IUON is in the process of finalizing agreements with U.S. and Canadian partner schools to offer the Accelerated Second Degree in Nursing Program (ABSN). We anticipate a start date of January 2011.

Students may apply for the ABSN program now; however we cannot guarantee acceptance until we have completed our partner school agreements.  Students may want to apply for IUON’s BSN degree program until we have official partners for the ABSN program.

The Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor in Nursing Program (ABSN) is a 15 month, full-time program designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want to pursue a career in the profession of nursing.

The outcomes of the program are consistent with those of IUON's BSN degree, providing students with the ability to implement evidenced-based practice in the delivery of professional nursing care. 

Students, who have completed a bachelor degree in another area and the pre-requisites listed below, are awarded 52 transfer credits toward degree completion.

There are four components to the ABSN program:

1. The student must have a baccalaureate degree from another college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
2. The student must have completed the pre-requisite requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
3. The student must have completed the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS®).
4. The student must complete two semesters at IUON and two or three semesters at a U.S. or Canadian partner school. 
   (Note: Additional coursework may be required depending on the curriculum of the US.partner school.)

ABSN Required Pre-requisites

To qualify for the ABSN program, students must have completed these pre-requisites within the past 5 years of the semester of admission:

TEAS Examination

ABSN Required Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Total Credits:  68

Course listing as of:  July 1, 2009

Note:  Courses subject to change without notice

Course Descriptions

HCS 350 Health Care Technology and Decision Support  Health Care  (3 credits)
Students utilize the latest in health care technology to further their understanding of the use of electronic data bases, computerized medical records, and medical decision support systems.  Students will be exposed to the applications of technology systems in the monitoring and treatment of emerging and chronic diseases in community populations as well as in acute care settings for disease management and palliative care.  45 lecture hours.  Pre-requisite:  NUR 212.

HCS 352 Health Care Informatics  (3 credits)
Students utilize the latest in health care technology to further their understanding of the use of electronic databases, computerized medical records, medical decision support systems, and evidence-based nursing practice. Current trends in data collection, patient management, and patient education using electronic technology will be examined. The HIPPA Act and other legal and ethical issues will be addresses.

NUR 212 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (5 credits)
This course introduces the nursing student to basic principles of nursing science at the baccalaureate level and the professional roles of direct care provider, manager of care, member of the multidisciplinary health care team, and accountable member of the nursing profession.  Legal and ethical dimensions of the nursing profession are introduced.  Student accountability and commitment as an active partner in the teaching, learning, and evaluation process are necessary for successful completion of the course and progression to the next level nursing course.  45 hours lecture, 30 hours simulation lab and 45 hours clinical practice.  Pre-requisite:  BIO 101.

NUR 213 Medical–Surgical Nursing  (6 credits)
This course prepares the nursing student for the care of clients in various health care settings across the lifespan.  The course is comprised of didactic and clinical components.  The didactic portion provides the student with the theoretical foundation of nursing practice, and the clinical component affords the student the opportunity to practice the art and science of nursing in acute settings such as hospitals, clinical care centers, as well as community settings such as long-term care and primary care clinics. Students must demonstrate the ability to think critically utilizing knowledge from the life and social sciences and humanities, as demonstrated in case reports.  45 hours lecture, 135 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisite:  NUR 212.

NUR 231 Health Assessment   (3 credits)
This course presents the basic principles and concepts involved in the assessment of clients across the lifespan, moving from wellness to illness.  Students will apply concepts from anatomy and physiology and the foundations of practice.  15 hours lecture, 30 simulation lab, 45 clinical experience.  Pre-requisite or co-requisite: NUR 212.  

NUR 232 Pharmacology (3 credits)
This course provides students with the basic principles of pharmacology and pharmaco-therapeutics so that they are prepared to assume the role of the nurse in drug therapy.  Specific emphasis will be placed on drug classifications and the most common medications used to treat diseases across the lifespan.  Students will learn to utilize Internet-based resources for researching pharmaco-therapeutic and herbal/ over the counter medications.  45 hours lecture.  Pre-requisite:   NUR 212.  

NUR 303 Pathophysiology (3 credits)
This course focuses on the physical and chemical processes within the human body that can lead to disease, injury or death of an individual.  Emphasis is on the adolescent through elderly lifespan.  The student will focus on the human response to altered levels of function related to diseases, formulation of nursing diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention. 45 hours lecture.  Pre-requisite:  NUR 212.

