Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABiN) Degree Program

Western Connecticut State University welcomes any student with a Bachelor’s degree in any other field the opportunity to pursue nursing. This new Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABiN) degree will apply some of your past classes towards this second Bachelor’s degree. There are pre-requisite courses that must be complete prior to completing the nursing degree. Overall, the academic history will be reviewed looking for completion of the pre-requisite courses and an evaluation of the overall academic record.

What is required:

• Bachelor’s Degree Completed
• GPA at minimum 2.7
• Sciences not more than 10 years old (Anatomy and Physiology Part I and II C+ or higher, one organic and inorganic chemistry course C+ or higher)
• Microbiology C or higher
• Health and Nutrition C or higher
• Elementary Statistics or Biostatistics Class
• Writing Intensive II
• Intro to Sociology
• Intro to Psychology
• An Oral Communications Class

This program will begin Summer Session I Year I and will end Summer Session III in Year II (total months 15). This is primarily a day program. There may be clinicals on weekends and in the evenings on occasion. Currently this program has been approved by the Board of Regents and the State Board of Nursing. The (baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing or post-graduate APRN certificate program) at Western Connecticut State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Program Outcomes:

1. Synthesize knowledge from arts, sciences, and humanities with nursing theory as the basis for making nursing practice decisions
2. Exercise clinical judgement in using the nursing processes to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate care provided to individuals, families, and communities
3. Apply clinical judgement in the provision of preventive, curative, supportive, and restorative care for individuals, families, and communities in both structured and unstructured settings.
4. Use a variety of communication techniques, in the process of assessment, counseling, and therapeutic interventions with clients, families, and populations.
5. Develop and implement a variety of strategies in the provision of health teaching for clients, families, and populations.
6. Utilize scientific inquiry, technology and research findings to improve nursing care delivery and to advance the profession.
7. Identify information and resources to achieve optimum client outcomes.
8. Demonstrate leadership, management, and collaborative skills as a member of an interprofessional team within the health care delivery system.
9. Apply autonomous ethical decision making and advocacy in the care of clients
10. Demonstrate accountability in accordance with standards of professional nursing practice.

The following information must be submitted either before or by the start of ABiN classes.

• Current health form
• Results of either PPD skin test or chest x-ray or QuantiFERON blood test
• Evidence of measles, mumps, and rubella/rubeola, and varicella vaccinations or antibody titers
• Evidence of Hepatitis B vaccination, Hepatitis B titers or signed declination to receive vaccine
• Tdap vaccine completed within the last 10 years
• Initial Covid vaccine series and booster
• CPR certification Basic Life Support (Health Care Provider) American Heart Association or American Red Cross (Professional Rescuer)

Clinical health requirements are subject to change depending on Department of Public health guidelines and/or clinical agency requirements.  Students without documentation of health requirements and/or CPR certification will not be allowed to participate in clinical experiences and may receive a clinical warning.

 Retention

1. In order to remain in the Nursing program, students must earn at least a “C” grade in all courses with a NUR designation including Microbiology (BIO 215) and Introduction to Human Nutrition (HPX 203). **Please be reminded that ABiN students who are transitioning between summer I and summer II/III are required to complete a Medication Math Test and must pass with > 85**.  This is administered during the Final Exam Period for NUR 105.
2. In order to remain in the Nursing program, nursing students must fulfill academic requirements and must also show evidence of meeting the behavioral objectives (cognitive, psychomotor and affective) of preparation for professional nursing as described and distributed in each nursing course with a NUR 200, NUR 300, and NUR 400 designation.
3. A student who receives a grade of “C-” or lower in a Nursing course, whose cumulative grade point average has dropped below 2.50, who has withdrawn from a NUR 200, NUR 300, or NUR 400 level nursing course, who has taken a leave of absence from the Nursing program (whether medical or otherwise), or who has withdrawn from the Nursing program must apply for readmission to the Nursing program. The student may be readmitted to the program provided that, in the judgment of the nursing faculty, the student meets the criteria for readmission.
4. Any student who receives more than one course grade below “C” in any of the nursing courses will not be readmitted to the Nursing program.  In addition, any student who has for any reason reapplied and been readmitted and then subsequently withdrawn or fails, will not be allowed to reapply a second time.
5. Students who demonstrate an unsafe level of patient care will not be permitted to continue in the clinical area.
6. Under provisions of Public Act 86-365, students whose ability to function is impaired or who have engaged in unethical or illegal acts, or whose behavior does not conform to accepted standards of the Nursing profession may jeopardize their eligibility for obtaining or retaining professional nurse licensure in the State of Connecticut. (A copy of the act with explanatory material is available for review in the department office.) Such conduct or behavior may also be grounds for disciplinary action, including suspension or dismissal from the program, by the Nursing faculty or departmental administrator.

