Northern Kentucky University

Program Length & Format

• 16-month
• 68 credit hours
• Curriculum includes didactic and clinical components
• Program intended for full-time, non-working students
• Final 30 semester hours must be completed at Northern Kentucky University

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, or verification of pending graduation within six months
• Admission to NKU as a degree-seeking postbaccalaureate student without conditions
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (NKU and transfer coursework considered)
• At least two science prerequisite courses completed before applying
• All prerequisite courses must have grade of C or higher and science prerequisites must be fewer than five years old as of program start
• Applicants whose native language is not English must submit Internet-based TOEFL scores

Deadlines

• Separate School of Nursing application must be submitted by January 15 for fall admission

Application

• Submit separate ABSN application to the School of Nursing (available in nursing office or online)
• Be admitted to NKU as a postbaccalaureate degree-seeking student prior to ABSN admission
• Prerequisite courses taken at other institutions are not considered complete until transferred to NKU
• Applicants required to submit to criminal background checks as identified by the College of Health and Human Services; cost borne by the student

Selection Process

• Priority given to applicants with academic strength in sciences and mathematics
• Admission decisions based on review of academic record and alignment with program requirements
• Admission is provisional pending satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses, criminal background check, and TOEFL if applicable
• Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

Progression & Academic Standards

• Students must achieve a grade of C or higher in all nursing courses
• Students must demonstrate required nursing skills each semester; failure to do so may result in failure of the clinical component
• Nursing courses with a grade of C- or below in the accelerated track cannot be repeated in the accelerated track
• Students who fail a nursing course in the accelerated track are ineligible for readmission to the accelerated track; eligibility for the traditional track is on a space-available basis

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Program includes clinical placements required for coursework
• Clinical agencies require criminal background checks and may deny student access based on results
• All students participate in the Evolve Curriculum Support Program (case studies, practice tests, standardized testing)
• NRS 475 Remediation (2 credits) required in the final semester for students scoring below 900 on the HESI-RN Exit V1 exam

Credit Transfer

• Prerequisite courses from other institutions are considered complete only after transfer to NKU
• GPA for admission calculated using NKU and transfer coursework
• Students must complete the last 30 semester hours of the degree at NKU

International Students

• Internet-based TOEFL required to demonstrate English proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English

Contacts

• Program advising and appointment information available via the NKU Nursing Advisors webpage
• NKU main phone: (859) 572-5100