Curriculum and Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Curriculum

Misericordia University’s 16 month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program comprises 54 credit hours over the course of four full-time semesters. Our accelerated nursing curriculum offers a solid mix of online and onsite instruction in Pittsburgh taught by experienced, highly supportive faculty to prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN^® licensure exam once you graduate.

Click here to view curriculum in University catalog

Curriculum Breakdown

Semester 1

Semester 1	Credits
NSG 201 Foundations of Nursing This course emphasizes basic nursing concepts and the recognition of select functional health patterns, such as activity-exercise, nutritional-metabolic, elimination, and sleep-rest functional health patterns, basic theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are taught and implemented within a nursing practice framework. Competencies in cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills are developed and refined in clinical practice settings and/or simulated clinical situations. (Two credits lecture and one credit laboratory.)	3
NSG 305 Physical Assessment This course examines techniques used by nurses in the ongoing assessment of the health status of patients. Emphasis is placed on interviewing skills, obtaining health histories, and physical assessment techniques used across the lifespan. (Two credits lecture and one credit laboratory.)	3
NSG 101 Concepts of Nursing This course presents an overview of major health professions, with a focus on the profession of nursing. The emphasis in this course is assisting the student to develop a theoretical base for professional nursing practice based on Gordon’s functional health patterns. Students are introduced to the nursing metaparadigm, nursing theorists, and the nursing process as a foundation for baccalaureate nursing practice.	3
NSG 320 Principles of Pharmacology This course develops the student’s knowledge and understanding of the essential principles of pharmacology. The course will focus on therapeutic classifications; characteristic drug groups; physiologic influences on drug effects; principles of therapy; drug interactions; and the legal, ethical, and economic issues of drug therapy.	3
Total	12

Semester 2

Semester 2	Credits
NSG 301 Functional Health Patterns — Adults I This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing and the basic and social sciences and explores selected alterations in functional health patterns, including coping and stress tolerance; cognitive-perceptual; nutritional/metabolic; activity and exercise; and elimination. Theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are used to achieve positive health outcomes for adult patients with acute and chronic illness in medical surgical settings. Emphasis is placed on the autonomic nervous, integumentary, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal systems, in addition to pain and infectious disease as health problems of adults. Students apply principles of pharmacology and use critical thinking skills to examine current research evidence and legal-ethical issues that influence the planning and delivery of nursing care to adults and their families. (Three credits lecture and three credits clinical/laboratory)	6
NSG 303 Functional Health Patterns — Adults II This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing and the basic and social sciences and explores selected alterations in functional health patterns, including cognitive-perceptual; nutritional/metabolic; and activity and exercise. Theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are used to achieve positive health outcomes for adult patients with acute and chronic illness in medical surgical settings. Emphasis is placed on the metabolic, cardiovascular, sensory, autoimmune, and respiratory problems of adults. Students will work in a variety of settings including caring for patients in the perioperative period. Students apply principles of pharmacology and use critical thinking skills to examine current research evidence and legal-ethical issues that influence the planning and delivery of nursing care to adults and their families. (Three credits lecture and three credits clinical/laboratory.)	6
Total	12

Semester 3

Semester 3	Credits
NSG 306 Functional Health Patterns — Psychiatric Nursing This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing and the basic and social sciences and explores selected alterations in functional health patterns of patients with psychiatric-mental health problems, including health perception/health management; cognitive-perceptual; sleep-rest; self-perception/self-concept; role-relationship; sexuality-reproductive; value-belief; and coping/stress tolerance. Theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are used to achieve positive health outcomes for clients with acute and chronic mental health disorders. Emphasis is placed on psychobiology, psychiatric genetics, and psychosocial therapeutic modalities used in the nursing care of adults and children with psychiatric disorders. Students apply principles of psychopharmacology and use critical thinking skills to examine current research evidence and legal-ethical issues that influence the planning and delivery of nursing care to clients in the psychiatric setting. (Two credits lecture and one credit clinical.)	3
NSG 407 Functional Health Patterns — Adults III This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing and the basic and social sciences and explores selected alterations in functional health patterns, including coping and stress tolerance; cognitive-perceptual; health perception-health management, nutritional/metabolic; activity and exercise; and elimination. Theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are used to achieve positive health outcomes for adult clients with acute and chronic illness in medical surgical settings. Emphasis is placed on altered cellular proliferation, and alterations in endocrine, neurologic, oncologic, renal, and hepatic function as health problems of adults. Students apply principles of pharmacology and use critical thinking skills to examine current research evidence and legal-ethical issues that influence the planning and delivery of nursing care to adults and their families. (Three credits lecture and three credits clinical.)	6
NSG 406 Functional Health Patterns — Childbearing This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing, basic and psychosocial sciences and focuses on sexuality and the reproductive functional health patterns of women and their families to achieve a positive pregnancy outcome and a safe fetal environment. Emphasis is placed on normal, as well as, abnormal childbirth processes of childbirth to provide students with the knowledge and basic obstetrical skills to care for women, newborns, and families experiencing a normal obstetrical course and those experiencing complications. Students examine human genetics, the application of current research evidence, principles of pharmacology, and legal/ethical issues influencing the planning and delivery of nursing care to pregnant women, newborns, and families. In the clinical component of the course, emphasis is placed on the role of the professional nurse working in the obstetrical specialty, the application of the nursing process in providing nursing care to pregnant women, newborns, and families, and the enhancement of critical thinking skills, therapeutic nursing interventions, select pharmacotherapies, effective communication, and interpersonal skills. (Two credits lecture and one credit clinical.)	3
NSG 410W Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice This introductory course is designed to prepare students to become consumers of research who critically evaluate and base care on evidence. Emphasis is placed on the components of quantitative and qualitative research processes, the concepts and terms associated with these processes, and the competencies necessary to read, evaluate, and interpret research findings for practice. Building on critical thinking skills, this course will expand students’ knowledge by assisting them to develop and use principles of evidence-based healthcare to address problems in professional practice.	3
Total	15

