The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) is a 12-month, full-time program designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who are eager to transition into the nursing profession.

At a Glance

  • Accelerated Nursing Career: 12-month Accelerated BSN program designed for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

  • 56-Credit Intensive Curriculum: Focused on essential nursing knowledge, clinical skills, and evidence-based practice.

  • 650+ Clinical and Simulation Hours: Exceeding D.C. Board of Nursing requirements with hands-on training.

  • Flexible Hybrid Learning Format: Combining online coursework with on-campus labs and clinical experiences.

  • Diverse Clinical Placements: Clinical opportunities in hospitals, schools, and community settings with trusted healthcare partners.

Program Details

This intensive three-semester program provides students with the knowledge, clinical experience, and skills needed to become a registered nurse (RN). Upon completion, graduates will earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN® licensure exam.

The ABSN program blends online coursework with hands-on clinical training to provide a comprehensive nursing education:

  • Online, asynchronous coursework designed and delivered by CSON faculty.
  • On-campus sessions for simulation labs, procedural skills training, and competency validation.
  • Clinical practice rotations at hospitals, schools, and community centers with CSON’s respected clinical partners.
  • Simulation and clinical experiences that exceed the 650-hour requirement set by the D.C. Board of Nursing.
Thumbnail for video Accelerated BSN: Become a Nurse in One Year | Catholic University
Program Outcomes

Graduates of the baccalaureate program in nursing are expected to achieve the following outcomes upon completion:

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice

Demonstrate a systematic approach (integration, translation and application) to critical thinking and clinical reasoning, inclusive of knowledge from nursing, other disciplines, theology, philosophy, and the other liberal arts and natural and social sciences to make judgments and create innovations in nursing practice for the common good.

2. Person-Centered Care

Provides holistic, individualized, just, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive care that is respectful of the dignity of the human person, promotes human flourishing and is consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

3. Population Health

Engage in collaborative activities and evidence-based practice to promote health, prevent disease, and manage risks, considering social determinants of health, across the continuum of care and levels of prevention with both traditional and non-traditional partnerships from diverse communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities, and others.

4. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline

Synthesize, interpret, and apply nursing knowledge to improve health and transform health care.

5. Quality and Safety

Use principles of safety, including improvement science to provide quality care that minimizes the risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

6. Interprofessional Partnerships

Demonstrates interprofessional teamwork and intentional collaboration with colleagues, patients, families, and communities that value engagement with the city, nation, Church and world through participatory decision-making related to healthcare needs to optimize, enhance and improve health outcomes.

7. Systems-Based Practice

Incorporate strategies of coordinated cost-effective, proactive, and efficient care within complex healthcare systems based on Catholic values to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.

8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies

Use information and communication technologies to gather data, drive decision making, and provide care respecting the dignity of the human person that aligns with best practice and professional and regulatory standards.

9. Professionalism

Demonstrates the formation of a sustainable professional identity grounded in Catholic social teaching, inclusive of honesty, integrity, accountability, a collaborative disposition, and ethical behavior reflective of the Catholic identity and nursing’s unique characteristics and values.

10. Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development

Engage in activities that demonstrate a commitment to lifelong whole personal well-being, intellectual curiosity, professional growth and development, resilience, and healthcare leadership.

ABSN Admission Requirements & Deadlines

Deadlines: Please note that the application deadline for the Spring 2027 semester is October 12. Admission requirements are as follows:

  • A completed Catholic University online application (No fee is required).
  • An earned bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field.
  • An undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  • Completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with a minimum score of 58.7 or the Heath Education System Inc. (HESI) examination with a minimum score of 80.
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions and official test scores. (Unofficial transcripts can be used for the admissions review.)
  • Completion of the prerequisite courses listed below with a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no grade lower than a C. Science courses must be completed within the last 5 years.
  • Due to the hybrid nature of the ABSN program, students who would require an F-1 student visa are not eligible to apply.

Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at [email protected] or 202-319-5057 with any questions regarding the admissions process.

The ABSN applications are managed through the Office of Graduate Admissions to streamline the evaluation of previous degree documentation.

How Credits are Calculated

 

Transfer credits from your previous non-nursing degree(s)49 credits
Prerequisites taken for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)15 credits
Credits taken at Conway School of Nursing in the ABSN56 credits
Total120 credits
Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses will be offered online at Catholic University and can be completed in one semester.

  • Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology II
  • Microbiology
  • Psychology

Curriculum

The intensive  56-credit ABSN  curriculum combines online coursework, simulation, and clinical experiences to prepare students for compassionate nursing practice and the NCLEX-RN®.

Review the program plan for a semester-by-semester overview of the curriculum, required courses, and credit hours.

Additional Info

The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX)

The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is a standardized exam that determines if nursing graduates are ready to practice. It is required to become a licensed nurse in the United States.

The program prepares students through content expert faculty and student success coaching throughout the curriculum. In addition, students will take standardized exam to assess NCLEX readiness, coaching, and remediation. Students will receive a three day intensive live review their final semester. 

Scholarship Opportunities

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Scholarships - Helene Fuld Trust Scholarship: Eligible students must be enrolled in either an Accelerated Second Degree (first degree cannot be in nursing) or Doctor of Nursing Practice program at an accredited US school of nursing. 

Learn More

American Association of College of Nursing (AACN): Learn about scholarships, grants and loan programs to help support your nursing education.

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Nurse Corps Scholarship Program: The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program provides financial support to students enrolled in nursing degree programs in exchange for a commitment to serve in high-need areas across the country. The scholarship includes payment of tuition, required fees, other reasonable costs, and a monthly living stipend.

After graduation, scholarship recipients fulfill their service commitment at an approved location with a critical shortage of nurses.

Learn More

Federal Financial Aid: You may still have federal financial aid loan eligibility. Our Office of Student Financial Assistance can assess your eligibility once you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be found here.

Contact & Apply

Note: Those interested in applying for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ASBN), which is a post-baccalaureate degree, should use the graduate application. The application deadline for for the Spring 2027 semester is October 12.

Admission

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Get in Touch

Contact our Graduate Admission office at [email protected] or 202-319-5057, if you have additional questions and need more information about the program.

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