Cara Bonfiglio
Student Admissions & Progressions Coordinator
School of Nursing - BSN Program
Start a Rewarding Career in Nursing With Baker’s Accelerated BSN
About
Baker’s accelerated nursing program can open doors to a rewarding and fulfilling career in the health care field.
Here are reasons to consider a BSN program:
- Enhanced job opportunities and career advancement: Employers seek nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and many health care facilities require BSN degrees for their nursing staff. Our BSN program can open doors to a wider range of job opportunities, including leadership roles, specialized nursing positions, and opportunities in research and education.
- Comprehensive education and advanced skills: BSN programs provide a more comprehensive nursing education, covering a broader range of topics and delving deeper into the science and theory behind nursing practice. This deeper understanding of nursing principles and practices enables BSN-prepared nurses to provide more-complex and specialized care to their patients.
- Preparation for graduate studies: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the prerequisite for pursuing advanced-practice nursing roles such as nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, and nurse midwife. You will also be prepared for master’s programs in nursing leadership or education or for doctoral study. These advanced-practice roles offer higher earning potential, greater autonomy, and the opportunity to provide specialized care in specific patient populations.
- Improved patient outcomes: Studies have shown that hospitals with a higher percentage of BSN-prepared nurses have lower patient mortality rates, fewer patient complications, and shorter hospital stays. This suggests that a Bachelor of Science in nursing can contribute to improved patient outcomes and overall health care quality.
Degree Details: Accelerated BSN
We created our accelerated nursing program in collaboration with Stormont Vail Health to increase the nursing workforce. We found that many people want to start a second career in nursing but are unable to complete a traditional BSN program. Our accelerated BSN allows you to work as a nurse sooner and allows you to take classes around your busy schedule.
You can complete our BSN program in just 14.5 months. Didactic courses are offered 100% online, and you will take your in-person clinical experiences at a Magnet designated hospital for nursing excellence. Your clinical experiences are spread throughout the semester and offered over a long weekend to decrease the need to take time away from your current job.
Accelerated BSN Program Prerequisites
You will need to complete these prerequisites to enter our accelerated nursing program. These can be taken on our Baldwin City campus or transferred from a two- or four-year regionally accredited college or university.
- Public Speaking (3 hours)
- English I (3 hours)
- English II (3 hours)
- Humanities, fine arts, religion, social science (9 hours). No more than 6 hours in any one discipline: literature, history, international language, sign language, art, music, dance, theatre, philosophy, religion, sociology, anthropology, government, geology, or geography
- General Psychology (3 hours)
- Developmental Psych, Human Development (3 hours)
- College Algebra (3 hours)
- Statistics (3 hours)
- Anatomy with lab* (4 hours)
- Physiology with lab* (4 hours)
- Microbiology with lab* (4 hours)
- Chemistry with lab* (4 hours)
- Nutrition* (3 hours)
*These courses must have been successfully completed within the past 10 years, but considerations will be made for work experience in these areas.
Accelerated BSN Program Highlights
Our nursing program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN), and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation means we meet rigorous standards that translate into BSN program excellence for you. Here are other factors that set our accelerated BSN apart:
- Highly experienced and motivated faculty. Our BSN program faculty are involved in conducting and disseminating research in the areas of restorative circles, student outcomes through growth mindset, simulation, and maternal-child nursing. They also participate in quality-improvement projects in our Magnet designated facility. Faculty regularly present at local, regional, and national conferences. Student scholarships are available to attend conferences with faculty.
- Hands-on facilities. Students learn in our high-fidelity simulation labs and a 15-bed skills lab. Here you will learn on the same equipment you will find in your clinicals.
- Great location. We are centrally located in the United States with airport access from Kansas City or Manhattan, Kansas. You will also find affordable housing opportunities.
- Personal attention. We have student success coaches available, and you will be assigned a faculty advisor. We also offer small class sizes—approximately 30 students in didactic classes and a 1:10 student-to-faculty ratio in clinicals.
What Can You Do With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
At Baker, 100% of our graduates are employed within four months of graduating. Stormont Vail Health offers jobs to our BSN program graduates, but you may also start your career on other paths:
- Nursing in health care facilities in specialty areas such as surgical, oncology, geriatrics, orthopedics, and maternal-child
- Community settings such as public health, school, clinic, and employee health nursing and safety and quality nursing
- Flight, military, and travel nursing
With a Bachelor of Science in nursing, you are also prepared to enter graduate school for these roles:
- Nursing educator
- Administrator (nurse manager or director)
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nursing researcher
Exceptional Experiences: Accelerated BSN Program
At Baker University, you will find exceptional experiences in our accelerated nursing program:
- NCLEX first-time pass rates well above state and national levels, averaging around 95 percent
- Weekly Zoom meetings to help you interact with our caring, expert faculty
- Student ambassadors who hold informational sessions for incoming students
- Student tutors to keep you successful in the classroom
- Student clubs such as Sigma Theta Tau, Baker Student Nurses Association, Nurses for Cultural Awareness, and Nurses Christian Fellowship
Examples of Accelerated BSN Program Courses
You will take courses in all nursing specialties and learn skills that will make you a great communicator in classes such as these:
- Mental health
- Maternal/newborn
- Pediatrics
- Community health
- Critical care
- Multiple areas within medical surgical nursing
- NCLEX prep courses
- Leadership and transition to practice
- Research
- Evidence-based practice
Program of Study
Total nursing credit hours: 62
Total BSN degree credit hours: 120
Note: 120 credit hours are required for graduation, 62 of which come from nursing courses.
Junior
Senior
01/02
Libby
Accelerated BSN
Kelly
Accelerated BSN
Financial Aid: Accelerated BSN Program
Our accelerated nursing program is more affordable than you may think. Grants, loans, and scholarships are all available. Baker is a top college when it comes to value. Learn more about our financial aid options.
Related Programs at Baker University
Interested in health care but not sure our accelerated BSN is for you? Consider these options:
- BSN + Bachelor’s in Public Health Dual Degree
- Master’s in Nursing Education or Administration