If you're interested in accelerated BSN programs in Virginia, the Averett University ABSN program can help you earn your BSN degree in as few as 16 months. Offering three start dates per year, the ABSN program incorporates online classes, skills and simulation labs and clinical rotations.
Nursing programs are resource-intensive, and most schools don’t have enough of what they need to increase enrollment. That makes the process of getting into nursing school extremely competitive. But Averett University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in Norfolk, Virginia, can make a quality nursing education more accessible.
So what makes our program unique from other accelerated BSN programs in Virginia? When compared to other Virginia accelerated nursing programs, our ABSN program can enroll more qualified students annually due in part to our three start dates a year. You can also earn your degree in as few as 16 months because of our innovative approach to nursing education.
How Do ABSN Programs in Virginia Work?
Our accredited ABSN program in Norfolk, Virginia, makes it possible to earn a quality BSN in as few as 16 months by building on your non-nursing college education. The full-time program follows a blended learning model that consists of:
- Online courses that teach you the fundamentals and theories of nursing.
- Nursing skills and simulation labs at our Norfolk ABSN Site develop your practical skills and clinical judgment.
- Clinical rotations give you real-world experience in diverse practice settings.
Our ABSN program is both rigorous and fast-paced, which requires a serious commitment to your education to be successful.
By the time you graduate from the program, you’ll be able to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) with confidence and enter the profession as a practice-ready nurse.
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Online ABSN Coursework
Online ABSN coursework sets the foundation for your nursing education. Being able to complete the fundamental coursework online gives you the flexibility to choose when and where you study as well as learn at your own pace. Keep in mind, however, instructor deadlines still apply. Also, being successful with online learning requires more self-discipline than a traditional classroom experience.
Learn more about the benefits of online nursing courses.
Hands-on Nursing Labs
As an Averett ABSN student, you’ll regularly attend nursing skills and simulation labs with faculty and other members of your cohort at our program site in Norfolk. These labs serve as the bridge between your online coursework and in-person clinicals.
Featuring advanced hospital equipment and patient simulators, our nursing labs provide a realistic backdrop for you to develop your clinical skills and judgment without the fear of harming an actual patient. It’s a setting where it’s perfectly OK to make and learn from your mistakes.
Diverse Clinical Rotations
Unlike most nursing programs, we get you started on your clinical rotations during the first semester. By the time you graduate, you’ll have logged over 500 direct patient care hours in diverse areas of nursing practice inclusive of nearly 100 hours in simulated clinical experiences.
Your clinicals, which we arrange for you, will take place at top hospitals in Norfolk and Hampton Roads, covering practice areas such as acute care, adult health, community health, mental health and women and children.
Overall, clinical rotations are active learning environments where you and your classmates perform tasks a nurse would typically do in a given situation. While there are some clinical tasks you can’t perform as a student, the expectation is for you to approach every clinical as if you were a nurse on duty.
What Are the Admissions Requirements?
While most accelerated nursing programs require you to have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to begin the admissions process, we also consider applicants who have at least 60 non-nursing college credits. Regardless, you need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 to be eligible.
Once you’ve verified your eligibility with an admissions counselor, they will walk you through the other requirements you must satisfy before applying to the program, including a series of ABSN prerequisites.
If you decide to move forward with the enrollment process, your admissions counselor will support you every step of the way as you target a program start date in January, May or August.
Why Averett University?
Founded in 1859, Averett University is a private, fully accredited higher learning institution, with its main campus in Danville, Virginia. The university offers more than 30 undergraduate majors, minors and special programs as well as five graduate programs. Overall, Averett University educates students from diverse backgrounds, faiths and cultures within the context of the six core values:
- Integrity by practicing the highest ethical standards.
- Innovation by teaching inside and outside of the classroom.
- Engagement by promoting global awareness, service and leadership.
- Discovery by incorporating liberal arts with professional preparation.
- Diversity by valuing the thoughts, cultures and uniqueness of all persons.
- Tradition by upholding a heritage that honors the search for truth and spiritual formation.
For 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Averett No. 24 of 132 on its list of Best Regional Colleges in the South.
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School of Nursing Mission
The School of Nursing at Averett University aims to graduate nurses who provide compassionate, evidence-based care and serve as catalysts for change in a complex health care system. We educate students in a collegial and interdisciplinary environment that prepares them to become responsive leaders who have a passion for excellence, social responsibility and lifelong learning.
Averett created our Accelerated BSN program in Virginia so students with prior college experience could still earn a quality nursing education, just in less time than would be possible with a traditional nursing program.
Why Become a Nurse in Virginia?
The entire country is facing a nursing shortage, and each state needs a new generation of nurses, but becoming a nurse at one of the accelerated BSN programs in Virginia is a uniquely enticing option. One reason for that is nurses in the state are compensated well, averaging $76,680 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Furthermore, nurses in Virginia report high job satisfaction, with 92% of nurses reporting that they are somewhat or very satisfied with their work.
Virginia also has a high employment rate of RNs, according to Virginia Department of Health Professions, reporting that nearly 90% of nurses are employed in the profession. That’s good news for you because it means you shouldn’t have difficulty finding a job after graduation.
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What Can You Do with Your Degree?
As a registered nurse, you’ll be able to practice the profession anywhere there’s a need for patient care, including hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, private practices, military bases, school systems and summer camps. You can also choose to work in a specialty area of nursing practice such as ambulatory care, cardiac care, critical care, geriatric care, hospice care, pulmonary care, trauma care or urology care.
Enroll in the Averett ABSN Program in Virginia
If you’re ready to accelerate into nursing, our 16-month Accelerated BSN program in Virginia, is now enrolling. A minimum of 60 non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree is required to apply. Contact an admissions counselor today to access your nursing future!