Nursing — Accelerated Program – BS

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Undergraduate Major

Modes of study:

Blended
·
In person

Why is USM’s 15-Month Accelerated Nursing Program perfect for your career change in Maine?

Are you ready for a meaningful life change? Do you feel like you’re stuck in your current career and want to help people in your community?

The USM Accelerated Nursing program is ideal for adults who already hold a bachelor’s degree and want to pivot into an intentional and fulfilling career in nursing. Whether you aspire to work as a hospital nurse, school nurse, or in primary care, hospice, or public health, you can earn your Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in just four semesters. Fast-track your entry into one of the most in-demand and highly respected professions by being in USM’s intensive Accelerated Nursing program. You’ll focus on nursing and taking care of patients, starting on day one.

Because you have a prior bachelor’s degree, you don’t have to worry about spending time on prerequisites you’ve already earned. Instead, our program prepares you for a career in nursing, with every class acting as in-depth preparation for taking the NCLEX.

It’s no accident that the University of Southern Maine Accelerated Nursing program has a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX, thanks in part to using innovative software called ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute). Making ATI a crucial component in the classroom is in large part why students in this fast-tracked and immersive program won’t fall through the cracks.

But the other reason? Faculty and nursing staff do everything in their power to ensure student success while participating in the university’s Accelerated Nursing program, including offering open labs to help students receive as much hands-on experience as possible before graduating.

Academic catalog

Learn from an engaging curriculum to receive an integrative and rigorous liberal education from one of the best accelerated nursing programs in New England.

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Program duration

Typical completion time: 15 months.

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School

School of Nursing

Admissions

Apply by October 1 for a May start.

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Why should you choose to become part of the USM Accelerated Nursing Program?

Offer exceptional patient care: Located in the heart of Portland, where practicum placements abound, USM prepares the most newly licensed registered nurses of any university in Maine.
Graduates boast an impressive 100% passing rate: Graduates in the USM accelerated nursing program routinely achieve a 100% pass rate when taking the NCLEX-RN® exam.
Be fully prepared to take the NCLEX: Each class uses integrated Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) software. ATI software ensures you’ll establish and learn necessary skills and includes built-in remediation if you fall behind.
State-of-the-art resources: USM boasts a new simulation center featuring hospital rooms, home settings, and VR training — all on our Portland campus.
Complete a hands-on practicum: Alongside a preceptor, you’ll work 168 hours to complete your practicum. You’ll work in the same capacity and shifts as the nurses you’re assigned to.
Finish your degree faster: This is an intensive 15-month program, meaning you’ll start in May and finish by the following August.
Enjoy affordability without compromise: USM delivers a high-quality nursing education at a competitive cost, allowing you to advance your career without excessive financial burden.
Earn credentials you can trust: This program is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Earn your CNA: Become eligible to obtain your CNA certification halfway through this program, meaning you can start work immediately as a CNA while continuing your education.

If you're a student interested in enrolling in the Nursing — Accelerated Program, BS, consider scholarship opportunities.

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Scholarships offer valuable financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. You’ll be automatically considered for Merit Scholarships when you apply for admission by the deadline. Additional opportunities are available.

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Frequently asked questions about the Accelerated Nursing Program

No, this program is primarily offered in the in-person or face-to-face modality; so online options will be limited to a couple of courses maximum over the full sequence of the program.

Unfortunately no; USM’s Accelerated Nursing NS uses your GPA at the time your most recent bachelor’s or higher degree was awarded and individual courses completed post-degree would not change that GPA.

For students in this scenario, we encourage you to pursue a related Master’s degree and work to earn a degree GPA above that level in order to boost your academic profile; or you can enroll at a local community college like Southern Maine Community College (SMCC).

You can also consider enrolling in the local community college or hospital schools’ ADN and RN program, and upon completion may then apply to transfer into our RN-BS or RN-MS programs.

Applications open in June and must be completed with all materials received by USM before the October 1 deadline. Learn more about how to apply and necessary materials.

No, prerequisite courses may be “in progress” during the fall and spring semesters provided they are completed successfully before the program starts in the summer term in mid-May.

While technically not “required” for admission to the program, our Nursing Faculty have determined that taking at least one of these before starting our program will significantly help students better balance their coursework in their first summer term.

As such, we strongly recommend students complete at least one of those courses before enrolling. In order to incentivize this choice: Admissions will award one bonus point for each Supportive Course completed before the application completion deadline of October 1 in the application evaluation process.

USM can consider for transfer any courses completed at a regionally accredited college/university provided the course is college-level (not remedial nor developmental) and is passed with a grade of “C” or better for Nursing purposes. USM does not award transfer credit for online science course labs. Students considering taking science courses with labs should explore courses with “in person” or “face-to-face” modalities instead of online.

