This accelerated program is ideal for students with a previous baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field looking to fast-track their nursing careers. As one of the primary healthcare professionals to interact with patients, you will find that the profession is not just about administering medication and following orders; it’s about making critical decisions every day for your patients, understanding interdisciplinary methods of care, and mastering the art of personal interaction with patients, family members, clinical team members, and administrators.

What makes this program different? 

1. Urban experience. As a Radford University nursing student in Roanoke, Virginia, you'll experience city life rather than the traditional setting of a college campus while having all the amenities you'd expect from Radford University. Living in Roanoke, you are also very close to hospitals and community sites where you will be traveling for clinical experiences in your junior and senior years of the nursing program!
2. Immersive location. You'll spend four semesters immersed in nursing at our Roanoke Higher Education Center (RHEC) location. There you'll have your nursing classes, skills labs, and clinical simulation experiences with your faculty on-site and there to assist you succeed.
3. Admitted to Your Program. As a new student, you will begin your studies immediately as a nursing student; not a pre-nursing student. With support from your faculty and classmates, we fully expect that you will rise to meet the program's demands and progress toward your degree.
   
4. Express Lane to your degree. In the Accelerated BSN program, you will complete your degree requirements in 16 months. You will demonstrate your dedication and commitment to prospective nurse employers; you will enter the workforce sooner than your peers and begin earning a salary two years ahead of those in four-year programs; you will learn in an intensive environment that most closely mimics the daily demands of practicing nurses.

After receiving your BSN, you will take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to gain licensure to become a registered nurse.

Most of our graduates have career jobs lined up prior to graduation, and 100% have successful careers after graduation across a wide range of practice areas.

Many of our ABSN graduates go on to pursue master's degrees with Radford University to become Family Nurse Practitioners, which ranks among the top 30 high-growth professions with a projected 10-year growth rate of over 36%, according to data recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This rate exceeds the average among the 30 high-growth professions and provides a clear indication that the career outlook in nursing is bright.

This four-semester, 16-month program is designed for students looking for an intensive, accelerated path to the BSN. Students entering are expected to have an earned bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and have the commitment to study full-time for 16 months, including fall, spring and summer semesters. It is an intense, full-time program, and students are encouraged not to carry outside employment while enrolled in this program. We are looking for motivated students with backgrounds that demonstrate the ability to handle challenging work in a fast-paced environment.

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher.
• Completion of the following pre-requisite coursework:
  
  4 credit Chemistry I and II (must include a lab)
  4 credit Anatomy and Physiology I and II
  4 credit Microbiology
  3 credit Nutrition
  3 credit Lifespan Development
  3 credit Introduction to Statistics
     
• The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 5 p.m. January 15 for the Fall cohort and 5 p.m. September 15 for the Spring cohort.
• Writing sample, one page or less, double-spaced, 12-font on the following topic:  Please describe your motivation for pursuing a BSN degree and why you want to do so at Radford University.
• Resume documenting previous education and work experience.
  
• Completion of all prerequisite coursework by the end of the semester preceding the cohort start.
• Students seeking entry into the Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing program who have been program dismissed from another nursing program must wait for two years to be considered for admission at Radford University.
  
• Students who have failed one nursing course at another institution must submit a letter of good academic standing from their previous nursing institution.

The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing and master's degree programs in nursing at Radford University Carilion are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. 

The nursing pre-licensure degree programs are approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico Virginia 23233-1463.