You already have a bachelor's degree — now you want to be a nurse. GCU's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (A.B.S.N.) is designed exactly for you. In as few as five terms, you'll complete the same rigorous clinical nursing curriculum as the traditional B.S.N. program — emerging NCLEX-RN eligible, CCNE-accredited, and fully prepared to launch a nursing career. Career changers, second-degree students, and professionals from every field have made this leap at GCU.
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The A.B.S.N. is designed for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in any field and want to become nurses in the most efficient way possible. Instead of repeating general education requirements, you move directly into the nursing curriculum — completing 64–67 nursing credits over five terms. Same rigorous content, same CCNE accreditation, same NCLEX-RN preparation as the traditional B.S.N. — in dramatically less time.
The A.B.S.N. requires specific prerequisite courses that do NOT need to be taken at GCU. If your prior bachelor's degree included anatomy & physiology, microbiology, statistics, chemistry, and developmental psychology — with a B– or better in each — you're likely already eligible to apply. For students who need to complete some prerequisites, GCU and community colleges throughout New Jersey offer these courses. Minimum overall GPA of 3.2 is required for ABSN admission.
Like the traditional B.S.N., the A.B.S.N. is conducted in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health — giving accelerated students direct access to clinical placements throughout New Jersey's largest health network. The HMH partnership also means employment connections and professional networking opportunities within one of the state's most respected healthcare employers.
GCU's A.B.S.N. class includes students from backgrounds in business, education, the arts, science, social work, and beyond. What they share is a commitment to nursing — and a prior bachelor's degree that demonstrates they can succeed at the collegiate level. If you've always felt drawn to nursing, or if the healthcare workforce shortages of recent years have convinced you this is your calling, the A.B.S.N. is your fastest legitimate path to NCLEX-RN eligibility.
GCU’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — the national accreditor for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Programs are also approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. CCNE accreditation ensures that GCU nursing graduates meet national standards of professional competency and are eligible for NCLEX-RN examination.
The A.B.S.N. program at Georgian Court University is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and are ready to commit fully to becoming a nurse. Taught over five sessions — each approximately 10 weeks long — with a total program length of 14 to 15 months, this is one of the most direct and rigorous paths to NCLEX-RN eligibility available to second degree students in New Jersey.
The curriculum is the same in scope and rigor as GCU’s traditional B.S.N. — covering all the essential areas of professional nursing practice: foundations, health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, adult care, behavioral health, childbearing families, community nursing, childrearing families, leadership and management, and a culminating transition into clinical practice capstone. What’s different is the pace. You’ll move through this content in an intensive, accelerated sequence that demands full-time commitment and leaves little room for outside employment.
The A.B.S.N. is conducted in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health — New Jersey’s largest integrated health network — providing clinical placements in a wide range of healthcare settings throughout the state. This partnership means you’re not just learning nursing theory; you’re building real clinical experience in real hospitals and community health settings alongside practicing professionals from one of NJ’s most respected health systems.
For students who earned a prior degree in biology, health sciences, or a related field, many prerequisite requirements may already be met — making the transition into the A.B.S.N. sequence particularly efficient. For career changers from other fields, completing prerequisites prior to the program start date is a well-established pathway with strong outcomes.
The A.B.S.N. is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
GCU’s A.B.S.N. is a great fit if you:
The A.B.S.N. leads to the same B.S.N. credential as the traditional four-year program — opening identical career doors.
