What is an accelerated nursing program? ABSNs leverage students’ past academic experience to earn their nursing degree faster. Same as a traditional program, ABSN students complete coursework, nursing labs, and clinicals, but are afforded additional flexibility through online and in-person learning options.
According to 2025 employment predictions compiled by Statista, nurses are among the most in-demand jobs of the next decade, with 166,100 registered nurse jobs added over this period. Accelerated nursing programs are key to graduating enough nurses to keep pace with the profession's growth, and potentially your door to a new career. But what is an accelerated nursing program?
Utica University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) and Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing programs cater to career-changers and transfer students, leveraging their existing college experience for faster entry into a nursing role. After completing any degree-requirement courses, you can graduate from Utica’s accelerated nursing programs in as few as 16 months.
To accommodate an accelerated timeline, ABSN programs take a slightly different approach to nursing education than a traditional program. Explore what an accelerated nursing program is, and why the ABSN could be the right choice for you.
What Is an ABSN Program and How Does It Work?
What is an ABSN program? Same as a traditional nursing program, an ABSN program confers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). At Utica University, we offer both the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing pathway for students earning a second degree and the Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing, a transfer pathway for adult learners with some college education.
Although you complete your B.S. in Nursing on an accelerated timeline, you still receive the same quality education as a traditional nursing student and work through the same comprehensive curriculum, which combines three essential components: accelerated coursework, nursing labs, and clinical placements.
Accelerated coursework
Utica’s accelerated coursework covers the fundamental nursing theory that will inform your practical care, from clinical research to leadership skills. Depending on your chosen program, you can also learn in two different modalities. While the ABSN coursework is delivered entirely on our e-learning platform, the Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing program is held in person on Utica’s main campus.
Neither option is better than the other, but there are some benefits unique to online learning. Our online learning format lets you choose where and when to take your courses, provided you still adhere to your instructors’ guidelines for turning in assignments and completing exams. With our interactive modules, you can:
- Review the material as many times as you need
- Complete simulated learning experiences
- Join chat sessions with professors
- Engage with fellow nursing students on discussion boards
Our approach to nursing education enables our students to take charge of their learning and review essential nursing concepts more frequently. While online learning works well for some aspects of an ABSN program, nursing can only be completed partially online. That’s why you’ll also need to travel to our ABSN program site or main campus for nursing labs.
In-Person Nursing Labs
At our ABSN program site in Albany or our main campus in Utica, you’ll complete a series of nursing skills labs. These provide opportunities to develop your nursing skills and teach you how to perform tasks such as:
- Inserting a nasogastric tube
- Placing a catheter
- Providing wound care
- Starting an intravenous (IV) line
- Taking vital signs
The skills lab provides a simulated hospital experience in a controlled environment that looks and functions like a healthcare clinic. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice essential nursing skills and receive personalized feedback from your instructors.
In addition to nursing skills labs, you’ll visit the ABSN program site to complete nursing simulation labs. These labs allow you to practice delivering patient care in an environment designed to look and function as authentically as possible.
Our nursing students have access to high-tech medical manikins, full-body patient simulators that mimic patients’ functions and responses. For example, they can produce palpable pulses and heart tones and make life-like sounds. You’ll practice everything from patient positioning and transfer techniques to injections and urinary catheter placement on these manikins.
Clinical placements
Much of your nursing education will take place online and at an ABSN location. There is another critical component of a nursing degree, however, referred to as clinical placements.
Clinical placements are like short-term internships. For each clinical rotation, you’ll be placed at a healthcare facility in the Utica or Albany area to build experience in a different nursing specialty. You’ll start slowly, tackling the more manageable nursing tasks, and gradually take on more responsibility as your nursing education progresses. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to provide direct patient care under the watchful eye of a licensed RN.
Clinicals are also a great networking opportunity. Find out how professional connections can advance your career.
Who Is Eligible for an Accelerated Nursing Program?
Eligibility requirements will vary by school and program. Many accelerated nursing programs, however, are designed for non-nursing professionals looking to change their careers or for transfer students who don’t want to start their education from scratch. For example, Utica’s ABSN and Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing programs have different eligibility requirements to accommodate different academic backgrounds.
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program requires:
- A non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or a minimum of 65 college credits, with 57 of these credits from a four-year regionally accredited college or university program.
