Nursing Accelerated B.S.
Program Overview
Full time for 16 months • Cohort Model • Scholarships Available
Charlotte, N.C. Start Dates: Fall 2026 (August 24, 2026) | Spring 2027 (January 11, 2027)
Providence, R.I. Start Dates: Fall 2026 (August 24, 2026) | Spring 2027 (January 11, 2027)
Get More Info | Apply | Program Structure & Outcomes | Facilities | Courses | Tuition | Prerequisites & FAQs | Technical Standards | Articulations | Accreditation
JWU is excited to announce our new Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), an accelerated program designed for individuals who already hold an earned bachelor’s degree or higher and wish to pursue nursing as a career. The ABSN program is aligned with the university’s current strategic plan and is designed to help address the nationwide nursing shortage.
Nursing courses will be completed over four sequential, full-time semesters during this 16-month program, which is offered at JWU’s Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina campuses.
The “cohort model” means that the small group you start with (your “cohort”) stays together through the duration of the program, forming a close bond and growing as practitioners together.
The university’s decades of hospitality and culinary excellence provide the foundation for JWU’s patient-centered, empathetic, and holistic approach to healthcare education.
Scholarship Opportunity
Scholarships are available for qualified applicants for up to $12,000 and will be determined at the time of acceptance.
Request Program Info
Complete the signup form below to receive program updates and other information about our Nursing program. Choose your campus preference: Providence or Charlotte.
Throughout the admissions process, you’ll receive personalized support from a dedicated enrollment counselor to guide you and help answer your questions. Filling out this form is also a way to connect with an enrollment counselor and verify your eligibility for the program.
Apply to JWU’s Nursing Program
Applications are now open for Providence and Charlotte. To apply:
Unlock Your Passion for Healthcare in a Team-Based Environment
Interprofessional education (IPE) is a cornerstone of JWU’s College of Health & Wellness, and it has proven effective for setting students up for success in a team-based, cooperative workplace.
What does this mean for you?
As healthcare becomes more reliant on technology and big data to inform treatment and management modalities, team-based competencies have become crucial for delivering effective, patient-centered care.
JWU’s program emphasizes the interdisciplinary and interprofessional connections between our health-focused majors so that students can see how the same concept is applied in different areas. Our students are educated alongside the colleagues they will ultimately work with once they graduate — an approach designed to stretch their ability to see things from different perspectives and enable them to be better clinicians and practitioners.
“The program aims fill the theory-practice gap, enabling our students to be ready to meet the challenges of today’s ever-changing healthcare industry,” notes Kiley Medeiros, program director for the Providence ABSN. “We are able to offer multi-disciplinary, interprofessional, simulation, and various hands-on clinical experiences to prepare our students to enter the healthcare workforce as a new registered nurse, and ultimately improve health outcomes.”
The program culminates in clinical rotations that provide hands-on experience and exposure to different specialties in healthcare, including pediatrics, obstetrics, acute care, mental health and community health. From working with healthcare professionals to understanding the complexities of delivering care as a team, it is a great way to apply and sharpen the skills learned as part of the Nursing foundation at JWU.
JWU’s Nursing Program Celebrates First Grads
After 16 intense months of hard work and determination, JWU’s inaugural accelerated Nursing class held its graduation pinning ceremony in December.
As College of Health & Wellness Dean Maura Iversen, Ph.D., told the joyful graduates, “You are paving the way for those who follow. We are so proud of the work you have accomplished.”
The program aims to fill the theory-practice gap, enabling our students to be ready to meet the challenges of today’s ever-changing healthcare industry.KILEY MEDEIROS
ABSN Program Mission
The mission of JWU’s Nursing program is to prepare graduates for professional nursing roles in an ever-changing healthcare environment and global community while practicing intellectual curiosity that promotes lifelong learning.
ABSN Program Philosophy
Nursing care and nursing education require competence to meet the needs of a diverse and ever-fluid healthcare and academic environment. These competencies require nurses and educators to continuously expand their underlying knowledge and skill base to allow for the acceptance and awareness of new evidence-based practices and approaches to client care that are diverse and inclusive to all.
We reach these competencies through opportunities for our students, graduates, and faculty to engage in real-world learning opportunities focused on interprofessional relationships, assisting clients of all health populations, socio-economic/educational levels, and age groups to manage their health status with respect, dignity, and purpose.
