There is no better time than now to change paths toward a career in nursing, and there is no better place to make your dream happen than Notre Dame of Maryland University. That’s because we now offer an Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for career changers in the Baltimore area. Now offering hybrid (online-based) or on-campus modalities, qualified students with non-nursing bachelor degrees can gain the opportunity to earn their BSN and begin a rewarding new career as a nurse in as few as 15 months through our accelerated BSN program in Baltimore.
Our ABSN program offers:
- Multiple start dates per year — January, June, and August.
- Two modalities from which to choose: Hybrid (online-based) or on-campus.
- State-of-the-art nursing labs equipped with computer-powered manikins.
- Clinical rotations inside some of Baltimore’s top health care facilities.
- A degree from an accredited, nonprofit university.
How Our ABSN Program Works
If you want to leverage your non-nursing degree to pursue a new nursing career sooner, our Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, called Notre Dame ABSN, may be the best educational path for you. Notre Dame ABSN allows students like you to earn a BSN in as few as 15 months.
Whether you choose our online-based or classroom-based ABSN program, you can expect a comprehensive curriculum featuring:
- Engaging coursework delivered via our intuitive e-Learning platform or campus-based lectures.
- Hands-on skills and simulation labs at our state-of-the-art facilities in the Baltimore area.
- Clinical rotations through our renowned practice partners.
- Experienced faculty mentors who want you to succeed.
Two Choices: Hybrid or On-Campus
Not every student learns the same way. That is why the Accelerated BSN program at Notre Dame of Maryland University now offers a unique opportunity for you to choose between two course delivery options.
No matter which option you choose to complete your accelerated nursing education, you can expect to receive life-changing opportunities that will help you transform the world as a nurse.
Both hybrid and on-campus programs offer engaging and challenging nursing theory coursework that will ready you for a rewarding new career path; the only difference is in course delivery. The best option for you depends on how you prefer to learn.
On-campus curriculum features a more traditional, lecture-based option for those who prefer face-to-face learning environments. These classes are offered at NDMU’s main campus in Baltimore.
Hybrid curriculum features online coursework delivered by our e-Learning platform for those who desire to learn when and where is convenient for them. Of course you still must adhere to the due dates set forth by your instructor.
It is important to note that both paths provide students with the same access to supportive faculty mentors, state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs, and clinical experiences at some of Baltimore’s most renowned health care facilities.
Hands-on Labs
The curriculum pathway you choose, hybrid or on-campus, will determine where you will need to complete your lab work. Yes, even if you choose the online-based path, you still must complete hands-on work in both skills and simulation labs. If you enroll in the Hybrid ABSN program, you will attend your labs at the ABSN learning site, which is off-campus.
On-Campus ABSN students will complete nursing skills and simulation labs in-person at our Center for Caring with Technology located on our main campus in Baltimore.
Both state-of-the-art learning sites feature:
- Advanced hospital equipment
- Medical supplies
- Manikins (patient simulators)
- Break rooms
- Testing rooms
- Classrooms
- Lockers
- Simulation rooms
In these lab spaces, you will put all your classroom or online work into real-world practice in safe settings. During skills lab, you and your fellow classmates will meet to learn how to apply core nursing skills safely like wound care, checking vital signs, and inserting catheters and IVs.
During simulation labs, Notre Dame ABSN students will apply these foundational skills to a mock clinical scenario, making this portion of lab the most realistic in comparison to what they will experience as nurses in a real hospital setting. Simulation lab scenarios are designed to give you this practice so you can grow your problem solving skills, one of the most important characteristics a great nurse needs to have.
Clinical Rotations
Clinical rotations are where Notre Dame ABSN students put all they learned in other parts of their nursing education into real-world practice at top health care facilities in the Baltimore area. Because our program is accelerated, you will begin your clinical placements in your first semester, giving you plenty of experience in many diverse settings. This ensures you will be comfortable with patients and competent to begin practicing once you graduate and pass the NCLEX licensure exam.
Admission Requirements
Our 15-month Accelerated Second-Degree BSN program in Baltimore is a great option for motivated students who do not want to wait to get started on a wonderful new career as a nurse. This is your opportunity to transition into nursing using your previous educational courses without having to start at the beginning. For that to happen, you must first meet the qualifications necessary to apply to our ABSN program.
To become eligible to enroll in our ABSN program, you must:
- Hold a (non-nursing) bachelor’s degree.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4-point scale).
- Successfully complete any remaining required prerequisite courses (22 credit hours).
From the moment you contact us, you will be provided with a dedicated admissions counselor who will guide you through every step to ensure a smooth admissions process. Your admissions counselor will start with a phone call to learn more about what you want from your nursing program and see if that may be a fit for what we offer. From there, you will develop an academic plan for your target start date, complete any prerequisites you may need to fulfill, and then complete the application.
The Nursing Demand
Why is Notre Dame of Maryland University expanding its ABSN program options to include a hybrid option? To help ease the demand for registered nurses in the area.
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 17 percent by 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The vacancy rate for nurses shows that it is becoming tougher to keep up with filling these openings. But with programs like NDMU’s Accelerated BSN in Baltimore, we can help supply that demand a little faster.
Are You Ready?
Now that you know about the opportunity our Accelerated BSN program in Baltimore can provide for students like you who want to transition into a nursing career, it is time for you to learn even more. We have admissions counselors on hand to walk you through the Notre Dame ABSN admissions process and help you assess if this is the right move for you. You won’t know until you contact us. We are ready to begin your journey with you.