Is it time to redirect your career toward the rewarding field of nursing?
The Accelerated Second Degree BSN Track is an innovative program that allows students with non-nursing degrees to quickly become a nurse. The program will prepare you with the necessary skills and knowledge for entry-level nursing positions in a variety of diverse healthcare settings.
Fast Completion and High Pass Rates
The 15-month ASD track is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline to quickly complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Your existing bachelor’s degree will fulfill most of your non-nursing courses, allowing you to focus exclusively on your Nursing studies and earn a traditionally four-year BSN in only 15 months with above national average NCLEX pass rates. Our NCLEX pass-rate for the BSN class of 2020 was 97.2% overall – among the highest in the state of Virginia.
We Support You
Support from faculty and classmates, hands-on experience at clinical sites and with top-notch simulation technology, small class sizes, and limitless opportunities – that’s what you’ll get as you study nursing at Shenandoah University. Because of the intensity of the program, we strongly recommend you not be employed while enrolled in this accelerated program of study.Â
Any university will prepare you for employment — SU prepared me for discipline, integrity and empathy. The nursing curriculum was developed to be directly helpful for clinical application. I’m a nurse now! And I’m making a difference!
Scott Long ’20 | ASD Nursing
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Learn More About This Program
Our Accelerated Second Degree BSN track is challenging, but the rewards of completing your degree and entering this critical profession are many. With the support of an experienced nursing faculty adviser, you’ll receive academic and professional guidance throughout your 15 months in the program. Our state-of-the-art, specialized nursing labs create an environment that prepares you exceptionally well for what you will experience in your clinical rotations. The ASD-BSN Track is offered in Winchester at the Health and Life Sciences Building, and at Scholar Plaza, Loudoun conveniently located on Route 7 just east of Leesburg.  After you’ve completed your studies, you’ll sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), prepared with the skills and knowledge needed to apply for entry-level professional nurse positions. We’re excited to share our programs with you.
Career and Salary Possibilities
Nursing is the fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. and the demand is expected to rise. Graduates enjoy high starting salaries and flexible schedules in terms of hours and locations. As a nurse, you’ll have numerous opportunities for specialization and career advancement.
The BSN degree is the entry-level degree for many health care organizations. It prepares you to perform clinical practice in today’s high tech health care environment, using clinical reasoning and critical thinking along with a caring demeanor.
The Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing prepares you to deliver, manage and lead nursing care in a variety of health care settings and participate in personal and professional development. You will be ready to do this in many settings, such as hospitals (acute care), clinics, medical practices, health departments, hospice and the military. You can work in international care, home care, trauma care or school nursing (you may teach in vocational LPN programs) and pursue graduate studies in advanced practice nursing, nursing education and research.
Salary information for nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can be found at BSN Payscale.com
The Career Services Office provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to assist Shenandoah students in their career search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.
Classes
Our Nursing program has small classes, and faculty with expertise in a variety of specialties. Our curriculum includes core nursing courses, nursing ethics and genomics, nursing research and evidence based practice and Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief courses. Nursing students are also prepared in our campus learning facilities to develop knowledge, skills, clinical judgement and confidence.
BSN Program Outcomes:
- Synthesize knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, and nursing science as a basis for professional nursing practice
- Apply evolving information technology to monitor health care outcomes
- Integrate concepts of illness prevention/wellness, quality, safety, ethics and leadership into professional nursing practice
- Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration with patients, families and inter-professional teams
- Deliver safe, quality nursing care to diverse populations
- Advocate for institutional, professional, and governmental policies to influence positive health care outcomes of diverse populations
- Incorporate evidence-based research into professional nursing practice to provide quality care to families and communities
| Course Title | Credit Hours |
| 1st Semester | |
| Health Assessment (3/1) | 3/1** |
| Health Across the Lifespan: Psychiatric Nursing (3/1) | 3/1** |
| Skills for Clinical Nursing Practice I & II | 2/1** |
| Pathophysiology | 3 |
| Pharmacotherapy | 3 |
| 2nd Semester | |
| Health Across Lifespan: Adults I | 3/2** |
| Theory, Reasoning, and Research in Nursing | 3Â (Spring entry applicants will take this course during their third semester) |
| Health Across the Lifespan: Adults II | 3/2** |
| Ethics and Genomics | 3 |
| Skills for Nursing Practice III | 0/1** |
| 3rd Semester | |
| Health Across the Lifespan: Children and Adolescents (Pediatrics) | 3/1** |
| Health Across the Lifespan: Families | 3/1** |
| Health Across the Lifespan: Adults III | 3/2** |
| 4th Semester | Â |
| Community and Population Health | 3/1** |
| Health Across the Lifespan: Clinical Elective | 0/3** |
| Transition to Professional Practice | 3 |
| Leadership and Management in Professional Practice | 3 |
| Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Nursing | 3 |
| Â |
Total Nursing Credits: 63 Total Credits needed for BSN: 120 |
** Denotes a clinical course. The first number refers to the didactic portion of the course and the second number refers to the clinical portion of the course.
Students are required to have 121 total credits (from General Education, Prerequisite, and Nursing courses) to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at Shenandoah University.
Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from proofreading and bibliography assistance to thesis development. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.
Faculty
We have a low faculty-student ratio with small classes and clinical groups so you will receive personal attention from faculty. The result is a close-knit, collaborative community of nursing students, faculty and clinical preceptors.
There is a special bond between Shenandoah University students and their professors. You will enjoy close relationships with faculty members who will mentor you in and out of the classroom. This remains a hallmark of our nursing education.
Shenandoah’s experienced and practicing faculty take every opportunity to provide you with the academic foundation you will need to meet the standards and rising expectations for practice in the nursing profession. They provide an environment where you can be inquisitive, grow and excel.
Application Information
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admissions materials, find our admissions standards, and learn more about our ASD / Transfer Admissions Information.
