University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is excited to announce its esteemed Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing & Health Professions (SNHP) is expanding to now offer students who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as few as 16 months. The new Accelerated BSN track in San Antonio is a great opportunity for students to earn a second degree in a healthcare field in demand from a university with a history of educational excellence, specifically in nursing.
UIW’s History of Excellence
By choosing the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing track at University of the Incarnate Word, you will learn much more than just the fundamentals of nursing. UIW is proud of its values-based mission, which is rooted in:
- Innovation
- Education
- Service
- Faith
- Truth
UIW is accredited at the university and nursing school levels, ensuring your accelerated nursing education will qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-RN. With our ABSN degree track, you will graduate ready to care for the needs of a diverse population and in a variety of professional settings.
About SNHP
University of the Incarnate Word has a long history of nursing excellence dating back to the arrival of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. There, in 1869, they set up the city’s first hospital with a commitment to help “all persons without distinction of nationality or creed.” Later, in 1931, the University became the first west of the Mississippi River to offer an accredited BSN education.
SNHP provides students with a variety of choices when it comes to selecting a major that best fits their career aspirations. Committed to education excellence, SNHP promotes lifelong learning and fosters the development of the whole person — mind, body, heart and soul.
How the Accelerated BSN Track Works
The UIW ABSN track combines online coursework with labs at our facility in San Antonio, TX, and diverse clinical experiences within top healthcare providers in the area. A combination of rigorous online learning and hands-on experiences will prepare students to sit for the national licensure exam — the NCLEX — so they can work as a licensed registered nurse (RN).
Online Learning
The UIW ABSN track offers online didactic curriculum so you can learn the fundamentals of nursing when and where it’s convenient for you. Of course, you still must adhere to the due dates set by instructors.
It is important to understand that because classes are online, it is up to you to stay on top of your work, as there is no set time to “go to class” similar to a traditional classroom setting. You have to set aside the right amount of time for reading, as well as completing assignments and quizzes. Students will have access to help in the form of a virtual community. Your cohort and instructors are all participating and communicating in the same platform, so you can ask questions whenever you need it. In fact, discussion topics with your cohort are part of the online learning process so you will never be left on your own.
Skills and Simulation Labs
As with any hybrid track, it also includes hands-on learning. The UIW ABSN track has a state-of-the-art nursing lab in San Antonio where you will put your online work into practice during skills and simulation labs. You can expect to spend a couple of days a week at the site, which provides you a hospital-like setting complete with the medical equipment and patient simulators. This all allows you to hone your skills and clinical judgment in a realistic, risk-free lab environment.
Diverse Clinical Experience
University of the Incarnate Word has a reputation for nursing excellence, and it shows in our clinical partnerships with two of the most respected health systems in San Antonio — CHRISTUS Health System and Methodist Healthcare System. Through more than 900 hours of clinical rotations, you’ll gain diverse real-world experience while building relationships and networking for your future.
Accelerated BSN Track Qualifications
With seats available now and three start dates each year, the University of the Incarnate Word ABSN track could be your fastest path to becoming a nurse. However, before you can begin our 16-month accelerated nursing track, you must meet the admissions requirements.
To be considered for our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing track in San Antonio, you must:
- Hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA for all undergraduate coursework.
- Submit an application through NursingCAS.
- Take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).
- Complete a criminal background check.
- Complete all of the prerequisite courses.
- Provide official copies of transcripts for all schools attended.
How to Enroll
Getting started is easy. The ABSN admissions process begins with a phone call to discuss your previous degree, reasons for wanting to become a nurse and other important details to determine whether our accelerated nursing track is a good fit for you. UIW's admissions counselors will also be able to answer any questions you have, and will guide you throughout the process, ensuring you get the support you need.
The Demand for BSN-Educated Nurses
More nurses are retiring or changing careers, and growing life expectancy for those with medical conditions is leading to a higher demand for healthcare.
In Texas and across the country, nurses are in exceptionally high demand, making now the right time to pursue your dream of becoming a nurse. Changing demographics and an adapting industry could amplify a shortage of nurses in Texas. According to a report by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the state is projected to see a shortage by 2032.
By 2032, the state of Texas will be short approximately 57,000 registered nurses.
Specifically, Texas will need 348,883 nurses by 2032 but only has the supply to fill 291,872 of those registered nurse positions. That is why UIW wanted to expand their BSN programs to include the accelerated track so they can be part of the solution, while providing students, like you, the opportunity to start sooner on your nursing education, without the worry of waitlists or limited seats.
Are You Ready?
Now that you know about the history of excellence, how the Accelerated BSN track in San Antonio works and what it takes to apply, let us get you started on your path to a quality nursing career. Contact us today and an admissions counselor will help you take the first step to a rewarding career.