Accelerated Nursing Program (ABSN, Second Degree)

Our accelerated second bachelor's degree in nursing program features:

• Accelerated completion – graduate in just four consecutive semesters (16 months). You must already have a bachelor's degree in another field to enroll in this program.
• Enhanced employability – More and more employers prefer nurses with a four-year degree
• A future of opportunity – A BSN degree prepares you for leadership roles and graduate nursing education later in your career, including our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.
• As a GMercyU nursing student, you’ll enter an active nursing community led by our experienced professors and health care leaders from across the region. You’ll also study at our convenient downtown Philadelphia or Bensalem location, which both feature state-of-the-art simulation equipment and training facilities.

GMercyU’s accelerated nursing program (ABSN) prepares you to become a confident, capable nursing practitioner with the skills valued by patients and employers. In this second degree nursing program, you can develop the comprehensive health science knowledge and practical clinical skills employers demand. In addition, you’ll establish a foundation for your future in the profession, with course content that covers leadership strategies and research capabilities. 

As a graduate of our ABSN program, you will be able to:

• Synthesize knowledge from the humanities, natural and behavioral/social sciences with current nursing knowledge as a basis for nursing practice
• Formulate nursing decisions which reflect consistency with moral, ethical and legal principles
• Use current professional standards to evaluate nursing practice of self and other members of the nursing team
• Collaborate with other health care providers and consumers in promoting the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities
• Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for direct and/or indirect nursing interventions and their outcomes
• Refer individuals, families and groups to appropriate community resources
• Use evidence-based nursing practice to improve the health of individuals, families and communities
• Communicate effectively with diverse groups and disciplines
• Function as a leader within nursing and interdisciplinary health teams in a variety of settings
• Use the role of advocate to facilitate access to health care
• Create a healing environment through the therapeutic use of self when caring for individuals, families, and communities
• Analyze the nursing care environment through the use of technological knowledge and skills

More BSN Degree Options to Fit Your Life

If you cannot commit to full-time accelerated nursing programs, or don't meet the prior education requirements for a second bachelor's, we also offer a Weekend BSN program and a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program on our Main Campus in Gwynedd Valley, PA. The Weekend BSN program, which can be completed in just three years, is another second degree nursing program available to students with a bachelor's degree in another field who want to transition to a career in nursing.  The four-year undergraduate BSN program is for aspiring nurses who do not already have a bachelor's degree in another field.

A Nursing Educational Community 50 Years in the Making

Gwynedd Mercy University has been a leading nursing school for more than 50 years. The community of nursing experts, scholars, and regional health care leaders we have developed—not to mention our thousands of nursing alumni—is an invaluable resource for your professional development and personal enrichment. It's why the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions has been a leader in accelerated nursing programs in PA for years.

Our nursing faculty members bring clinical expertise and a passion for the nursing profession to the classroom. In our small classes, they will become your partners and mentors as you bring your future into focus.