PATH Professional Acceleration to Healthcare Nursing Program

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(60 credits total; 62 credits including prerequisite of NUR 233 )

The PATH program provides an opportunity for qualified candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing to complete the undergraduate nursing program in 14 months of fulltime study. This option recognizes and respects each student’s past experiences and builds on those strengths. Using a cohort model, students progress through the program with their peers and learn about the nursing profession from dedicated faculty who offer a comprehensive approach to the didactic, clinical and research components of the program. Specific criteria are required for admission including prerequisite courses which must be successfully completed by the time a candidate begins the program.

The PATH curriculum is designed to be full time. Classes are generally small and provide ample opportunity for student-faculty interaction. Students will complete a clinical component, where they gain first-hand experience under the supervision of professional nurses.

Admission and Prerequisite Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited 4 year college or university
Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Grade of C+ or higher in all required science courses
Only one grade less than C+ is permitted in any one prerequisite science course
Professional statement with career goals
Three professional references
Personal interview for those who meet all requirements
Prerequisite courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II (within 10 years)
- Microbiology (within 10 years)
- One semester of inorganic chemistry and one semester of organic chemistry, or Chemistry 109 (within 10 years)
- Statistics
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics (within 10 years)
- Nutrition (2 credit nursing course, NUR 233 or equivalent)
- Pathophysiology (within 10 years)

First Semester - Summer, 12 week semester

(17 credits)

NUR (0302) 232 - Informatics in Health Care Credits: 2
NUR (0302) 387 - Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice Credits: 2
NUR (0302) 388 - Pharmacology I Credits: 2
NUR (0302) 390 - Integration Seminar I Credits: 1
NUR (0302) 391 - Health Assessment Credits: 3
NUR (0302) 392 - Fundamentals of Patient Centered Nursing Care Credits: 7

Second Semester - Fall

(16 credits)

NUR (0302) 384 - Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Credits: 3
NUR (0302) 389 - Pharmacology II Credits: 2
NUR (0302) 394 - Mental Health Nursing Credits: 3
NUR (0302) 397 - Nursing Care of Adults I Credits: 7
NUR (0302) 399 - Integration Seminar II Credits: 1

Third Semester - Spring

(15 credits)

NUR (0302) 471 - Community Health Nursing Credits: 5
NUR (0302) 473 - Nursing Care of the Older Adult Credits: 3
NUR (0302) 476 - Integration Seminar III Credits: 1
NUR (0302) 487 - Nursing Care of the Evolving Family Credits: 6

Fourth Semester - Summer I and II

(12 credits)

NUR (0302) 481 - Nursing Care of Adults I I Credits: 5
NUR (0302) 483 - Transition to Professional Practice Credits: 6
NUR (0302) 484 - Integration Seminar I V Credits: 1

Additional Information

Nursing courses must be taken in the sequence indicated in the curriculum plan.
In order to remain in the accelerated program, all courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C+ or better.
Students who fail a nursing course while in the accelerated program will then have the option of decelerating and entering the traditional B.S. nursing program.
Courses required for the baccalaureate degree curriculum cannot be taken on a pass/fail option.