Semester 4

Semester 4	Credits
NSG 307 Functional Health Patterns — Pediatrics This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing and the basic and social sciences and explores selected alterations in functional health patterns in children from infancy through young adulthood. Theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are used to achieve positive health outcomes for pediatric patients and their families with acute and chronic illness in a variety of pediatric settings. Emphasis is placed on normal growth and development. Students examine the applications of current research evidence, principles of pharmacology, and well as legal and ethical issues influencing the planning and delivery of nursing care to pediatric clients and their families. (Two credits lecture and one credit	3
NSG 408 Functional Health Patterns — Adult IV This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing and the basic and social sciences and explores selected alterations in functional health patterns including nutritional/metabolic; activity-exercise; elimination; cognitive-perceptual; health perception-health management patterns; coping and stress tolerance; and value-belief patterns. Theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are used to achieve positive health outcomes for adult clients with acute and chronic illness in medical surgical settings. Emphasis is placed on the normal aging process and pathophysiologic changes of adults with complex health problems and critical alterations in cardiovascular, integumentary, hematological, and multisystem dysfunction. Students apply principles of pharmacology and use critical thinking skills to examine current research evidence and legal-ethical issues that influence the planning and delivery of nursing care to adults and their families. (Three credits lecture and three credits clinical.)	6
NSG 403 Functional Health Patterns in Populations This course builds on previous knowledge and skills from nursing and the basic and social sciences and explores alterations in functional health patterns, including self-perception, self-concept; sexuality-reproductive; coping-stress tolerance; health perception-health management; value-belief; cognitive-perceptual; and role relationship. Theoretical, scientific, and humanistic principles are used to achieve positive health outcomes for individuals, families, aggregates, communities, and populations. Emphasis is placed on population-centered health care in the community. The values of public health nursing concepts are embedded within the implementation of community-oriented nursing practice. In the clinical component of the course, nursing practice takes place in a variety of public settings. Perspectives in global health care are considered in relation to a population-based approach and its major health problem and burdens of disease. Students examine the application of current research evidence, principles of pharmacology, and the legal and ethical issues influencing the planning and delivery of health care to individuals, families, aggregates, communities, and populations. The role of the nurse as community leader is emphasized. (Two credits lecture and one credit clinical.)	3
NSG 405 Baccalaureate Capstone This capstone course is focused on facilitating the transition from the role of student to the role of the professional nurse in the contemporary health care environment. Strategies for success on the national licensing examination are designed and implemented. Students are introduced to leadership and management concepts as they apply to professional practice and the health care milieu. Critical analysis of legal, ethical, and diversity issues in health care is emphasized.	3
Total	15

Total Nursing Credits: 54

Core Curriculum Requirements

The core curriculum requirements provide the foundational knowledge and skills for undergraduate education at Misericordia University. These requirements are designed to ready students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and embody the spirit of service.

All undergraduate students, including ABSN students, are required to complete a minimum of 49 credit hours of core courses in the following subject areas:

University Writing Seminar
Behavioral Science
English
Fine Arts
History/Political Science
Mathematics
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Natural Sciences
Free Elective Credits

Full details about these requirements can be found on the Misericordia University website. For a list of course equivalencies,* visit the myMU Transfer Equivalencies page.

Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field are exempt from the core curriculum requirements. However, all prerequisite courses for nursing must be completed.

*Subject to change.

ABSN Prerequisites

This is for Fall 2024 students and forward

In order to be accepted into our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you must first complete each of the prerequisites below with a grade of “C” or higher.

Students are allowed to retake only one failed prerequisite course (i.e., grades of C- through F). A withdrawal (W) is not considered a failure, a student with a W may apply for admission.