How JWU’s Program Is Structured
JWU’s program design is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)’s 2021 Essentials, which broadly defines the following 10 domains of competence:
• Knowledge for Nursing Practice
• Person-Centered Care
• Population Health
• Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
• Quality and Safety
• Interprofessional Partnerships
• Systems-Based Practice
• Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
• Professionalism
• Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development
Once completed, graduates of JWU’s program will be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN(r), the national licensing exam for registered nurses. (Individual states may require specific licensing or professional certification in addition to earning a degree in order to practice in the field. For more information, visit the JWU Catalog’s Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures.)
Facilities
Providence and Charlotte Simulation Centers
Both campuses have fully functional simulation centers designed to mimic a wide range of medical scenarios across the patient lifespan. They can accommodate up to 40 students and faculty.
“Our students are going to be practice ready on day one, and that is one of the big focuses and goals of our program,” explains Medeiros.
Functional specs for the Centers are as follows:
- 7 adult beds, 1 obstetrics bed, 1 pediatric bed, and 2 bassinets
- a high-fidelity suite that includes two high fidelity simulation rooms with a shared control room
- a large simulation space for the practice of essential competencies
- debriefing room(s) that can double as classrooms
- Projection screens to allow students to observe, document and refine one-on-one interactions
JWU Providence’s Nursing program is located in the newly-renovated Johnson Hall. The second floor houses offices and meeting spaces, with the Simulation Center on the third floor.
A short walk away is the Academic Center, which serves as a hub of interprofessional experiential learning for students across the university’s College of Health & Wellness, including those in occupational therapy, dietetics and applied nutrition, exercise and sport science, health science and public health.
Charlotte’s Nursing program will be housed on the fifth floor of the Academic Center, adjacent to the Biology classrooms.
Simulation Center Technical Specs (Both Campuses)
8-Laerdal® Human Patient Simulators
- 1 High fidelity adult human simulator
- 1 High fidelity Women’s Health/Obstetrics human simulator
- 1 High fidelity Newborn human simulator
- High fidelity Child human simulator
- 1 High fidelity Infant human simulator
- 3 Medium fidelity Adult human simulators
Laerdal® Sim-Cloud
- Faculty access to multiple pre-programmed case scenarios across the lifespan; used in conjunction with the human patient simulators
Laerdal® Sim-Capture
- Audio-visual system used in the simulation center
Various Task Trainers
- Products that allow the student to practice invasive nursing skills and procedures such as IV catheter insertion, urinary catheter insertion, naso-gastric tube insertion and many other skills
Sim2Grow
- An electronic medication administration and electronic health record system that replicates the process of safe medication administration and appropriate documentation
Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI)
- A comprehensive testing and review system that assists in the preparation of the student to successfully pass the NCLEX-RN® exam; education, testing, and remediation; along with multiple resources to assist faculty in teaching and course delivery
ABSN Program Outcomes
- 1. Use knowledge and skills required in the field of nursing practice to administer client care.
- 2. Design and deliver person-centered client care across diverse health populations and settings.
- 3. Provide evidence-based client care informed by the use of scholarship and appropriate information and healthcare technologies.
- 4. Use a systems-based approach to deliver client care aligned with essential principles of quality and safety within the field of nursing practice.
- 5. Integrate interprofessional partnerships into the planning and delivery of client care.
- 6. Demonstrate professionalism required in the field of nursing practice through personal, professional, and leadership development.
Sample Accelerated Nursing Courses
Semester 1
- Foundations of Nursing Practice
- Pathophysiology
- Health Assessment
Semester 2
- Care of the Adult I
- Mental Health Nursing
- Pharmacology
Semester 3
- Care of Children
- Maternal Newborn Nursing
- Leadership in Nursing
- Evidence-Based Practice & Healthcare Informatics
Semester 4
- Community/Public Health Nursing
- Care of the Adult II
Note: This is a partial listing of Nursing courses. Choose your respective campus page to review the complete catalog listing and curriculum.
Program Tuition
Note that the ABSN program is a second bachelor’s degree program, and the availability of Federal Financial Aid may be limited based on any aid you have already accepted. Scholarships are available.
If you have questions about your aid eligibility, potential scholarships, or other available education loan options please contact your JWU Financial Planner to discuss your options.
