ABSN Curriculum
Over the course of our 16-month accelerated nursing curriculum at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), you will complete 62 credit hours of CCNE-accredited coursework, spanning four semesters. Each semester consists of online courses, hands-on labs and clinical rotations, culminating in a capstone course designed to help you transition from nursing student to professional nurse. The ABSN curriculum is designed to give you the skills required to be a nurse manager and leader.
Once you graduate from our Accelerated BSN track, you’ll be ready to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) — the final step toward nursing licensure. In 2023, 96.90% of UIW BSN students who took the NCLEX passed on the first try — well above the state and national average.
Semester 1
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 2313 | Basic Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 2315 | Nursing I Health Promotion & Disease Prevention | 3 |
| NURS 2350 | Introduction to Professional Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 3325 | Healthcare Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 3335 | Pharmacology & Safe Medication Administration | 3 |
| NURS 2225 | Integrated Clinical I | 2 |
| Total Credits: 17 |
Semester 2
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 3315 | Nursing II: Aging, Chronicity & Care Coordination | 3 |
| NURS 3211 | Health Communication | 2 |
| NURS 3545 | Medical Surgical Complex Care Nursing I | 5 |
| NURS 3345 | Medical Surgical Complex Care Nursing I Clinical | 3 |
| NURS 4431 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 3125 | Integrated Clinical II | 1 |
| Total Credits: 18 |
Semester 3
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 3355 | Evidence Based Practice & Informatics in Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 4445 | Medical Surgical Complex Care Nursing II | 4 |
| NURS 4341 | Nursing of Childbearing Families | 3 |
| NURS 4315 | Nursing of Children & Families | 3 |
| NURS 4225 | Maternal Child and Family Nursing Clinical | 2 |
| Total Credits: 15 |
Semester 4
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 4282 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| NURS 4462 | Nursing III: Community Health Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 4650 | Professional Leadership Capstone | 6 |
| Total Credits: 12 |
How the ABSN Works
The ABSN curriculum at UIW contains three learning components that combine to ensure our students are adequately prepared for their careers. You can plan to receive your education through:
- Online courses: Classes are designed to prepare you with foundational nursing knowledge. Online learning allows you to cover a high volume of healthcare topics in an adaptable learning environment.
- Skills and simulation labs: These in-person learning experiences help shape you into a skilled, competent nurse. In skills labs, you’ll learn how to perform many hands-on techniques, including inserting IVs and catheters. In simulation labs, you’ll work with high-fidelity manikins alongside peers to practice real-world healthcare scenarios.
- Clinical rotations: These real-world nursing experiences involve work at top regional healthcare facilities, where you will work with a preceptor nurse to learn how to care for patients. You’ll rotate through a variety of specialties to gain a solid general clinical education.
For More Information
Are you ready to start working toward your nursing degree? Give us a call today to talk to an admissions counselor about whether UIW’s ABSN curriculum is for you.