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Nursing, Accelerated BSN

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program option is designed for individuals who wish to earn a BSN and enter the nursing profession in an accelerated time frame. This program can be completed in 14 months of study and is located at CMU-Columbia in the Forum Shopping Center. Clinical experiences will occur in a variety of mid-Missouri health care facilities.

The accelerated BSN nursing program is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing. The accelerated BSN program at CMU is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The BSN program follows the Minimum Standards for Approved Programs of Professional Nursing (2019) under the guidance of the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Graduates of this program will be eligible for application to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successful completion does not guarantee eligibility to take licensure examination. (Reference: Nurse Practice Act RS MO 335.066 https://pr.mo.gov/boards/nursing/npa.pdf)

Nursing (Accelerated BSN) Program Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science Nursing graduate will be able to:

  • Demonstrate professional nursing leadership evidenced by the monitoring and improvement of healthcare systems, including management of physical, fiscal, and human resources.
  • Formulate research questions, critically analyze evidence, and apply evidence to practice.
  • Demonstrate the ability to effectively use technology to analyze, manage, and communicate data information.
  • Provide nursing care based on current knowledge, theory, and evidence to promote safety, holism, adaptation, and quality care as evidenced by the ability to:
    • Design and implement care based on the nursing process
    • Collaborate as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team.
    • Incorporate the principles of communication, client education, and client advocacy into practice.
  • Display behaviors as a member of the profession of nursing based on standards of practice and professional codes of ethics.

Non-Discriminatory Policy

The nursing department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, religion, sex, national origin, age or federally defined disability in its recruitment and admission of students.

Admission Requirements without a Baccalaureate Degree

All ABSN applicants without a baccalaureate degree must have completed a minimum of 53 credit hours of required general education and prerequisite coursework prior to being considered for admission to the ABSN Program. All accepted ABSN students must complete all required general education and prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the ABSN program. The ABSN program admissions deadline is in December of each year with the cohort start date the following June.

Students will be considered for admission to the ABSN program if all of the following criteria are met:

  • Apply and be accepted to Central Methodist University College of Graduate and Extended Studies (CGES). The application to the CMU CGES is located at https://www.centralmethodist.edu/admissions/applications.html Select “Other Locations/Online.”
  • Completion of application to the ABSN program- this can be found at https://www.centralmethodist.edu/academics/undergraduate/accelerated-nursing/_docs/Accelerated-BSN-application.pdf This application must be sent to the ABSN Program Director.
  • Completion of a minimum of 53 credit hours of required general education and prerequisite coursework, prior to applying and being considered for admission.
    • Request official transcripts from each institution previously attended to Central Methodist University. Official transcripts are accepted electronically through a secure e-transcript delivery service, or via US Postal Mail at 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette MO 65248. If the e-transcript delivery service needs a specific recipient email address, please use cges@centralmethodist.edu. Transcripts originally issued to student or received via FAX are not accepted as official documents.
  • Completion of the following prerequisite science courses with a minimum grade of “C” or better in a maximum of two attempts: Biology with lab, Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, and Microbiology
    • The Biology and/or Biology lab requirement may be waived if the student has completed all other science pre-requisite course requirements.
    • Applicants must have completed at least 3 of these 5 prerequisite science courses prior to applying and being considered for admission.
  • Completion of Pathophysiology with a grade of “B” or better prior to beginning the ABSN program.
  • Earn a science sub-cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all college coursework
  • Provide two letters of recommendation that address the student’s character, work ethic, motivation, and general ability to complete an intensive, accelerated course of study. Letters must come directly from the individual writing the recommendation and be sent to the ABSN Program Director.
  • Completion of a required meeting with the ABSN Program Director or a member of the ABSN faculty.
    • The ABSN application and transcripts must be received prior to the interview and completed between August 1st and December 1st.

Admissions Requirements with a Baccalaureate Degree

All accepted ABSN students must complete all required prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the ABSN program. The ABSN program admissions deadline is in December of each year with the cohort start date the following June.

Students will be considered for admission to the ABSN program if all of the following criteria are met:

  • Apply and be accepted to Central Methodist University College of Graduate and Extended Studies (CGES). The application to the CMU CGES is located at https://www.centralmethodist.edu/admissions/applications.html Select “Other Locations/Online.”
  • Completion of application to the ABSN program- this can be found at https://www.centralmethodist.edu/academics/undergraduate/accelerated-nursing/_docs/Accelerated-BSN-application.pdf This application must be sent to the ABSN Program Coordinator.
  • Earn a BA or BS degree in any field from an accredited college or university (official transcripts must be submitted from ALL colleges or universities attended)
  • Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "C" or better: Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Statistics OR Data Analysis for Nursing Practice.
  • Completion of Pathophysiology with a grade of “B” or better prior to beginning the ABSN program.
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all college coursework
  • Earn a science sub-cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Completion of a required meeting with the ABSN Program Director or a member of the ABSN faculty.
    • The ABSN application and transcripts must be received prior to the interview and completed between August 1st and December 1st.
  • Provide two letters of recommendation that address the student’s character, work ethic, motivation, and general ability to complete an intensive, accelerated course of study. Letters must come directly from the individual writing the recommendation and be sent to the ABSN Program Director.

Note: Applicants have the right to petition the ABSN Admissions Committee for consideration of alternative circumstances. Students who have previously been enrolled in another nursing education program and have not been academically successful are not eligible for the ABSN program.