While Introduction to Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I, and Anatomy and Physiology II must have been completed within the past seven years of your enrollment date, these biology prerequisites can be taken online through Misericordia University. Those who enroll in these courses will gain valuable experience with our online learning platform, preparing you for online, accelerated nursing coursework.

Science Prerequisites	Credits
Introduction to Microbiology*	4
Anatomy and Physiology I*	4
Anatomy and Physiology II*	4
Fundamentals of Food and Nutrition	3
General Prerequisites	Credits
Basic Statistics	3
Introduction to Psychology	3
Child and Adolescent Psychology	3
Chemistry	3

* Grade date cannot exceed seven years.

New Nursing curriculum starting Fall 2024

Advanced Standing Transfer Student Policy

Students who have earned more than 60 transferable credits are ineligible to enroll in a community college course while being admitted to Misericordia University. If you’re an advanced standing transfer student, you must complete all community college courses prior to submitting an application for admission to Misericordia, or complete any remaining required courses at Misericordia or another regionally accredited bachelor's degree-granting institution.

LPN

LPN to the BS in Nursing option is for students who have completed and accredited Licensed Practical Nurse program. Licensed practical nurses seeking admission to the baccalaureate nursing program must meet the admission criteria for the University and the Nursing major and submit a valid Pennsylvania LPN license. Students who have evidence of 1000 hours of employment as a LPN within the last 3 years are eligible for advanced placement nursing credits..

NSG 201 Foundations of Nursing (3 credits) and NSG 101 Concepts of Nursing (2 credits) will be applied to transcripts.
If the student successfully completes the NLN Nutrition Challenge Exam then 3 credits associated with the Misericordia University nutrition course HP 241 will be applied to transcripts.

Licensed Healthcare Professionals:

If a nursing course or BIO 211, BIO 212, or BIO 228 was taken more than seven years prior to the start date of the first nursing class to be taken at Misericordia, the knowledge is no longer current and the course will not be evaluated nor transferred; however, if a student is a licensed healthcare professional (chiropractor, dental hygienist, dentist, massage therapist, physician, registered nurse, practical nurse, occupational therapist, osteopath, or physical therapist), the seven year limit will not be applied. Students must provide a copy of the current, unencumbered license to the University.

English as Second Language

If English is not your first language, or if English is not the primary language spoken in your home, you must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The following are the minimum score requirements:

Internet-based TOEFL exam (iBT): Potential students must achieve a total score of 84 or higher, with a minimum speaking score of at least 26.

(For the Paper-based version of the test [TOEFL PBT]—Achieve a passing score of 540 or higher total score)

Apply Today!

Online Accelerated Nursing Coursework

Our online accelerated nursing coursework builds the foundation for the essential nursing concepts you’ll need to know for other parts of the program — and in your future nursing career. Our online learning platform incorporates flexibility into your schedule, allowing you to choose when and where you learn.

Deadlines for assignments and exams still apply, but the online platform gives you the option to “attend class” when it works best for you. Plus, if you missed something in a video-based lesson the first time, you can always rewind, restart, or pause whenever needed.

While our online accelerated nursing courses allow you to study from anywhere — at any time — you should be ready to dedicate a significant amount of time to your studies every week. After all, these courses lay the groundwork for the nursing skills you’ll hone during hands-on skills and simulation labs at our nursing education center and during clinical rotations at top area hospitals and clinical agencies across metro Pittsburgh.

Online Learning Environment

Through our online accelerated nursing program, you’ll complete a majority of your nursing coursework through Canvas, an interactive, collaborative e-learning platform that allows you to:

Read and listen to nursing coursework material.
Watch video content that visually introduces nursing concepts.
Participate in simulated learning activities using interactive learning objects.
Complete and/or upload course assignments.
Interact with instructors and other students via scheduled chat sessions and a discussion forum.

Benefits of Online Coursework

We understand students learn and retain information in different ways. That’s what makes the online component of our blended learning model so valuable.

No matter your learning style — visual, aural, tactile, or social — we designed Misericordia University’s online accelerated nursing coursework to immerse you in subject material and to help you retain important nursing concepts through various forms of media.

Far from just staring at a computer screen, our online learning platform comprises discussion board exercises and interactive learning activities, including video and task-based simulations to help you learn. For example, you may come across a matching activity that requires you to drag and drop an organ into its proper location in the human body.

Support Resources

Even though you’ll complete your nursing theory courses online, you won’t be working through your accelerated nursing coursework alone. As a student in our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you’ll have access to the same resources as Misericordia University’s on-campus students.

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Curriculum and Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Curriculum

Curriculum Breakdown

Semester 1

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 2

Credits

Semester 3

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 4

Curriculum Requirements

Core Curriculum Requirements

ABSN Prerequisites

Advanced Standing Transfer Student Policy

LPN

Licensed Healthcare Professionals:

English as Second Language

Apply Today!

Online Accelerated Nursing Coursework

Online Learning Environment

Benefits of Online Coursework

Support Resources

Helpful Links