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Clinical Placement Services
PA’s Longest-Running CCNE AccreditationApplications are currently being accepted for next intake - Fall 2024
The Wilkes University online ABSN is a fast and flexible pathway to becoming a nurse in Pennsylvania. It is designed specifically for career-changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree.
Online coursework offers flexibility, while your on-campus residency and in-person clinicals provide hands-on experience.
The Wilkes online ABSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and features:
Please note: the minimum requirements are outlined below. Admissions may request additional information for a more in-depth review.
For more details on requirements and the admissions process, please fill out the form to Access Your Program Guide
Our Accelerated BSN program is designed to build on your bachelor’s degree in any field. You will need some scientific knowledge to keep up with the accelerated and intense nature of the program though. The following courses ensure that you are familiar with basic concepts you’ll need to succeed in the online ABSN.
Upon graduation, you will be fully prepared to join the nursing profession—this includes taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam to become a licensed registered nurse (RN).
Competency-based assessment ensures you’ll graduate ready to enter the field and begin your new career.
Wilkes University was the first CCNE-accredited school in PA to offer an online ABSN, and we also boast PA’s longest-running CCNE accreditation at the baccalaureate level.
Every cohort of students that we graduate helps us improve the program, which means we’re continuously learning to better prepare you for your new career.
Wilkes is a small, non-profit university that offers big opportunities. Our students enjoy a supportive environment here and go on to do great things at leading healthcare providers, such as:
The Clinical Placement team works with you to identify a quality ABSN placement that is both compliant and valuable to your success as a nurse.
During clinicals, you will put online learning into practice with real patients. Under the supervision of a preceptor or clinical instructor, you will gain hands-on nursing experience across various settings and specialties.
Please note: placements may include weekends and be up to 125 miles from your location.
* The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master's degree in nursing/ Doctor of Nursing Practice and post-graduate/APRN certificate programs at Wilkes University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org)
This course introduces the student to the paradigms of nursing and their application to professional nursing practice. Students are engaged in applying nursing process and evidence-based practice guidelines to provide compassionate, diverse, equitable and inclusive client-centered care to individuals, families, communities and populations, with an emphasis on QSEN quality and safety initiatives. Students develop interprofessional and technical skills for application across the four-spheres of care. Nursing knowledge addresses social determinants of health to prevent disease and promote health through a participatory approach to nursing practice and a commitment to personal health and well-being. (Credit: 6)
For a complete list of courses and course descriptions, access our comprehensive program guide.
The nursing process is utilized to support nursing students in developing competencies for assisting vulnerable individuals, families, and communities to manage selected psychiatric mental health problems, Nursing theory is correlated with clinical practice in acute, chronic, and community-based care settings. (Credits: 3)
This course uses a variety of strategies to prepare final semester pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing students for entry into professional nursing practice. Students are assessed for readiness to sit for the NGN-RN as well as for entry into professional nursing practice in all settings across the continuum of care. This course provides students with a quantitative analysis of their readiness to pass the NGN-RN. (Credit:4)
Access Your Comprehensive Program Guide
You’ll graduate ready to step into the field and start making a difference in the lives of your patients.
Program graduates can feel confident in their job prospects —according to the AACN, 95% of nurses who earn a BSN/ABSN are employed within 4-6 months of graduation.
To become an active nurse, you need to pass the NCLEX-RN. That’s why preparing students for the NCLEX-RN is a priority at Wilkes, evidenced by our high pass rates that consistently beat the national average.
The online ABSN program prepares you with foundational nursing knowledge, including:
Curious about the specific nursing skills you’ll pick up during this program? Fill out the form at the top of this page to access more information, including a curriculum breakdown.
Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA.
No, you must reside in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the requirements above, the application also requires the following:
Still not sure if you qualify? Your program guide has more details, click below to access it
I don't ever feel like I'm being judged or have to pretend that I understand something even though I don't. It's just a really welcoming, amazing environment, both from the faculty and the students.
Payton Bell, ABSN Student
I am amazed at the amount of knowledge I have gained in only 6 months of this program, and the lifelong relationships I have formed with my classmates.
