Program Overview

---

Nursing, BSN (Accelerated Program)

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree or higher in a non-nursing field and are seeking a career change to nursing. This fast-track professional program allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in just 12 months.

How to Get in

To be eligible for the ABSN program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Application required: Meeting the requirements listed below does not guarantee admission. The program requires two applications: one to UWMadison and one to the School of Nursing for the Accelerated BSN program.
• Courses required to get in:
  • Chemistry: CHEM 103, CHEM 104, CHEM 108, CHEM 109
  • Microbiology: MICROBIO 101, CHEM 343, NUTR SCI 332
  • Human Anatomy: ANAT&PHY 337
  • Human Physiology: ANAT&PHY 335
  • Psychology: PSYCH 202
  • Sociology: Any SOC course that carries a social science attribute, ANTHRO 100, ANTHRO 104
  • Human Growth and Development: ED PSYCH 320, ED PSYCH 321, ED PSYCH 331, HDFS 262, HDFS 263, PSYCH 460, PSYCH 464
• The first four prerequisites (science courses) must be completed by the application deadline and within seven years of the program start date.
• All prerequisites must be completed before the program start date.
• GPA requirements to get in:
  • At the point of application submission (mid-September): A minimum combined prerequisite GPA of 2.75 on all prerequisites completed at the time of application, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all undergraduate college credits.
  • Prior to program start (early May): Have at least a C grade in each of the individual seven prerequisite courses, a minimum combined prerequisite GPA of 2.75 on all seven prerequisites, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all prior undergraduate college credits.
• Credits required to get in: Bachelors degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution, completed by the program start date.
• Other: Bachelors degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution, completed by the program start date.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. These requirements include:

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

School of Nursing Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree is a 53-credit curriculum comprised of didactic and experiential learning (i.e., clinical) nursing courses. The program builds on coursework students completed in their prior undergraduate and/or graduate degree(s) and the prerequisite coursework, including the university's General Education Requirements, completed in preparation for admission to the program.

Major Requirements

During the 12 months in the ABSN program, students complete 53 credits of required nursing coursework, including classroom-based active learning courses and experiential learning courses in the clinical environment. This nursing coursework will include Pathology and Pharmacology.

Nursing Course List

• NURSING 313: Foundations of Nursing Practice (3 credits)
• NURSING 314: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
• NURSING 315: Professionalism in Nursing Practice (1 credit)
• NURSING 316: Foundations of Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning (4 credits)
• NURSING 317: Pharmacology Essentials for Nursing Practice (2 credits)
• NURSING 318: Pathophysiology Essentials for Nursing Practice (3 credits)
• NURSING 323: Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals and Families (4 credits)
• NURSING 324: Meeting the Psychosocial Health Needs of Individuals, Families, and Communities (3 credits)
• NURSING 326: Foundations of Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning II (4 credits)
• NURSING 430: Perinatal Nursing (2 credits)
• NURSING 431: Nursing Care of Children & their Families (2 credits)
• NURSING 432: Population Health Nursing (2 credits)
• NURSING 433: Nursing Care of the Older Adult (2 credits)
• NURSING 436: Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals, Families, and Communities: Experiential Learning (2 credits)
• NURSING 438: Informatics and Health Technologies for Nursing Practice (1 credit)
• NURSING 443: Advanced Concepts in Complex Nursing Practice (5 credits)
• NURSING 445: Transformative Nursing Capstone (1 credit)
• NURSING 446: Advanced Concepts in Complex Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning (5 credits)
• NURSING 447: Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
• NURSING 448: Leadership in the Profession of Nursing (2 credits)

Residence and Quality of Work

• A cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for graduation.
• Students must earn a C or better in all nursing coursework.
• 30 credits of coursework must be completed in-residence.

University Degree Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree from UWMadison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the ABSN program, graduates will be able to:

1. Promote health and manage illness by providing safe, client-centered, culturally congruent care across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings.
2. Employ professional nursing leadership concepts to address patient care and system needs to promote quality health care outcomes and health equity for all.
3. Make effective use of technology for patient care, education, and management of health information.
4. Understand the roles and scope of practice of disciplines of the health care team and practice as an effective, collaborating member of the interprofessional team.
5. Use knowledge sources effectively to provide evidence-based care.
6. Identify health disparities and advocate for basic essential health services for all.
7. Allocate health care resources to maximize the health care benefit to clients, families, and community.
8. Assume fiscal and ethical responsibility for clinical practice.
9. Function as a member of the nursing profession within the community and the world.

Four-Year Plan

The ABSN program is for second-degree candidates and is a 53-credit program completed over 12 months, not four years.

Semester 1

• Summer Term:
  • NURSING 313: Foundations of Nursing Practice (3 credits)
  • NURSING 314: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NURSING 316: Foundations of Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning (4 credits)
  • NURSING 317: Pharmacology Essentials for Nursing Practice (2 credits)
  • NURSING 318: Pathophysiology Essentials for Nursing Practice (3 credits)
  • Total Credits: 15

Semester 2

• Fall Term:
  • NURSING 323: Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals and Families (4 credits)
  • NURSING 324: Meeting the Psychosocial Health Needs of Individuals, Families, and Communities (3 credits)
  • NURSING 326: Foundations of Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning II (4 credits)
  • NURSING 431: Nursing Care of Children & their Families (2 credits)
  • NURSING 433: Nursing Care of the Older Adult (2 credits)
  • NURSING 438: Informatics and Health Technologies for Nursing Practice (1 credit)
  • NURSING 447: Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
  • Total Credits: 18

Semester 3

• Winter Term:
  • NURSING 315: Professionalism in Nursing Practice (1 credit)
  • NURSING 436: Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals, Families, and Communities: Experiential Learning (2 credits)
• Spring Term:
  • NURSING 430: Perinatal Nursing (2 credits)
  • NURSING 432: Population Health Nursing (2 credits)
  • NURSING 443: Advanced Concepts in Complex Nursing Practice (5 credits)
  • NURSING 445: Transformative Nursing Capstone (1 credit)
  • NURSING 446: Advanced Concepts in Complex Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning (5 credits)
  • NURSING 448: Leadership in the Profession of Nursing (2 credits)
  • Total Credits: 20

Advising and Careers

The School of Nursings advising team helps students identify academic pathways and educational goals to aid in developing meaningful plans to ensure academic and career success.

Certification/Licensure

Earning the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is the first step toward becoming a Registered Nurse. Graduates must also take and pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to receive their nursing license and begin their careers as nurses.

NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

• April-September 2024: 100%
• April-September 2023: 96%
• April-September 2022: 85%

Accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited the ABSN program. The next accreditation review is scheduled for 20292030.