Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Admission
Admission to Drake University's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is based on academic and personal qualifications that are necessary for successful, competent practice as a nurse.
Prerequisite Coursework
All required courses must be completed by the end of the summer term prior to entering the ABSN program.
| Subject | Courses/Credit Hours | Drake Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology A complete year course sequence in anatomy (one semester) and physiology (one semester) is required. Students may take a combined anatomy/physiology sequence, but they must take both semesters in order to fulfill the requirement. Labs are required. |
2 courses/8 credit hours (including labs) | HSCI 125/L and 141/L (PHAR 125 may replace HSCI 125); or BIO 018/L and 129 |
| General Psychology A one-semester introductory course in psychology is required. This course must fulfill the prerequisite to allow students to take courses in developmental and abnormal psychology. A lab is not required. |
1 course/3 credit hours | PSY 001 (4 credit hours) |
| Developmental Psychology A one-semester course in human development across the lifespan is required. Students may take a combined course sequence in child and adolescent development and adult development and aging, but they must take both courses in order to fulfill the requirement. A lab is not required. |
1 course/3 credit hours | HSCI 146 or PSY 042 or 044 |
| Microbiology A one-semester course in microbiology is required. A course intended for health care majors is recommended. A lab is required. |
1 course/4 credit hours (including lab) | BIO 103/L (5 credit hours) |
| General (Inorganic) Chemistry A one-semester course in general (inorganic) chemistry is required. A lab is required. |
1 course/4 credit hours (including lab) | CHEM 001 and 003, or 002 and 004 |
| Statistics A one-semester course in general statistics is required. Business statistics, psychology statistics or biological science statistics courses are accepted. |
1 course/3 credit hours | HSCI 060, PSY 011, or STAT 071 |
| Ethics or Sociology A one-semester course in ethics or sociology is required. Students may submit non-traditional ethics or sociology courses for syllabus review. |
1 course/3 credit hours | SOC 001 or Values and Ethics AOI |
| Nutrition A one-semester course in nutrition is required. A course intended for health care majors is recommended. A lab is not required. |
1 course/2 credit hours | BIO 032 or PHAR 126 |
| Writing A one-semester course in college-level English writing or composition is required. Students may submit discipline-specific writing courses for syllabus review. |
1 course/3 credit hours | FYS or Written Communication AOI |
| General Electives 40 semester credit hours in general electives are required; Drake requires students to complete a minimum of 70 credit hours of undergraduate coursework. Note: students completing developmental psychology need 37 credits of general electives. |
40 credit hours | Drake Curriculum Areas of Inquiry |
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in order to fulfill prerequisite courses. Students who wish to fulfill prerequisites using Advanced Placement (AP) scores must earn a 4 or higher on the AP exam. Students may transfer in a cumulative maximum of 66 credit hours from all 2-year institutions they have attended. Please see Drake University's Transfer Credit or contact the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at (515) 271-3018 for more information.
Pre-Nursing Admission
To apply for the Drake Direct ABSN program, you must complete a Drake University undergraduate application.
Transfer Student Admission
In order to be considered for transfer admission into Pre-Nursing, students must meet the requirements for entrance into the professional ABSN program at the time of admission into Pre-Nursing, with the exception of having all of the prerequisite coursework completed.
Transferring into pre-nursing at Drake does not guarantee admission into the professional ABSN program. Students who are not admitted into the professional program are advised on other degree options and career pathways within the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and at Drake.
International Student Admission
For more information about requirements for international applicants, visit Drake's international student admission page. For any ABSN program-specific questions, contact lauren.sharp@drake.edu.
Tuition and Fees
Official tuition and fees are set on an annual basis by the Drake University Office of Finance and Administration, approved by the Board of Trustees, and administered through the Office of Student Accounts. Information regarding tuition and fees for the current academic year in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program can be found on the Student Accounts Office page.
Students enrolling at Drake who are only completing the ABSN degree are charged tuition on a per-credit basis. The per-credit tuition rate for the ABSN program is listed under "Other Undergraduate Tuition" on the Student Accounts Office page.
Important note about summer tuition: The Drake ABSN program is a 12-month, 3-semester program, including fall, spring, and summer terms. Students enrolling at Drake who are only completing the ABSN degree are charged the ABSN per-credit tuition rate during the summer term of the ABSN program, which is listed under "Other Undergraduate Tuition" on the Student Accounts Office page. Students completing the B.S. in Health Sciences/B.S. in Nursing dual degree program are charged the regular undergraduate summer per-credit tuition rate, which is listed under "Other Undergraduate Tuition" on the Student Accounts Office page. If you have questions about tuition for the ABSN program, please contact the Financial Aid Office directly at financialaid@drake.edu or (515) 271-2905.
Technical Standards
The following technical standards describe non-academic qualifications considered essential for successful completion of the educational objectives of the OTD curriculum. Candidates and students must possess the ability to perform or ability to learn to perform the non-academic skills listed below.
Candidates and students must have the ability to:
- Acquire information presented through demonstrations, experiments, and exercises.
- Evaluate a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand to assess relevant health, behavioral, and medical information.
- Obtain and correctly interpret information through patient assessment and evaluation.
- Obtain and interpret patient information via electronic health records while maintaining patient confidentiality.
Candidates and students must have the ability to:
- Communicate interactively with patients to elicit information.
- Interpret nonverbal communication displayed by patients.
- Communicate effectively and sensitively to enable effective patient care including verbal, written and nonverbal communication.
- Communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the health care team.
- Clearly and accurately record information necessary to document patient health care.
Candidates and students must have the ability to:
- Perform physical examination and assessment.
- Perform diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers to provide patient care.
- Respond to emergency situations in a timely manner.
- Follow universal precaution procedures and applicable safety standards for the environment.
Candidates and students must have the ability to:
- Consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate information received.
- Integrate, analyze, synthesize, and interpret data in order to make decisions in clinical settings where there may be distractions.
- Perform clinical functions in a timely manner and under a high amount of stress in diverse clinical settings and patient populations.
- Perform clinical functions where others may be present.
- Perform basic mathematical functions and read and interpret information in an accurate and timely manner
- Integrate and process information promptly and accurately in a time-sensitive environment.
- Process information to solve problems, make decisions quickly, and respond immediately when necessary.
- Interpret causal connections and make accurate, fact-based conclusions based on available data and information.
- Formulate a hypothesis and investigate potential answers and outcomes to reach appropriate and accurate conclusions.
Candidates and students must have the ability to:
- Exercise good judgment.
- Promptly complete all responsibilities.
- Develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and others (team members, families, caregivers, etc.).
- Effectively handle and manage heavy workloads and function effectively in stressful situations.
- Adapt to changing environments and display flexibility
- Function in the face of uncertainties inherent in patient care.
- Demonstrate compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation.
- Accept feedback and respect boundaries.
- Care for all patients in an effective and respectful manner regardless of any protected status.
- Understand and function within the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of Nursing.
- Display ethical and moral behaviors commensurate with the role of a Nurse in all interactions.
Accreditation
*The Iowa Board of Nursing has approved Drake University's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) proposal, qualifying graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) required for practice as a registered nurse.
Effective May 14, 2025, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on May 14, 2027. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org/acen-programs-05202024/drake-university-b
Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.