A critical nationwide shortage of registered nurses has put new emphasis on just how vital nurses and nursing leaders are to the success of health care. In Louisiana, providers are actively searching for talented and empathetic nursing professionals. In the past, pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree in nursing was a significant hurdle, especially for people who already had a substantial number of credit hours. Fortunately, Tulane University provides a new path into the field through its accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (aBSN) program in New Orleans.
With three start dates per year and a 16-month curriculum, this newly launched program provides a comprehensive and adaptable nursing education for people with at least 60 non-nursing college credits who meet additional admission criteria. Students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), ready to confidently sit for the Next Generation National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and become practicing nurses. So, how exactly does the program work?
How Does Tulane’s ABSN Program Work?
Tulane’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in New Orleans is based on an innovative hybrid curriculum that blends traditional and new learning techniques, combining the interactivity and adaptability of online coursework with in-person, experiential learning opportunities in labs and clinical rotations. Experienced faculty and expert clinicians lead courses, and students experience a supportive and tight-knit learning environment with the rest of their cohort.
We emphasize a holistic, evidence-based approach to nursing practice. At Tulane, we value professional, ethical and culturally sensitive nursing care and dignity for every individual. Our well-rounded education helps shape nurses into the leaders our healthcare system needs, now and in the future.
Online Nursing Coursework
The first element of our accelerated BSN program is online nursing coursework. Asynchronous courses allow students to engage in each lesson and assignment according to their schedule and study habits (while still meeting assignment deadlines). The flexibility and convenience make it possible to finish our comprehensive nursing curriculum in an accelerated timeframe. Online courses offer various learning modules to make the coursework accessible to a wide variety of students.
In-Person Skills Labs and Simulation Experiences
While online-based coursework is invaluable to absorbing and understanding key nursing concepts, in-person skills labs and simulation experiences are where you apply that knowledge for the first time. Throughout the accelerated BSN program, Tulane students participate in labs administered inside the Tulane Medical Center. In nursing skills labs, you will practice daily nursing skills, including catheterizations, wound care, injections and more, all under the watchful eye of experienced professors and instructors in a risk-free simulated setting
Skills labs help teach you foundational procedures. These skills are applied in simulation experiences, which create practice clinical environments and place students in situations where healthcare scenarios can change rapidly. These experiences use interactive patient manikins and hospital-grade equipment. Through these regular sessions, followed by thorough debriefs, you’ll work with peers and gain skills you’ll apply to the real-world clinical setting.
Clinical Rotations at Top Area Healthcare Facilities
The third and final component of Tulane’s aBSN program in New Orleans is a series of clinical rotations at top healthcare facilities in and around the New Orleans metropolitan area. Made possible through our connections and partnerships within the industry, clinical rotations teach students to provide patient care in a real-world setting.
Our teachers and instructors lead students through clinical experiences, helping them apply skills and concepts gleaned from courses and labs. Beyond learning bedside manners and solidifying their skills, aBSN students are in regular contact with healthcare professionals who could become future coworkers. The networking opportunities provided through this curriculum can help students successfully make connections for their first nursing positions and beyond.
Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana
After you earn your BSN at Tulane, you’ll be in a prime position to begin your career in the vibrant city of New Orleans. Louisiana has a high demand for nurses; the Louisiana Health Works Commission estimates a shortage of over 40% for nurses in Louisiana by 2030. Furthermore, the BLS reports that, on average, nurses in the New Orleans metro area earn higher salaries than Louisiana’s national average — $78,470 as of 2022.
Being a nurse in New Orleans means enjoying job stability and a comfortable lifestyle while living in a city with arts and culture. You’ll enjoy the history, cuisine, weather and people that make New Orleans unique.
Shape Your Nursing Future with Tulane University
Now that you know everything Tulane’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in New Orleans offers, we hope you’re ready to reach out and take the next step toward pursuing an exciting and rewarding career in nursing.
You may be eligible if you have at least 60 non-nursing college credits. With our hybrid accelerated nursing program, you can earn your BSN in as few as 16 months and enter the nursing workforce sooner.
Contact our admission team today to see whether Tulane’s accelerated BSN program is right for you. Now is the time to create your nursing future!
