Rutgers–Camden Accelerated BS in Nursing (ABSN)
Last updated: June 17, 2025
Program Address
Rutgers School of Nursing | 530 Federal Street | Camden, NJ 08102
Program Overview
Rutgers–Camden Accelerated BS in Nursing (ABSN)
The Rutgers–Camden Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offers a fast-track pathway into the nursing profession for individuals who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Designed to be completed in approximately 15 months over four consecutive semesters, the program combines rigorous academic coursework with hands-on clinical experience in diverse healthcare settings throughout southern New Jersey and the Delaware Valley. Students learn in a supportive cohort model and benefit from access to advanced simulation labs, expert faculty, and a range of academic support services through the SNC-CARES initiative. With a curriculum grounded in nursing theory, clinical judgment, and compassionate care, the Rutgers–Camden ABSN prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and transition confidently into professional nursing practice or advanced study.
Program Structure & Duration
- Length: Full-time accelerated program completed in four consecutive semesters (including summer) — approximately 15 months
- Format: Cohort model with a structured sequence of lectures, labs, and clinical rotations; students progress together.
2. Curriculum Highlights
- Clinical Training: Comparable quality and intensity to the traditional BSN program, with clinical practice in partner hospitals across the Delaware Valley and Southern New Jersey.
- Courses likely include (based on standard ABSN content):
- Foundations of Nursing
- Health Assessment
- Pharmacology
- Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, Mental Health Nursing
- Community Health & Nursing Research
- Clinical Hours: 3–4 days per week, shifts including weekends or evenings (6:30 am–10:30 pm)
3. Supportive Learning Environment
- Cohort-based progression enhances peer support.
- Academic Resources (SNC-CARES): includes advising, tutoring, mentorship, clinical placement assistance
- Student Success Services: such as nursing success coaching, remediation plans, and robust academic support
- High-tech Facilities: Simulation labs and modern learning spaces across a 100,000 sq ft facility
4. Accreditation & Licensure Preparation
- Accreditation: Rutgers–Camden School of Nursing is fully accredited (implicitly via institutional accreditation; standard for NCLEX eligibility)
- NCLEX Eligibility: Graduates are qualified to sit for the NCLEX‑RN and pursue advanced degrees like the DNP
5. Admission Requirements
- Degree Requirement: Must hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field
- Prerequisites (all completed before matriculation; some conditional acceptance possible):
- General Chemistry or Organic Biochem II (4 cr w/ lab)
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II (8 cr w/ labs)
- Microbiology (4 cr w/ lab)
- Statistics (3 cr)
- Human Growth & Development (3 cr)
- Nutrition (3 cr)
- Ethics course (3 cr)
- Science Prereqs Timing: Must be completed within 10 years of program start
- GPA: Not specified online; applicant pool is typically competitive (e.g., 3.0+ reported elsewhere) .
- Standardized Tests: No TEAS requirement mentioned officially; external sources suggest TEAS ≥80% may be used.
6. Tuition & Financial Information
- Not publicly listed in search results; tuition details available via official “Tuition & Fees” page on the school website—you’d need to check that for current numbers .
7. Application & Start Dates
- Start Terms: Both Fall and Spring entry options
- Deadlines (from 2025 Info Sheet):
- Spring admission: by October 1
- Fall admission: by February 15
8. Outcomes & Reputation
- Employment/Graduate Study Rate: 95 % of nursing grads are employed or in advanced programs shortly after graduation .
- National Ranking: Rutgers–Camden DNP is #48; School praised for male nurse representation.
Feature | Rutgers–Camden (ABSN) | Rutgers–Newark (Second‑Degree BSN) |
---|---|---|
Program Length | ~15 months (4 consecutive semesters, including summer) | 14 months (4‑semester accelerated) |
Program Format | Cohort-based; structured lectures, labs, clinical rotations | Cohort-based; in-person sequence of lectures, labs, clinicals |
Curriculum & Clinical Hours | Standard ABSN topics (med-surg, ped, psych, maternity, community, pharmacology); clinics 3–4 days/week with varied shifts | 63 credits of nursing coursework; clinical placements with 200+ NJ partners; day/evening/weekend availability |
Prerequisites | Anatomy & Physiology I & II (with labs), Microbiology, Chemistry/Biochem II, Statistics, Human Growth & Dev, Nutrition, Ethics — sciences within 10 years | Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, Organic Biochem or Chem II, Nutrition, Statistics, Developmental Psychology, General Psychology, Sociology — sciences within 10 years; specific grade cut-offs apply |
GPA Requirement | Not officially specified; competitive applicant pool (~3.0+) | Minimum 3.3 GPA for first bachelor’s degree required |
Standardized Test | TEAS may be considered informally; no official TEAS/HESI requirement | HESI A2 required as diagnostic upon onboarding; does not affect admission |
Support Services | SNC‑CARES advising, tutoring, simulation labs, success coaching | Diagnostic HESI prep, simulation facilities, academic and clinical support |
Start Terms & Deadlines | Fall (apply by Feb 15) and Spring (Oct 1) admission | Summer (begin May; apply by Feb 1) and Spring (apply by Oct 1) |
Tuition & Fees | Not publicly listed | Approximately $33,000 total (Newark ABSN cost) |
Accreditation & NCLEX Eligibility | Accredited; graduates eligible for NCLEX-RN and advanced study | CCNE-accredited; 90% first‑time NCLEX-RN pass rate |
Outcomes & Reputation | 95% employed or pursuing advanced degrees; high placement rates | 90% NCLEX pass rate; top-ranked NJ BSN, strong reputation |