What Is Nursing School Like? Your Guide to the ABSN Track

If you’re considering nursing school, you probably have many questions going through your mind. What is nursing school like? Is nursing school hard? How does nursing school work, exactly? These are great questions—we’re here to provide some clarity on what to expect at nursing school.

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track at Concordia University Texas enables students to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months upon successful completion of the prerequisites, with enrollment locations in Austin and Dallas.

Nursing school is both challenging and rewarding. Although the faster pace of the ABSN track may seem daunting, the opportunity to kickstart your career as a registered nurse is well worth it.

So, what is nursing school like? In this blog, we’ll discuss what you can expect and how to set yourself up for success.

Do I Need Credits or a Completed Degree to Apply?

Since the ABSN track is an accelerated format, you must have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 60 credits from an accredited institution before enrollment. You may also need to complete the prerequisites and general education coursework taken through Concordia Texas.

You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the pre-nursing courses listed on the degree plan. Some applicants may be able to skip some of these pre-nursing courses depending on their previous degrees or coursework. Your admissions counselor will help you with this process.

Additional ABSN track requirements:

• An official transcript from each accredited institution attended
• Satisfactory completion of all prerequisites, including Concordia Texas’s Distinctive Prerequisites
• TEAS VI Exam score above 67%
• An essay
• CPR certification from the Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers course
• Clinical clearance immunizations, background checks, criminal history checks, drug screening, etc.

Admission to nursing school doesn’t have to be a paperwork headache. Your admissions counselor will help you navigate this process, such as by creating a requirements checklist.

How Long Does Nursing School Take?

Pursuing a BSN at nursing school is typically a four-year commitment. However, if you have at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible for an accelerated nursing track at Concordia Texas.

The ABSN track helps students earn a BSN in as few as 16 months after completing the required prerequisite courses. The ABSN track provides more flexibility by offering three start dates per year (January, May, and August).

Can I Start the ABSN Track Immediately with a Completed Degree?

It is possible to enroll in the ABSN without a completed bachelor’s degree, but it depends on your academic background and previous coursework. If you have earned a degree within the last few years from an institutionally accredited school, you may be able to skip the science prerequisites or at least significantly reduce the coursework required before enrollment.

When learning what to expect in nursing school, one crucial aspect to consider is the required preparation. Your admissions counselor will review your transcripts and provide an idea of what your prerequisite course load will look like.

What Is Nursing School Like on an Accelerated Timeline?

Nursing school on an accelerated timeline can be challenging but rewarding. The ABSN track at Concordia Texas consists of four semesters, each of which combines online and in-person learning. This will give you a well-rounded education that prepares you for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN®) and start your nursing career.

You may still be wondering, “What is nursing school like? How does nursing school work? The hybrid learning curriculum is at the heart of the Concordia Texas ABSN track. It includes three main components:

• Online classes: Learn the foundational nursing concepts—from adult and child health to pharmacology—in an accessible format that allows you to study when and where is most convenient, provided you meet the deadlines
• Skills and simulation labs: Practice technical nursing skills in a supportive skills lab environment under the supervision of an instructor. Then you can apply those skills in simulation labs during mock patient scenarios using high-fidelity medical manikins
• Clinical rotations: Gain firsthand experience of the daily life and responsibilities of the clinical environment under the guidance of professional nurses. Work with a variety of patient populations in hospital and outpatient clinic settings

Nursing school will be a busy time in your life, but it is necessary to thoroughly prepare you for a career as a registered nurse.

What Are Skills and Sim Labs Like?

You’ll acquire essential nursing skills and learn to make evidence-based clinical decisions in our nursing skills and simulation labs. In the nursing skills labs, you’ll practice essential tasks, such as taking vital signs, drawing blood, and placing IV lines and nasogastric tubes. You’ll also learn how to interview patients, discuss their symptoms, and safely assist those with impaired mobility.

In the nursing simulation labs, you’ll navigate realistically simulated patient care scenarios. You’ll interact with patient simulator manikins while following the nursing process and applying evidence-based theory to identify your patient’s medical issues, determine the likely cause, and develop appropriate responses.

A debriefing session follows each simulation lab, where the instructor discusses the scenario and explains what you did well and what needed improvement. Be sure to pay close attention to the debriefing sessions, take plenty of notes, and ask lots of questions.

What to Expect in Nursing School Clinicals

What is a nursing school clinical? In clinical rotations, you will work in actual healthcare facilities under the watchful supervision of instructors and preceptors. First, you’ll spend much of your time observing the RNs and performing simple patient care tasks. As your knowledge and skills grow, you’ll take on increasingly more demanding nursing tasks and directly assist patients in their recovery.

Clinicals are an essential component of nursing school education. They provide practical, real-world experience with a variety of patients dealing with a wide diversity of medical issues. Furthermore, clinicals provide invaluable professional networking opportunities and the chance to develop your own professionalism and bedside manner as a nurse.