An arrest or conviction may disqualify a candidate for licensure examination. The State Board of Nursing has the authority to refuse the issue of a license (Reference: Nursing Practice Act RSMO 335.066).

Admission Selection Process: The ABSN Admissions Committee meets each December to select the next cohort. The following are the procedures for all applicants:

  1. Applicant files are reviewed by the ABSN Admissions Committee. The ABSN Admissions Committee is comprised of:
    1. The ABSN Program Director
    2. The ABSN Faculty Members
    3. The ABSN Clinical Coordinator
    4. The Dean of the School of Health Professions or Nursing Program Administrator, if that individual is not the Division Chair
    5. BSNG Program Director
  2. Each completed applicant’s file includes:
    1. academic record
    2. letters of recommendation
    3. completed criminal background check (according to guidelines)
  3. After reviewing applicant files, the ABSN Admissions Committee selects applicants for admission. Applicants may be accepted either "fully" or "pending successful completion of pre-requisite requirements;” not accepted, but placed on a waiting list; or not accepted based on established criteria.
  4. Applicants placed on the wait list are ranked and will be notified in rank order if a program seat becomes available prior to the start of classes.
  5. All applicants accepted or on the wait list are notified of their status and are provided information regarding their responsibilities in completing mandatory requirements, including urine drug screens, and other mandatory items of applicant responsibility.

After acceptance:

  1. An applicant forfeits her or his reserved seat in the program if she or he:
    1. notifies the ABSN Program Director in writing that they wish to forfeit their seat;
    2. has not completed the mandatory requirements (other than coursework) prior to the start of the ABSN program;
    3. does not meet the minimum requirements encompassed by the criminal background check and urine drug screen; or
    4. drops out of any required pre-requisite coursework (accepted pending) or does not earn the required minimum grade in science courses, as described previously in the admission requirements. Accepted applicants must complete all required general education and prerequisite coursework, with appropriate grades, prior to beginning the ABSN program in June.
  2. Forfeited seats will be awarded to the next applicant from the wait list who has completed the mandatory requirements prior to the start of the ABSN program in June.
  3. Each accepted applicant is required to purchase a Viewpoint Screening personal information and immunization tracking account. Specific information is provided to each admitted applicant.

Students are required to upload the following to their Viewpoint Screening account prior to the start of the Nursing program (specific due date will be provided):

  • Rubella titer and/or immunization
  • Varicella titer and/or immunization
  • Current diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus-DPT
  • Hepatitis B injection series
  • Urine drug screen by a department approved vendor
  • Covid 19 Vaccination. While Central Methodist University does not currently require students to be vaccinated for COVID-19, area health care providers who provide clinical experience opportunities for health professions students may require the vaccination in order for the students to be on their premises and to come into contact with patients in their facilities. Students seeking an exemption need to contact the CMU clinical Coordinator to receive the process of requesting an exemption. Exemptions from the vaccine are only granted by the clinical facility.

NOTE: Information for obtaining a ViewPoint Screening account, the drug screen, immunization tracking, and CPR currency will be mailed to the student from the Nursing Department following acceptance into the program.

Students are required to show proof of the following, yearly:

  • Tuberculosis screening
  • Annual influenza vaccine
  • Current CPR certification (good for 2 years)
  • Personal health insurance

Malpractice insurance will be obtained yearly through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Requirements for Licensure

  1. Graduation from an approved nursing program.
  2. An arrest or conviction may disqualify a candidate for licensure examination. The State Board of Nursing has the authority to deny the opportunity to take the NCLEX or to refuse the issue of a license.

Scholastic Standard

Retention, and Progression

Students must earn a grade of "B" in all Nursing (NU) courses. Grades are not "rounded": a grade of 79.8% is not rounded to 80% and is posted as a "C". Should a student receive a grade of less than B for any one NU course s/he must repeat the course in the next available offering. Should the student receive any second grade of less than B for any NU course, the second grade of less than B will result in the student's dismissal from the nursing education program.

Students are required to follow the Nursing Curriculum sequence for the BSN-G and the ABSN. Courses are only offered in specific semesters/terms. If a student is required to repeat a course, the student must wait until the next time the course is offered, on a space-available basis. Students who must repeat a NU course are allowed to complete all NU courses for the current semester/term; students are not allowed to progress to the next semester/term course sequence until they have passed all courses in the current semester.

To successfully complete any clinical Nursing course, the student must have earned a course grade of B and a P (pass) for the clinical or lab portion of the course. Failure to pass the lab or clinical portion of a NU course results in the grade of "C" being the highest grade possible for the course, regardless of the grade for the didactic portion of the course.

Students are required to take a predictive exit examination prior to graduation as part of NU452. Comprehensive individual remediation materials are available to each student through the electronic programming utilized in the program.

Withdrawal from any NU courses other than for medical reasons is considered the same as being academically unsuccessful in the course for purposes of progression through the nursing education program.

Resumption of the program following an approved medical withdrawal from the program requires a letter from the health provider stating the there are no restrictions affecting the student's ability to resume the course of study and complete clinical coursework. Please review the Student Technical/Ability Standards available in the Nursing Student Handbook.

Any student not actively participating in the BSN-G program for more than one regular semester is dropped from the program and must reapply for consideration for acceptance into the program. Any ABSN student who must repeat a NU course must do so in the next scheduled cohort or reapply for acceptance into the ABSN program. Students unsuccessful with a course in the ABSN also have the option of applying for acceptance into the BSNG for finishing the program.