- 60 credits in liberal arts courses, which may include non-nursing degree requirement courses.
Alternatively, the Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing program asks that students hold the following:
- A non-nursing associate degree or 60 credit hours completed towards a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- 60 credits in liberal arts courses, which may include non-nursing degree requirement courses.
While these are just the basic qualifications to be considered eligible for Utica’s accelerated programs, there are additional requirements to complete before beginning an ABSN.
Degree Requirements to Know
Coming from non-nursing career paths, it’s important that ABSN students establish a solid foundation in the science, biology, and math concepts that nursing theory is built on. That’s why Utica University asks ABSN and Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing students to complete several general and natural science degree requirement courses before enrollment.
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has two general and four natural science degree requirement courses, including:
- General courses:
- Statistics
- Life Span Development Psychology
- Natural science courses:
- Anatomy & Physiology I + Lab
- Anatomy & Physiology II + Lab
- Chemistry + Lab
- Microbiology + Lab
As part of Utica’s transfer pathway, the Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing has a few more required courses to bridge the gap in education, with six general and four natural science courses, including:
- General courses:
- Statistics
- Life Span Development Psychology
- Ethics
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Nutrition
- Natural science courses:
- Anatomy & Physiology I + Lab
- Anatomy & Physiology II + Lab
- Chemistry + Lab
- Microbiology + Lab
General degree requirement courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better, and natural science courses require an overall GPA of 3.0 to be considered for credit.
All of Utica’s degree requirements courses can be taken through our university, either on campus or 100% online, using the same e-learning platform as the ABSN coursework.
How an Accelerated Nursing Program Differs From a Traditional BSN
While both traditional and ABSN programs cover the same essential nursing concepts and achieve the same outcomes, they differ in their timelines, instructional methods, and academic eligibility requirements.
1. Program Length
As previously mentioned, accelerated nursing programs allow students to earn their BSN more quickly than in most traditional programs. The majority of accelerated programs can be completed in fewer than two years, and at Utica University in as few as 16 months.
This timeline is beneficial for students with life circumstances that require a faster career transition, but it also demands a rigorous curriculum to ensure graduates are prepared to meet the highest standards of care. ABSN students must remain dedicated to keep up with the program’s pace.
On the other hand, students enrolled in a traditional undergraduate nursing program typically spend four years earning their BSN, with two years of general education courses. This extended timeline lends to a more relaxed learning pace.
Managing coursework is a crucial skill for any nursing program. Learn more in The Ultimate Guide to Time Management in Nursing School.
2. Method of Instruction
Another key difference between ABSNs and traditional nursing programs is the learning modality. Traditional nursing programs generally operate like a stereotypical college program, with classes held in on-campus classrooms on a set schedule each week.
Many accelerated programs employ online learning platforms to facilitate accelerated learning. In Utica’s case, we offer both online and on-campus accelerated learning options, allowing students maximum flexibility and enabling them to choose the instruction method that works best for them.
3. Past Education Requirements
The final difference is the education requirements for ABSN and traditional nursing programs. The simplest way to decide which program is right for you is by reviewing your educational background.
ABSN eligibility requirements vary by school, but many accelerated programs require a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum GPA. Additionally, students often must complete several prerequisite math and science courses before enrolling in an accelerated program.
Alternatively, traditional programs include general education courses in their curricula, allowing students to enter without prior college experience or prerequisites.
Is an Accelerated Nursing Program Right for You?
Accelerated programs allow students to complete their degree in roughly half the time, helping them enter the nursing profession sooner while demonstrating strong determination and commitment to future employers.
At the same time, traditional nursing programs are equally rigorous and lead to similar career opportunities. With a longer timeline, students may also have additional opportunities to take on campus leadership roles and other experiences that can strengthen their resumes before graduation.
Ultimately, whether you choose an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing, both pathways can prepare you for a fulfilling career in nursing.
Choose Utica’s ABSN for Your Nursing Journey
When you choose Utica University for your nursing education, you will have support every step of the way. Every prospective student works with an admission representative to help complete any needed prerequisite courses and submit the best possible application. Once enrolled, students enjoy the support of a dedicated academic success coach until graduation.
Contact an admission representative at Utica University today to answer any lingering questions about what an accelerated nursing program is.