Concordia Texas students complete clinicals in areas such as:

• Adult health
• Mental health
• Obstetrics
• Pediatrics
• Intensive care
• Acute care
• Long-term care

Can I Complete the Entire Degree Online?

No — only a portion of the curriculum is online. The purpose of the ABSN track is to produce the highest quality of nurses as quickly as the job market demands. Students must attend skills labs and travel to the clinical sites for that portion of their education.

While you can complete the computer-based learning and prerequisites at any location of your choice, you must live within a reasonable distance from campus while you earn your degree. Our remote learning model incorporates realistic patient care scenarios, but these are only effective if our students can put those lessons into practice on manikins and real patients.

Is Accelerated Nursing School Hard?

What is nursing school like in terms of difficulty? Although nursing school is challenging, it is well worth the effort. Completing an accelerated nursing track is a feat that requires persistence and motivation. Because the ABSN track at Concordia Texas condenses the traditional nursing degree into 16 months, learning happens at a quicker pace. You’ll be challenged to stay on top of your studies, engage in class activities, and hold yourself accountable.

Several common challenges faced by nursing students include:

• Handling the fast pace of the coursework
• Developing effective study habits
• Balancing online courses, nursing labs, and clinical rotations
• Staying motivated and focused
• Managing your academic and personal needs

Although these challenges are inherent to nursing school, they are short-lived. In as few as 16 months, you can be ready to graduate and begin the next chapter of your life as a registered nurse.

How to Overcome Nursing School Challenges

You can overcome the hurdles of the ABSN track by remaining proactive and developing study methods that work best for your unique learning needs. Commit to your learning and set yourself up for success by incorporating proven strategies into your nursing school journey.

These study tips can help you be successful at nursing school:

• Create and stick to a daily study schedule
• Take regular breaks between study blocks
• Keep your coursework materials well organized
• Form regular study groups with your peers
• Use active study methods, such as practice questions and flashcards

What Is Work/Life Balance in Nursing School Like?

Now that you know what nursing school is like, you may be wondering how to balance school with your personal life. Maintaining mental and physical health is vital for nursing students. Finding a balance between the demands of nursing school and your wellness may help to prevent burnout and empower you to better manage stress.

You must prioritize your nursing studies—you may have to turn down the occasional social activity. But it’s important to balance your busy school schedule with the personal pursuits that bring you joy and meaning. You should make time and space each day to exercise, spend time with family, call a friend, or enjoy a hobby.

You must decide which social activities and personal pursuits are worth your limited time. Choose the activities that bring you the most joy and meaning, and make sure you have time for them.

Here are a few ways to promote personal wellness during the ABSN track:

• Take time for a personal activity every day.
• Talk with your support system regularly, whether in person or via phone.
• Build friendships with your nursing school peers.
• Spend time outside every day.
• Prioritize your physical health by eating well and exercising regularly.
• Reach out for help if you feel overwhelmed.

How Can I Strengthen My Application?

There are a few things you can do to strengthen your nursing school application. Most importantly, you should review the study guide for the ATI TEAS test. Also, your GPA needs to be at least 3.0 in the prerequisite nursing course requirements.

Remember, we will accept your most recent letter grade, so you can retake any classes in which you earned a grade you’re unhappy with. An admissions counselor will help you develop a plan to create the strongest application possible.

How Long Will I Have to Wait to Start?

Once you have completed your prerequisites, you can start as soon as a new cohort opens. This happens three times a year. Our blended curriculum of online learning, on-site skills labs, and in-hospital clinicals allows Concordia Texas to enroll more nursing students every semester.

The length of time it takes to complete your prerequisites depends on your previous coursework. Your admissions counselor will give you the most accurate timeline and will determine your coursework needs before enrollment.

Will I Be Able to Work While I Earn My BSN?

Your ABSN track coursework should be treated like a temporary full-time job, but remember that it will last less than 2 years. Our ABSN track is immersive, rigorous, and—as the name implies—fast-paced. You should dedicate non-clinical days to completing online coursework. Clinical rotations require two to three hours of preparation per clinical day.

We want our students to always remember that their accelerated nursing education is a stepping stone to a rewarding career in nursing. You must dedicate most of your energy to completing your courses. This will prepare you for employment as soon as possible. While it's possible to work part-time during nursing school, you should first talk to an admissions counselor about your options.

Is Financial Aid Available for ABSN Students?

There are several funding options available to students. Our financial services team can help you discover them. Our admissions counselors will dedicate their time to help you through the process and are ready to connect with you.

Explore the ABSN Track

Now that you know what nursing school is like, it’s time to start accomplishing your career goals. Nursing is an incredibly fulfilling career, bursting with opportunity. Nursing will provide you with a lifelong profession with a comfortable salary, flexible scheduling, and growth potential—all while making tangible differences in people’s lives every day. There really is nothing like being a nurse.

To learn more about how to kickstart your nursing career through the ABSN track at Concordia University Texas, contact us via our online form. Our admissions counselors will connect with you. You have what it takes to succeed and make your nursing goal a reality.