Graduation

1. The student must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 based on at least 120 credits earned (nursing major, general education and free elective requirements).
2. The student must have at least a “C” grade in all Nursing courses.
3. The student must have sustained evidence of academic and behavioral characteristics acceptable for professional nursing as set forth in the philosophy and objectives of the Department of Nursing.

Professional Nurse Licensure

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to the State Board of Examiners for Nursing in Connecticut, or in any other state of their choice, for examination for Professional Nurse licensure. Each state board may have additional criteria for eligibility according to the laws of the state. In Connecticut, the limitations for eligibility for licensure are delineated in Public Act 86-365. A copy of this act is available for review in the department office.

Health Policies and Other Requirements

Because of the nature of the clinical experiences and regulations of various clinical agencies utilized in the nursing program, all Nursing students are required to adhere to departmental policies in addition to the immunizations required of all university students. This information may be obtained directly from the department.

In addition to the above stated health requirements, students may need to meet additional requirements identified by a clinical affiliating agency, including a criminal background check, drug testing, and or finger printing checks. Clinical agencies reserve the right to refuse clinical placement to students who are not up to date with required immunizations, and do not pass the background check, drug testing, and or fingerprinting testing.

If a student’s physical or emotional health status is deemed unsafe for clinical laboratory experiences by the Nursing faculty, the student may not attend clinical laboratories. Appropriate clearance may be required prior to the student returning to the clinical laboratory.

Additional Requirements

Students are required to furnish their own uniforms and to provide their own transportation to clinical facilities. Students may also be required to have health insurance and are responsible for any medical care administered as a result of clinical assignment.

All students must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as a healthcare provider prior to entering the summer clinical sessions, and must maintain current certification to be eligible to attend clinical experience.  It is recommended that students obtain their CPR certification from the American Heart Association and/or the American Red Cross.  In addition to liability protection under the Statutes of Connecticut [Chapter 170, Section 10-235(a)], the university carries professional liability insurance coverage for nursing students.

Summer Session I

• NUR 105 Medication Math Course Online Asynchronous (1 credit)
• NUR 201 Health Assessment class (meets twice per week), College Lab (meets twice per week) (4 Credits)
• NUR 205 Fundamentals of Nursing class (meets twice per week) (4 Credits)

Summer Session II-III

• NUR 225 Scientific Principles Underlying Nursing Practice class (meets twice per week) (3 credits)
• NUR 235 Clinical Practice I class (meets twice per week), Clinical/Lab (meets once per week), Clinical (meets once per week) (5 credits)

Fall Session (Schedule will be made by Department)

• NUR 255 Clinical Practice II class (meets twice per week), College Lab (meets once per week), Clinical (meets once per week) (6 credits)
• NUR 327 Community Health Nursing class (meets twice per week), Clinical (meets once per week) (6 Credits)
• NUR 361 Nursing Research online (2 credits)

Winter Intersession 

• NUR 300 Mental Health Nursing class (meets twice per week), Clinical (meets once per week) (4 credits)

Spring Session (Schedule will be made by Department)

• NUR 325 Maternal Child Nursing class (meets twice per week), College Lab (meets once per week) and Clinical (meets once per week) (7 credits)
• NUR 335 Clinical Practice III class (meets twice per week), College Lab (meets once per week), Clinical (meets once per week) (8 credits)

Second Summer Session I-III

• NUR 374 Leadership & Management in Nursing Practice online (2 credits)

• NUR 475 Nursing Practicum class (meets one to two days per week) and 135 hours of clinical various days of the week (6 credits)
• Online Preparation Program for NCLEX