Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track

Make the move to a nursing career

If you have earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and would like to pursue a nursing career, our second degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track is designed for you.

This degree is only available at IU Fort Wayne and IU Indianapolis.

The program moves at a fast pace—16 months of full-time study (including a summer session)—with a concept-based, cutting-edge curriculum that prepares you for a career as a professional nurse. You will work with nursing faculty in the school and expert nurse preceptors in the community to gain clinical and practical experience, as well as exposure to hospital and community-based nursing. You will also participate in simulation exercises and interprofessional education experiences with students in other healthcare fields.

Program learning outcomes

As a graduate of the Accelerated BSN track you will be:

A critical thinker who demonstrates intellectual engagement and uses evidence as a basis for clinical reasoning and decision making
A culturally sensitive individual who provides holistic, individual, family, community, and population-centered nursing care
A knowledgeable care coordinator who facilitates access to resources across the continuum of healthcare environments in order to meet the evolving healthcare needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations
An individual who understands and considers the impact of healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environments on care delivery
An individual who embodies the professional identity of the nurse and who translates the inherent values of the nursing profession into the ethical and legal practice of nursing
An effective communicator who collaborates with interprofessional team members, patients, and their support systems for improved health outcomes
A competent care provider who is prepared to practice to the full capacity of the professional nurse role in diverse healthcare environments
An accountable leader and manager who applies principles of systems and organizational processes and balances resources to promote quality care and patient safety
An individual who embraces and employs innovations in information management and technology in the delivery of quality patient care

BSN Accelerated Track

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the BSN Accelerated Track - Semester 1
Semester 1
Description	Course	Credits
*Promoting Healthy Populations for Second Degree	NURS-B237	3
(Accelerated) This course for second degree students focuses on preventative health care and health promotion in individuals, families, and communities, considering the influence of culture and lifespan development. Using biophysical, environmental, sociocultural and economic determinants of health, students focus on improving health outcomes with individuals, families, and communities.
Comprehensive Health Assessment:Practicum	NURS-B245	2
(Traditional, Accelerated) Students will have the opportunity to use techniques of interview, observation, percussion, palpation, inspection, and auscultation in assessing clients across the life span in simulated and actual environments.
Comprehensive Health Assessment for Second Degree	NURS-B247	3
(Accelerated) This second degree course focuses on helping students acquire skills to conduct a comprehensive health assessment, including the physical, psychological, social, functional, and environmental aspects of health. The process of data collection, interpretation, documentation, and dissemination of assessment data will be addressed.
Fundamentals of Nursing Practice	NURS-B260	5
(Traditional, Accelerated) This course focuses on the fundamentals of nursing from a theoretical, evidence base. Students will gain a knowledge base for, and have an opportunity to apply, fundamental nursing concepts, skills and the nursing process. The evidence based knowledge gained forms a basis for clinical reasoning and decision making as students develop their nursing skills.
Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nursing Practice	NURS-B261	4
(Traditional, Accelerated) This course provides a foundation in the pathophysiology of key disease processes and pharmacological therapies. Principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology are presented in an integrated manner to provide a basis for study of selected medications that are used to treat or manage diseases with an application to nursing practice.
Total		17

*Didactic (Hybrid)

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the BSN Accelerated Track - Semester 2
Semester 2
Description	Course	Credits
*Professionalism in Collaborative Practice	NURS-B253	3
(Traditional, Accelerated)Students practice communication skills for working with health team members and clients, including self-awareness, interpersonal communication, team skills, and technological communication. Students are introduced to the scope and standards of nursing practice, roles of health team members, and components of professional practice. Students are introduced to leadership and ethical standards.
Transitional Care of Families and Populations	NURS-B334	5
(Traditional, Accelerated) Using the childbearing family as an extensive exemplar, this course focuses on family and community health: community assessment, epidemiology, and intervention with individuals, families, communities and populations. Students address prenatal care, normal and high risk pregnancy and childbirth, newborn care, genetic counseling, care coordination, complementary care, and environmental health.
Clinical Nursing Care 1: Biophysical Processes	NURS-H356	5
(Traditional, Accelerated) This course focuses on providing nursing care for individuals and families with acute and chronic biophysical illnesses across the lifespan. Particular attention is focused on developing clinical reasoning and competent nursing practice at a beginning level.
*Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice	NURS-R375	3
(Traditional, Accelerated) This course focuses on nursing research and evidence-based practice. Students develop skills in retrieving and appraising literature relevant to clinical problems, understanding the research process, and critiquing evidence from research publications and other sources to inform evidence-based nursing practice. (RN-BSN) This course focuses on nursing research and evidence-based practice. Students develop skills in retrieving and appraising literature relevant to clinical problems, understanding the research process, and critiquing evidence from research publications and other sources to inform evidence-based nursing practice.
Total		16