What are the admission requirements and prerequisite courses needed to apply to the Nursing Program?
The following are criteria for admission into the Nursing Program:
- Admission to the university
- Receipt of all official college/university transcripts to JWU Admissions
- Earned bachelor’s degree or higher at the time of application
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Must have a B (80) or higher for the following prerequisite courses (or approved substitution/s*):
Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
Organic/Inorganic Chemistry
Microbiology with Lab
Developmental Psychology
Human Nutrition
Statistics
*Approved substitutions as determined by the nursing program director. - All prerequisite courses must be completed in the last 10 years.
- Prerequisite courses can be in progress at the time of application but must be successfully completed before entry into the program.
- Prerequisite courses taken at institutions other than JWU will be evaluated by the Nursing program to determine transfer criteria.
When are application deadlines?
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to complete the application process early, as our class number is limited.
Can I apply if I still have a prerequisite course in progress?
Yes. Applicants may apply if they still have a prerequisite course in progress. However, if the applicant is admitted into the Nursing program, that admission will be contingent on successful completion of the prerequisite course with the required grade and GPA. The applicant must submit and updated official transcript indicating the completion of the course.
Can I apply if I have not yet earned my degree?
Yes. Accepted applicants must complete their bachelor’s degree and all prerequisite course work prior to program enrollment.
Where may I take the prerequisite courses?
Prerequisite courses may be taken at any regionally accredited institution. In order to ensure that the coursework you are considering taking meets the Nursing program’s admission requirements, we recommend that you contact JWU Admissions’ Transfer & Testing Office to evaluate the course. All prerequisite courses are offered at JWU.
May I transfer credits/classes from another nursing program if I am accepted?
JWU’s Nursing program is designed to be completed in a cohort format. All 60 credits of nursing courses must be taken, in sequence, at Johnson & Wales University. Unfortunately, JWU does not accept transfer credits from other nursing programs.
Will I be waitlisted if I am not accepted into the program?
JWU’s Nursing program has limited capacity to admit students. It is not uncommon for applicants to receive a waitlist notification. You will be notified as soon as possible if your status changes from “waitlisted” to “accepted.” (Keep in mind that JWU does not reveal your rank on the list of waitlisted applicants.)
Who determines the admission decision of an applicant?
Admission decisions are made by an admissions committee within the Nursing Program, but the admission process is centralized through JWU’s office of Admissions.
What is the cost of the program?
JWU’s ABSN program cost is structured with a student-first approach. Our inclusive program cost accounts for many benefits and services at no additional cost, including uniforms, textbooks, access to the Laerdal Simulation Lab, and more. Additional estimated expenses outside of the total program cost may include criminal background checks, health insurance, and others. For more information, visit Tuition & Fees.
How long does the Nursing program run, and when do students start?
This is a cohorted, second-degree, accelerated program that is roughly 16 months, or 4 sequential semesters from start to finish. The first cohort started at JWU’s Providence Campus in Fall 2023; the JWU Charlotte program began on May 6, 2024.
Is the Nursing program delivered online?
Most classes are offered in a traditional, in-person capacity. However, several of the courses are delivered in an asynchronous online model.
Can I work while completing the Nursing program?
Nursing programs are very rigorous, intense, and time-consuming. The Nursing Program at JWU must be completed at a full-time status. Some students are able to manage to work part time or less during the program. It is strongly recommended that nursing students do not work full time while enrolled.
I have additional questions. Who can I reach out to?
Refer to the listing below to contact Lucy Wilson (Providence) or Jessica Manglicmot (Charlotte).
Johnson & Wales University is dedicated to recruiting students from local colleges and universities through articulation agreements. JWU maintains articulation agreements with the following institutions to provide a pathway for undergraduate students to matriculate into this program:
- Bridgewater State University
- Dean College
- Providence College
- Roger Williams University
- Springfield College
Technical Standards
To participate in the Nursing program, each student, with or without reasonable accommodations, must be able to safely meet minimum technical standards as described for this program:
Contacts
Providence
Lucy Wilson
ABSN Admissions Counselor for Nursing and Health Sciences
Email
Charlotte
Jessica Manglicmot
ABSN Admissions Counselor for Nursing and Health Sciences
Email
Program Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Johnson & Wales University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.