| Career | Entry Salary | Mid-Career Salary | Advanced Practice Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (B.S.N.) | $68,000–$82,000 | $96,400 | $110,000–$130,000+ |
| Nurse Practitioners (M.S.N./D.N.P. required) | $110,000–$125,000 | $135,800 | $160,000+ |
| Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) (D.N.P. required) | $180,000+ | $212,000 | $250,000+ |
Job Outlook
Registered Nurses are projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, with approximately 193,100 openings per year nationally. New Jersey faces a persistent nursing shortage driven by an aging patient population and a significant wave of nurse retirements — creating exceptional and sustained demand for BSN-prepared nurses. The A.B.S.N. is one of the fastest ways to enter this high-demand market.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUA111 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NUA211 | Foundations of Professional Nursing | 4.0 |
| NUA221 | Health Assessment | 3.0 |
| NUA271 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care of Adult I | 6.0 |
| NUA275 | Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| NUA285 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3.0 |
| NUA322 | Nursing Care of Childbearing Families | 4.0 |
| NUA325 | Evidence-Based Behavioral Health | 5.0 |
| NUA343 | Evidence for Professional Nursing Pract | 3.0 |
| NUA371 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care Adult II | 8.0 |
| NUA421 | Evid-Based Nursing Practice in Community | 6.0 |
| NUA423 | Evid-Based Nursing Care of Childrear Fam | 4.0 |
| NUA471 | Evidence-Based Leadership & Management | 3.0 |
| NUA472 | Senior Seminar for Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NUA496 | Transition Into Professionl Nursing Prac | 6.0 |
| Related Courses | ||
| Foundational Course (required of students without bachelor’s degree from GCU) 1 | 0.0-3.0 | |
| Total Credits | 64.0-67.0 | |
GCU will offer a section of PL354 during the A.B.S.N. program for students who have not satisfied this requirement.
To be admitted to the A.B.S.N. program, students must:
Important: Prerequisites do NOT need to be completed at GCU. Equivalent courses from any accredited institution are accepted, subject to review.
Pre-Clinical Requirements (before entering first clinical course):
Other Requirements: GCU will offer PL354 Bioethics during the A.B.S.N. program for students who have not previously satisfied this requirement. Students without a bachelor’s degree from GCU may need to complete an additional foundational course (0–3 credits).
The A.B.S.N. delivers the same professional competencies as the traditional B.S.N. program. Upon completing the A.B.S.N., graduates will demonstrate the ability to:
Q: How long is the A.B.S.N. program, really? A: The program is taught over five sessions, each approximately 10 weeks long — for a total program length of 14 to 15 months. The calendar of session dates is available from the School of Nursing. Contact Admissions to confirm current start dates and cohort schedules.
Q: What if I don’t have all the prerequisites yet? A: All prerequisites must be completed before your A.B.S.N. start date — but they do NOT need to be completed at GCU. Many students complete prerequisites at community colleges such as Brookdale, Ocean County, or Middlesex before beginning the program. Each prerequisite must be passed with a minimum grade of B–.
Q: Can I work while enrolled in the A.B.S.N.? A: The accelerated pace makes full-time employment essentially impossible, and even part-time work becomes very difficult as clinical hours intensify in the later sessions. Plan your finances carefully before enrolling. Many students find that their ability to work diminishes significantly by the third and fourth sessions, when clinical commitments become most demanding.
Q: My prior degree was in business, not science. Can I still apply? A: Yes — your prior degree can be in any field. What matters is that you complete the required prerequisite science courses (Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Chemistry, Statistics, and Developmental Psychology) with a B– or better before the program start date. Many successful A.B.S.N. students come from non-science backgrounds and find that their business, communication, or analytical skills actually make them stronger nursing students.
Q: What is the Hackensack Meridian Health partnership, and what does it mean for me? A: GCU’s nursing programs are conducted in formal partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health — NJ’s largest integrated health network with 17+ hospitals and facilities statewide. This means your clinical placements are arranged through HMH facilities, giving you access to one of the most comprehensive clinical training environments in the state. It also means you’re building professional connections with the largest health system in NJ before you even graduate.
Q: When should I apply? A: The A.B.S.N. has specific cohort start dates — including a February start that is unique to the accelerated program. Contact GCU Admissions directly for current application deadlines and cohort schedules. Given the prerequisite requirements, it’s worth reaching out 6–12 months before your intended start date to ensure everything is in order.
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