NUR 313  Mental Health Nursing (5 credits)
This course focuses on the nursing care of individuals and families with mental health issues throughout the lifespan.  Mental wellness is viewed in relation to client education, growth and development.  Nursing students will focus on integrating the biological, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs of clients with moderate to severe emotional issues. 45 hours lecture, 90 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisites:   NUR 213.

 NUR 314  Community Health and Disaster Preparedness (5 credits)
Students will apply the principles of population health and epidemiology in both individual and family case studies, as well as in disaster scenarios.  Students will discuss disease prevention in the context of emerging global diseases, as well as within the constraints of personal and national financial resources.  30 hours lecture, 30 hours simulation lab, 90 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisites:  NUR 213.  

NUR 317   Nursing Care of the Child-bearing Family (5 credits)
This course presents the principles and concepts, as well as the clinical support, to care for clients and their families during childbearing.  The health processes of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and post-partum periods, as well as selected high risk or unhealthy processes are presented.  Emphasis is placed upon normal physiology and pathophysiology as the basis for clinical decision-making in the care of obstetric patients in both the ambulatory and acute care settings. 45 hours lecture, 90 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisites:  NUR 213.

NUR 318 Pediatric Nursing (5 credits)
This course presents the principles and concepts ,as well as the clinical support, for the bachelors prepared nurse to care for the well/ ill child and family.  Students will use family systems theory in the development of comprehensive plans of care for the newborn through adolescence, with an emphasis on disease and injury prevention, nutrition, assessment and treatment of common pathologic conditions and disorders of development.  These principles will also be applied to families with special needs.  45 hours lecture, 90 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisites:  NUR 213.  

NUR 357 Nursing Research and Theory  (3 credits)
This course will focus on nursing theory, nursing research, and evidence-based practice as applied to clinical nursing practice.  The students will have the opportunity to critique and evaluate nursing research and apply the research process to the development of a research proposal.  Middle-range theories will be identified and applied to the research process.  Students will also explore patterns and process for acquiring knowledge and its applications to the role of the professional nurse.  45 lecture hours. Pre-requisite or co-requisite:  Psych 102.

NUR 401  Care of the Adult in the Acute Care Setting  I (6 credits)
This course focuses on the role of the bachelors prepared nurse in the acute care setting, with clinical experiences expanding to the more acute care conditions found in critical care, the emergency room, and adult medical surgical units.  Emphasis will be placed on rapid patient assessment, expert team communication, performance of clinical skills, and outcome assessment.  Students will gain experience in working with families of acutely ill individuals as well as those at the end of life.  Students will be expected to plan, implement and evaluate comprehensive plans of care including principles of pharmacology, nutrition, pathophysiology, and psycho-social aspects of care.  The student will also provide client and family education that is individualized to the specific client situation.  45 lecture hours, 30 hours simulation laboratory, 45 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisites:  NUR 213.

NUR 402 Care of the Adult in the Acute Care Setting  II (6 credits)
This course focuses on the role of the bachelors prepared nurse in the acute care setting, with clinical experiences expanding to the more acute care conditions found in critical care, the emergency room and adult medical surgical units. Emphasis will be placed on rapid patient assessment, expert team communication, performance of clinical skills, and outcome assessment.  Students will gain experience in working with families of acutely ill individuals, as well as those at the end of life.  Students will be expected to plan, implement and evaluate comprehensive plans of care including principles of pharmacology, nutrition, pathophysiology and psycho-social aspects of care.  The student will be able to provide client and family education that is individualized to the specific client situation.  15 clinical conference hours, 225 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisites: NUR 401.

NUR 403  Pediatric Nursing  (5 credits)
This course presents the principles and concepts as well as the clinical support to care for the well/ ill child and family.  Students will use family systems theory in the development of comprehensive plans of care for the newborn through adolescent, with an emphasis on disease and injury prevention, nutrition, assessment and treatment of common pathologic conditions and disorders of development.  These principles will also be applied to families with special needs.  45 hours lecture, 90 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisites:  NUR 112.

NUR 404   Nursing Leadership and Management (3 credits)
This course prepares nursing students for clinical practice as a registered nurse at the bachelor degree level. The student will assume the role of nurse manager/ clinical leader.  Whenever possible, nursing students may spend additional hours in their chosen specialty field.  30 hours conference with faculty mentors, 45 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisite or co-requisite:  NUR 401.

NUR 458 Nursing Specialty Practice (4 credits)
Nursing students will have the opportunity to develop their role within their chosen specialty practice with guidance from faculty mentors.  15 hours conference with faculty mentors, 135 hours clinical experience.  Pre-requisite or co-requisite:  NUR 401.