
| NUA421 | Evid-Based Nursing Practice in Community | 6.0 |
| NUA423 | Evid-Based Nursing Care of Childrear Fam | 4.0 |
| Credits | 13.0 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| NUA471 | Evidence-Based Leadership & Management | 3.0 |
| NUA472 | Senior Seminar for Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NUA496 | Transition Into Professionl Nursing Prac | 6.0 |
| Credits | 12.0 | |
| Total Credits | 67.0 | |