*Didactic (Hybrid)

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the BSN Accelerated Track - Semester 3
Semester 3
Description	Course	Credits
Clinical Nursing Care 2: Interactive Processes	NURS-H360	5
(Traditional, Accelerated) This course focuses on nursing care management of individuals and families experiencing acute and chronic health problems related to interaction with the environment and others: sensory, motor, cognitive, affective, and interpersonal processes. Using a holistic approach this course addresses health problems occurring across the lifespan.
Clinical Nursing Care 3: Adaptive Processes	NURS-H371	5
(Traditional, Accelerated) This course builds on Biophysical Processes. The primary focus is on the nursing care management of individuals and families experiencing acute and chronic health problems using an adaptive and holistic approach. Particular attention is focused on developing clinical reasoning and competent nursing practice at an intermediate level.
*Leadership in Healthcare Delivery and Policy	NURS-L330	4
(Accelerated) This course focuses on development of effective leadership skills within healthcare delivery systems. Students examine health policy, study information management, and use healthcare data and research evidence to facilitate quality outcomes with care delivery through change initiatives.
*Applied Health-Care Ethics	NURS-S474	3
(Traditional, Accelerated) This course is designed to introduce the student to major ethical theory, principles, and models for the recognition, analysis, and resolution of ethical dilemmas in health-care practice. (RN-BSN) Building on the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, this course explores the nurse’s role in ethical clinical practice, academic work, health policy, and research conduct, focusing particularly on the advocacy role of the nurse. Common ethical problems are discussed and strategies for resolution of ethical dilemmas are applied.
Total		17

*Didactic (Hybrid)

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the BSN Accelerated Track - Semester 4
Semester 4
Description	Course	Credits
*Managing Health and Illness across Care Environments	NURS-B445	3
(Accelerated) Second degree students explore the ways in which culture, health disparity, transitions between care environments, and health policy impact care for an aggregate, population, or specialty. Students gain relevant nursing knowledge as well as an understanding of the aggregate health concerns.
Clinical Nursing Care 4: Complex Processes	NURS-H476	5
(Traditional, Accelerated) The primary focus is on the nursing care management of individuals and families experiencing complex and significant illnesses across the lifespan. Particular attention is focused on developing clinical reasoning and competent nursing practice at an advanced level.
Clinical Nursing Practice	NURS-S483	3
(Traditional, Accelerated). Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate competencies consistent with program outcomes and to refine their nursing care practice skills. Students will collaborate with faculty and a preceptor in choosing a care setting, planning and organizing a learning experience, and practicing professional nursing in a safe and effective manner.
*Second Degree Synthesis for Professional Nursing Practice	NURS-S489	3
(Accelerated) Second-degree students integrate knowledge and skills acquired: critical thinking, information technology, cultural competence, care coordination, leadership, collaboration, and communication skills. Students demonstrate competence in evidence-based practice and quality and safety initiatives, as achieved in a complex and changing health care environment. Students begin the transition to professional practice.
Total		14

*Didactic (Hybrid)

Have a question? Talk to an advisor on your campus

IU Fort Wayne

IU Indianapolis

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IU Fort Wayne

IU Indianapolis

Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track

Make the move to a nursing career

Program learning outcomes

BSN Accelerated Track

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Have a question? Talk to an advisor on your campus

Apply at your campus

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