Many sources for online courses are not actually regionally accredited colleges, but are instead private businesses offering such courses. Courses from these types of businesses are non transferrable, making them unacceptable as prerequisites for this program.

Students considering these should contact the USM Admissions Office to confirm whether the courses they’re considering would be considered transferable or not. Course equivalence is not based on course title, but on a combination of factors including content, outcomes, modalities, credits, and alignment.

Students looking to verify the transferability or any prerequisite or supportive course may email Admissions before registering for such a course.

Students enroll in two years of coursework over the accelerated 16-month timeframe of the program. They can use the information listed here under “Differential Tuition Level 3”, and then double those numbers to gain a ball-park estimate of the full cost of the program.

Because this program is, by definition, a bachelor’s degree beyond the first, that typically eliminates traditional financial aid and scholarship options. This leaves student loan options, which can be complex.

Students are strongly encouraged to work with their USM Financial Aid Counselor to gain a more realistic picture of what their financial aid options, if any, might be limited to.

Yes, such students should work with our International Programs Office on the details of pursuing that student VISA program.

Students in this program are typically engaged in a combination of on-campus classes and off-campus clinical experiences five days per week throughout the full 16-month program. While we make every effort to condense schedules as much as possible, students should be aware that we cannot guarantee accommodations for work schedules or other personal commitments when assigning classes and clinicals.

Classes are on weekdays, and typically between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The majority of clinicals are also on weekdays but are typically 7 a.m.-3 p.m. or 3 p.m.-11 p.m. We may also have some limited weekend clinical options each semester.

Students are not permitted to arrange their own clinical or practicum placements or secure their own instructors. All placements are coordinated and assigned by the USM School of Nursing, with consideration given to information collected through student placement surveys. Clinical placements are typically located within approximately a one-hour drive of the USM Portland campus.

How will you accelerate your nursing career at the University of Southern Maine?

Accelerated Program, BS nursing students can be found at just about any age, proving the flexibility of this degree at USM.

Where can the USM Accelerated Nursing Program take your career?

Our Accelerated Nursing program in Maine prepares you to begin nursing in many health care settings, including specialty areas. Whether you’re striving to become an acute care nurse, a critical care nurse, a school nurse helping children, or wish to work in a primary care setting such as hospice, receiving your Nursing – Accelerated Program, BS will allow you to reach new heights in your career helping patients.

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What can you expect when you join the University of Southern Maine’s 15-month Accelerated Nursing Program?

Students who are New England residents may qualify for reduced tuition with the NEBHE Tuition Break Program!

Are you a New England resident?

New England residents may qualify for a reduced tuition rate thanks to the NEBHE Tuition Break Program.

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The School of Nursing at USM is honored to have received the prestigious INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement.

Endorsed for exceptional standards

The University of Southern Maine’s School of Nursing has achieved the prestigious INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™. This recognition highlights our dedication to excellence and innovation in healthcare simulation.

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Accredited in Maine and nationally

USM’s Accelerated Nursing Program is proud to be accredited by the nationally-recognized Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

More about CCNE accreditation

Admission information: Nursing – Accelerated Program, BS

The Accelerated Program admits students for the summer only, and courses begin in May. Admission is on a competitive basis.

Application deadlines

Apply by October 1 for summer term start.

Notification of Application Decisions: Students will be notified by postal mail by early January.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must meet the University’s general undergraduate admission requirements, which can be found in the Admissions section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
In addition to general requirements, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have either attained or will attain before starting the program a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution; and
- Hold a 3.0 or higher GPA from the most recently earned bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree; and
- Completed college-level courses in Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology I (lab not required) and Anatomy and Physiology II (lab not required), as well as Microbiology with lab; with grades of C or better prior to the May start of the program;
- Be able to satisfy the USM Nursing Clinical Health and Background Check Requirements prior to the May start of the program (see the School of Nursing website for further information).
- While not required for initial admission consideration, completed coursework that is a direct equivalent to Pathophysiology and Human Nutrition will strengthen an application and ease a student’s first semester in the program.

Students should verify that they meet the eligibility criteria listed above. Applicants who do not meet the criteria will not be considered for admission into the BS in Nursing — Accelerated Program.
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- Current USM students who will graduate in May must apply for re-admission. They should follow the steps for Readmission/Reactivation listed on the online application form.
Submit the following documents along with the USM Application:
- Online Supplemental Form for Accelerated Nursing; and
- Nursing essay — the essay prompt is described on the Supplemental Application to Nursing.

For questions about the application process, or to check the status of a completed application, please contact the Office of Admissions.

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Nursing — Accelerated Program – BS