Accelerated BSN Program

"Duke goes beyond the basic BSN requirements -- faculty expose us to advance nursing roles and management and leadership issues. You get a real sense of the bigger health care picture here." --Elizabeth Sawicki, ABSN Student

The Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program -- also known as a second degree nursing program -- for adult learners who have completed at least an undergraduate degree and the required pre-requisites upon application.

The full-time, campus-based program lasts 16 months. It is inclusive of up to 15 graduate credits, which may later be applied to a graduate nursing degree. This program incorporates all of the components of a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program with an additional focus on 21st century health care needs and environment.

This program also offers students the advantage of clinical experiences in multiple sites in the prestigious Duke University Health System, across the Triangle region and around the world.

Upon completion of the ABSN program, graduates are eligible for licensure as a registered nurse and entry into professional nursing practice. The program focuses on clinical leadership, evidence based nursing practice, and culturally relevant care utilizing dynamic teaching-learning strategies, simulation, and virtual and standardized patients.

Students who currently hold at least a bachelor's degree can complete the requirements for the accelerated BSN in four semesters (spanning 16 months) -- including graduate nursing credits hours that may later be applied to a master's degree.

This rigorous program offers students the advantage of practical experience in clinical, community, and global health sites reflecting the diversity of the internationally respected Duke University Health System, ranked among the nation's top health care institutions.

Why Choose DUSON

Duke's ABSN program offers advantages such as:

• Expert faculty with diverse clinical backgrounds and expertise in nursing
• State-of-the-art facilities and technology
• Personalized advising from faculty
• Opportunity for tuition reimbursement along with post-graduate employment within Duke University Health System