What are accelerated nursing programs in Dallas? An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or ABSN, allows you to earn a BSN degree in as few as 16 months after completing any required prerequisite courses. With an ABSN in Dallas, you can fast-track your nursing career.
The entire U.S. is experiencing a shortage of nurses, including Texas. Texas anticipates a deficit of over 57,000 registered nurses by 2032, along with shortages of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Accelerated nursing programs in Dallas are helping to bridge the gap so that Texans can receive the skilled nursing care they need.
Concordia University Texas offers two locations for our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track: one in Dallas and another in Austin.
Our mission is to enroll more students to help solve the nursing shortage while empowering individuals to achieve healthcare careers they can be proud of. Through the ABSN track, students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months, not including the time needed to complete prerequisites.
Our accredited accelerated BSN track is available to students who have a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 non-nursing credits. With three start dates per year in January, May, and August, you could get started soon. Plus, you’ll benefit from our hybrid learning model that blends online coursework with onsite labs and clinical placements at top hospitals and healthcare facilities in Dallas or Austin. Before applying to our nursing track, however, take a closer look at the top reasons why students choose Concordia Texas.
Nursing students can benefit from following time-tested advice. Try these 11 tips for success in nursing school.
Why Choose an Accelerated Nursing Program in Dallas?
There is a strong hiring trend in Texas, as the nursing shortage is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. This demand comes as more Texans are moving into retirement age, necessitating greater levels of care. Furthermore, many of the registered nurses (RNs) who are currently working in Texas hospitals and clinics are looking ahead to retirement.
More Americans are also living with chronic health issues ranging from obesity to heart disease to arthritis, putting even more of a strain on the healthcare system.
In other words, there is both a growing need and opportunity for those called to nursing or desire a career that allows them to make a difference. Nurses are needed across a range of nursing specialties, including pediatrics, women’s health, geriatrics, oncology, and others. Additionally, there is plenty of room for advancement.
Texas also has a shortage of APRNs, such as certified nurse-midwives (CNMs). The need for CNMs is expected to increase by 43.6% from 2018 to 2032. Given the current projected supply of CNMs, it’s expected that 36.8% of the demand for CNMs will go unmet.
If you decide to become a nurse who specializes in obstetrics, you can advance your education and achieve the board certification necessary to become a CNM. By enrolling in an ABSN in Texas, you can get started sooner.
Second-degree nursing programs in Dallas provide an opportunity to enjoy a career with robust salary expectations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurses in Texas can make a healthy living. Statewide, RNs earned an annual mean salary of $90,210 as of May 2023. Furthermore, the BLS reports that registered nurses in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington earned even more: an annual mean salary of $94,240.
In short, if you’re considering becoming a nurse, now could be the right time to make the transition with Concordia Texas’s ABSN track.
Benefits of Choosing Concordia Texas’s Nursing Track in Dallas
We know you have several options when considering where to pursue your nursing education in Dallas, so why is the Concordia University Texas ABSN track the best option if you want to transition into a new nursing career?
First, Concordia University Texas has almost a century-long tradition of offering a quality undergraduate nursing education to students who desire to pursue their dream jobs with confidence. That legacy lives on to this day through our accelerated nursing track, with our students achieving a 97.18% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX for 2024, based on preliminary data.
Concordia Texas is also the only ABSN track in the area that doesn’t require a previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree for eligibility. Whether you have a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or 60 or more non-nursing college credits, we welcome you to apply.
Furthermore, while some other nursing programs in Dallas have limited capacity, the Concordia University Texas ABSN track in Dallas offers three start dates per year with spots available now for qualified students. This means you can start working toward your nursing career sooner.
In short, Concordia Texas students often choose our track because of our:
- Longstanding tradition of academic excellence
- High first-time NCLEX pass rates
- Three start dates per year
- Flexible admission requirements
- Online coursework, which offers greater flexibility
- High-tech nursing skills and simulation labs
- Clinical placements at top healthcare facilities in Dallas and Austin
How to Get Started with Accelerated Nursing Schools in Dallas
Concordia University Texas’s nursing track is designed for students who have either a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 non-nursing college credits. If you’re eager to start, take a closer look at the eligibility criteria to see if you qualify to apply.
We welcome applicants from a diverse range of academic backgrounds, including those who majored in English, biology, history, or any other subject. Both second-degree and transfer students should demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
You’ll likely need to complete some prerequisite courses, as well. Prerequisite courses are intended to ensure you start nursing school with the academic foundation necessary to succeed. Not everyone needs to complete every single prerequisite, as it depends on your prior academic background; however, all natural science prerequisites must be completed with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
If you’re not sure what prerequisite courses you’ll need to complete, don’t worry. When you contact Concordia Texas, we’ll connect you with an admissions counselor who can help determine if you meet our eligibility requirements and identify which required courses you need to complete before enrolling.
Furthermore, we make completing prerequisite courses accessible, offering a full slate of online nursing prerequisite courses in eight-week sessions via the same e-Learning platform used in our ABSN in Dallas. This allows you to acclimate yourself to online learning before you start.
Learn more about the prerequisites for nursing school.
In addition to the prerequisites, you’ll need a minimum score of 67% on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), taken within three years of enrollment in nursing school. You must also submit an admissions essay.
If you’re accepted into our nursing school, you’ll need to fulfill the following requirements before starting classes:
- Criminal background screening
- Drug screening
- Certified background checks for both the University and the Texas Board of Nursing
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
- Immunization requirements
Concordia Texas in Austin and Dallas: Now Enrolling
Are you ready to fast-track your transition to nursing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area? Concordia University Texas welcomes aspiring nurses to apply to our accelerated BSN track, where it’s possible to earn a nursing degree in as few as 16 months upon successful completion of the prerequisites.
Here, you’ll receive a quality nursing education infused with Christian beliefs and values that welcomes students from diverse backgrounds. Contact an admissions counselor today to get started.