Navigating the UCF ABSN Program: Requirements, Curriculum, and Cost

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a foundational step toward a rewarding career providing comprehensive care across diverse healthcare settings. The UCF ABSN (Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program is designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field who are seeking a career change. This article provides a detailed overview of the UCF ABSN program, covering its requirements, curriculum, and associated costs.

The Value of a BSN Degree

A BSN degree equips nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary for professional nursing practice. The program emphasizes clinical nursing practice, health promotion and maintenance, and preparation for leadership roles.

UCF BSN Program Tracks

UCF offers several BSN tracks to accommodate students with varying backgrounds and experience levels. These include:

Traditional BSN: A four-year program for students without prior nursing education.
Accelerated Second Degree BSN: A fast-paced program for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field.
Concurrent ASN to BSN: A pathway for students to take ASN courses at approved state colleges while concurrently taking BSN courses at UCF.
RN to BSN: An option for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing to earn a BSN.

Focus on the Accelerated Second Degree BSN

For individuals who are not Registered Nurses but who hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education (meeting university transfer eligibility requirements). The Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and wish to pursue a nursing career. A full-time ‘lock-step’ program, it takes four consecutive semesters to complete, including summers. This path provides qualified students with an opportunity to take ASN courses at approved state colleges while concurrently taking BSN courses at UCF. This fast-paced program typically takes four consecutive semesters to complete, providing an expedited pathway to becoming a registered nurse (RN).

Admission Requirements for the Accelerated Second Degree BSN

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and completion of eight prerequisites, including microbiology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, statistics, and psychology or sociology. Seven of these prerequisites must be completed by the application deadline, with all completed before the program start. Transfer credits for nursing and prerequisite courses must be evaluated by the College of Nursing. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.5 in both UCF and College of Nursing coursework and complete all major courses with a grade of “C” or better.

Read also: Your Nursing Career

Additional Requirements

Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog year, including any minors. Students should consult with an advisor in the College of Nursing Undergraduate Student Services Office for clarification of questions regarding prerequisite requirements. A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and a minimum 2.5 GPA in the nursing major are required for continuation and graduation from the nursing program. UCF Residency requirement: 30 hours (if applicable)

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by track. We recommend that you apply to UCF at least 3 months in advance of the nursing application deadline. By Oct. Jan. By Jan. Jan. 1 - Feb.

Curriculum Overview

Students complete 57 credit hours of nursing courses, including core classes like Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and specialized areas such as Adult Nursing Care, Family Nursing, and Public Health.

Core Courses

NUR3065 - Health Assessment: Focuses on developing comprehensive skills for evaluating client health status through systematic assessment techniques.
NUR3065L - Health Assessment Lab: Provides hands-on practice opportunities where students apply health assessment concepts in controlled laboratory settings.
NUR3028 - Essentials of Nursing Practice: Introduces fundamental nursing skills while emphasizing the integration of scientific principles with the nursing process.
NUR3028L - Essentials of Nursing Practice Lab: Offers laboratory experience to complement theoretical learning, allowing students to practice fundamental nursing skills in a controlled environment.
NUR3755L - Essentials of Nursing Practice Clinical: Provides real-world application of nursing fundamentals in long-term care facilities.
NUR3616 - Health Promotion Across the Lifespan: Examines strategies for promoting wellness and preventing disease throughout different life stages.
NUR3616L - Health Promotion Across the Lifespan Clinical: Provides practical experience in community health nursing with emphasis on population-based care.
NUR3125 - Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice: Explores the biological mechanisms underlying disease processes and their implications for nursing care.
NUR3145 - Pharmacology for Nursing Practice: Covers essential drug therapy principles and their application in nursing practice.
NUR3225 - Nursing Care of the Adult I: Introduces comprehensive nursing care for adult clients experiencing various health challenges.
NUR3225L - Nursing Care of the Adult I: Clinical Practice provides supervised clinical experience where students apply adult nursing care principles in healthcare settings.
NUR3816 - Professional Nurse Seminar: Examines the multifaceted role of professional nursing within healthcare systems.
NUR3445 - Nursing Care of Families focuses on family-centered nursing approaches for childbearing and childrearing families.
NUR3445L - Nursing Care of Families Clinical offers clinical experience in family-centered care settings where students practice nursing interventions for childbearing and childrearing families.
NUR3167 - Accelerated Nursing Research Seminar provides intensive exposure to research methodologies and their application to nursing practice challenges.
NUR4227 - Nursing Care of the Adult II advances adult nursing knowledge to include care of clients with acute, unstable, or life-threatening conditions.
NUR4227L - Nursing Care of the Adult II: Clinical Practice provides intensive clinical experience in acute care environments where students care for clients with serious health conditions.
NUR4257 - Introduction to Critical Care Nursing explores specialized nursing care required in critical care environments.
NUR4945L - Nursing Practicum offers individualized clinical experience designed to deepen expertise in a chosen area of nursing practice.
NUR4535 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing addresses nursing care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges across the continuum of care.
NUR4535L - Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical provides supervised clinical experience in mental health settings where students apply psychiatric nursing interventions.
NUR4637 - Public and Community Health Nursing examines population-focused nursing practice within public health frameworks.
NUR4637L - Public Health Nursing Clinical allows students to implement public health nursing concepts through community-based clinical experiences.

Clinical Practice

Clinical practice is integrated throughout the curriculum, with integrated rotations in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and underserved communities. Clinical courses emphasize health promotion, critical care, and evidence-based nursing practice. The program does not offer an online option, as clinical practice requires in-person participation. Traditional BSN programs at UCF Cocoa and UCF Daytona Beach | Concurrent ASN to BSN programs at Seminole State College or Valencia College. Same UCF Faculty. Same UCF Degree.

Estimated Program Costs

The displayed tuition figure represents an estimated tuition cost at University of Central Florida. For a breakdown of nursing program costs please review Programs list below. UCF charges about $683 per credit hour for out of state undergraduate students. It takes about 32 credits to complete the program = $21,856. Uniforms and books are another $2,000. This calculation is for in-state tuition only. I'm aware it's around $50,000… just trying to get a better idea.

Financial Aid

As far as I know, UCF requires you to pay back any money they lend you. Now Florida Hospital's nursing program gives students loans they don't have to pay back for a guarantee to work for them for a few years.

Accreditation and Licensure

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing. The Nursing, Accelerated Second Degree B.S.N. program will meet the educational eligibility criteria for the National Council for Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for obtaining a license to practice as a registered nurse in Florida. Out-of-state instructional limitations apply to this degree program. NCLEX pass rates retrieved from the institution's (State) Board of Nursing.

Career Prospects

A significant number of UCF BSN graduates choose to stay in Florida after completing their degree - 92% of them. Florida has one of the highest employment levels of registered nurses who earn an annual mean wage of $69,510. Graduates are prepared to work in various healthcare settings, with strong job prospects due to UCF’s excellent reputation in nursing education. The BSN curriculum provides a strong foundation for entry-level nursing practice and advancement into leadership positions and graduate studies.

Advanced Nursing Programs at UCF

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs are designed to acclimate students to the advanced professional role. Those who do not have a nursing bachelor's degree may enter upon completion of prerequisite classes. The program prepares students for roles as educators, professional leaders, clinical specialists and more. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to educate students at the highest degree level available in the field of nursing. The program is offered online with two multiple-day onsite intensives per year. This option is designed for licensed registered nurses who have completed a BSN.

Read also: Paying for USF ABSN

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