Celia Rossini, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
As a professional, I learned that if you are unsure of something or you need help, just ask for it. I think Wilkes stands by that same motto. So I have had questions, I reach out to my professors. They've always been prompt about replying, and the same goes for the clinical placement team. If you email them a question, they'll get back to you quickly.”
Kelly Samuels, ABSN Student
The Wilkes program is run by a wonderful group of faculty and staff. Our faculty here are very smart, educated, and knowledgeable. They also understand the new NCLEX exam and built the curriculum around it.”
Katie Sunday MSN, RN, ABSN Coordinator
Submit your information to access a comprehensive digital program guide. One of our dedicated admissions counselors will contact you shortly to discuss next steps.
If you want a career where you can be proud of the work you do, nursing is a great option. Nursing is demanding but highly rewarding work.
Dean Zbegner puts it simply: “You will remember those people who you took care of intimately. I don't care what discipline you're in or what specialty, you will always know that you made a difference.”
Greater fulfillment and a sense of purpose aren’t the only benefits of a nursing career. Demand is high for nurses and that’s unlikely to change in the next decade. This makes nursing a field with high earning potential and job security. See why the future is bright for RNs:
1) National Council of State Boards of Nursing
2) Lightcast Labor Insights
3) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
We do the heavy lifting for you so you can focus on studying. For information on the nursing clinicals placement process, please visit ourClinical Placement Services page, access your free program guide, or email us at admissions@onlinenursingdegrees.wilkes.edu.
Wilkes University’s online ABSN program allows you to earn your BSN in just 15 months. This full-time program consists of eleven courses, completed over 4 semesters.
All coursework is completed 100% online. You are required to attend one on-campus residency in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. You will connect with your virtual community in person and practice clinical reasoning skills with professors and faculty.
There are also clinical rotations throughout the program that may be up to 125 miles from your location. Clinicals can take place during the week or on weekends.
Tuition for the ABSN program including the general fee is $66,233 .
Yes, financial aid is available to qualifying nursing students. If you’re not sure whether you qualify, please fill out a form You can also follow the links below to learn about financial aid options:
FAFSA
Private Student Loans
Yes, you must attend a two-week residency at the Wilkes campus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Clinical placements may be up to 125 miles away from your location and may require travel. Clinicals can take place during the week or on weekends.
The steps to becoming a registered nurse (RN) vary by location.
To become a licensed nurse, you must graduate from a state-approved nursing school, complete continuing education and pass the NCLEX-RN Examination. For updated information, check Pennsylvania’s Board of Nursing licensing requirements.
At Wilkes, we support and applaud lifelong learning. We are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our students, which is why we created one of the first online accelerated nursing programs in Pennsylvania. This program helps us expand access to nursing education without sacrificing quality.
We understand that online nursing programs for non-nurses can be intimidating. You will have access to a robust support system of advisors, faculty, and peers at Wilkes. If you work hard and stay committed, you will be well-prepared to begin your new career. Ready to get started?
We’re here to talk about everything Wilkes, everything nursing and anything you need to make the right choice for your career. We'll even help with the application process. Call us at 888-413-5633 or click the link below to fill out a form and start the conversation. We can’t wait!
Our online nursing degree programs prepare graduates to take the national board certification exam appropriate to their degree or chosen NP concentration. ABSN graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Please see our full list of state authorizations to determine whether our program fulfills requirements for licensure in your home state. For the online ABSN program, your primary state of residence must be PA. Wilkes University will not be able to place any students who move to an unauthorized state before or during the program and this may impact your ability to continue with the program.
Your PSOR is the state in which you declare as your primary residence for legal purposes. Sources used to verify your PSOR may include driver's license, federal income tax return, or voter registration. Only one state can be identified as the primary state of legal residence.
To proceed with the Associate Degree in Nursing (R.N.) to M.S.N. program, you are required to have an associate’s degree in nursing and hold a current unencumbered R.N. license.
If you don’t meet these requirements but would still like further information, please contact us.
To proceed with the M.S.N. program, you are required to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and hold a current unencumbered R.N. license.
If you don’t meet these requirements but would still like further information, please contact us.
To proceed with either the D.N.P., Ph.D. or the Post Graduate A.P.R.N. Certification programs, you are required to have a master’s degree in nursing and hold a current unencumbered R.N. license.
If you don’t meet these requirements but would still like further information, please contact us.
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