Texas has had a nursing shortage for a while — a fact the current pandemic has brought into even sharper focus. Between that and the challenges an increasingly complex healthcare environment present, there has never been a better time or place to become a nurse.
That’s why Concordia University Texas is especially proud to announce that it is expanding its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track to include an additional location in Dallas to help those who want to transition into the field and address the nursing shortage sooner.
Our CCNE-accredited accelerated BSN program, called ABSN@CTX, is available to students who have at least 60 non-nursing credits and is enrolling eligible candidates for its upcoming inaugural cohort.
ABSN@CTX offers three start dates per year — in January, May, and August — and involves a hybrid learning model that blends online coursework with onsite labs and clinical placements through top hospitals and healthcare facilities in Dallas.
Why Apply to ABSN@CTX 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?
With ABSN@CTX, you won’t have to wait as long to earn a well-respected BSN degree as you might have expected.
For starters, 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 ABSN@CTX students achieving a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in 2019.
Concordia Texas is also the only ABSN track in the area that doesn’t require a previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree. And while some other nursing programs in Dallas have limited capacity, the Concordia University Texas Accelerated BSN program in Dallas offers three start dates per year and has spots available now for qualified students.
How Does CTX’s Accelerated BSN Track Work?
Our accelerated nursing track in Dallas features an innovative blended learning model that combines online coursework with hands-on learning and real-world practice. Here’s how it works:
- Online coursework through our intuitive e-Learning platform covers an interactive and engaging curriculum taught by the same distinguished faculty who teach our campus-based programs.
- Skills and simulation labs in our high-tech site offer multiple opportunities to work closely with faculty as well as learn from the diverse experiences and backgrounds of your fellow nursing students.
- Clinical rotations begin your first semester and allow you to experience the daily work of nurses in a variety of settings around the Dallas metro area. Clinicals also offer an opportunity to network with healthcare professionals as you consider your post-graduation nursing career prospects.
What Are the Requirements for the Concordia University Texas ABSN Program in Dallas?
ABSN@CTX is designed for students with a minimum of 60 non-nursing college credits looking for a quick transition into nursing. This allows you to transfer your credits and earn a BSN in as few as 16 months and our instructors to focus exclusively on your nursing-specific coursework starting on day one.
While the accelerated nature of our ABSN track gives you the opportunity to pivot your education or career path without starting over, you may need to complete prerequisite courses before you can qualify for enrollment. We make completing them accessible, offering a full slate of online nursing prerequisite courses in eight-week sessions via the same e-Learning platform used in the ABSN@CTX track, so you can acclimate yourself to online learning before you start.
If you’re not sure what prerequisite courses you’ll need to complete, don’t sweat it. When you contact Concordia University, we’ll connect you with an admissions counselor who can help you determine if you meet our eligibility requirements or need to take any required courses to be eligible to earn your BSN in as few as 16 months.
Why Become a Nurse in Dallas - Fort Worth?
As mentioned above, Texas faces an urgent shortage of nurses that experts predict will worsen in the coming years if not addressed, as many of the state’s nurses near retirement age. In 2018, The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies projected the Lone Star State will have an unmet demand of roughly 57,000 registered nurses by 2032 — the nation’s second-worst nursing shortage behind California.
This demand comes as more Texans overall are moving into retirement age — and living longer, too — necessitating ever-greater levels of care. More and more Americans are also living with long-term, chronic health issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic, putting even more of a strain on the healthcare system.
These combined facts present both a growing need and opportunity for those called to nursing or who desire a new career that allows them to make a difference. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor of Statistics (BLS), nurses in Texas can make a healthy living. Statewide, RNs earned an annual median salary of $76,800 a year as of May 2020, with BLS reporting that registered nurses in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington earned more — $77,990 a year.
ABSN@CTX in Dallas: Now Enrolling
Are you ready to fast-track your transition to nursing in the Dallas - Fort Worth area? We’re currently accepting applications for our inaugural ABSN program cohort in Dallas. To apply or learn more about our 16-month ABSN track, reach out to our admissions team today.