Welcome to the School of Nursing blog! In this discussion, we want to talk about the fantastic opportunities in nursing, and the options to join the nursing profession at the University of Indianapolis—known as UINDY.

Nursing is a GREAT career choice!

First, did you know that nursing is one of the top 5 career choices that is reported to have the best prospects for job hunters?

Second, did you know there is a nursing shortage? While other careers are facing layoffs, nursing is considered to be one of the few jobs that will be hiring for at least the next 30 years. While nobody can promise absolute job security in this world, nursing is a career choice that carries a very low probability of its graduates ever facing a poor job market.

UINDY has three ways you can become a nurse.

First, we have a traditional bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. This is a 4 year program. For the first year, students take pre-requisite and general education core courses (required of every student seeking a college degree). For example, our first year students take Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, English Composition, Math, Speech, and a variety of other courses to fill their schedules. In their sophomore year, they start their clinical nursing courses, including having experiences with real patients in hospitals. They complete their nursing courses and any other requirements in their Junior and Senior year.

Second, we have an Accelerated Nursing Program. In this program, people who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field have the opportunity to complete both their Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in nursing in about 3 years. We call this the AMP program for Accelerated Masters Program. During the first year, students take prerequisite science courses and complete three nursing courses. A typical student in the AMP program will take Anatomy, Microbiology, Nutrition, and a second level psychology course the first semester. The second semester the student will take Physiology, Chemistry (if it has not already been taken as part of the first degree), Pharmacology, Nursing Research and any other pre-requisites still needed. In May, the students start their clinical nursing courses, and receive their bachelor’s degree in nursing at the end of the following summer. Then they complete their masters courses in another year. That means in three years—less time than it would take them to get a traditional BSN degree—the AMP students have two degrees!

Third, we offer an Associate Degree in Nursing (this is the Associate of Science in Nursign or ASN). In this program, students attend school for three years to obtain a degree that allows them to take the State Licensure examination. This is a beginning level of registered nurse, and most find that to progress in their careers, they need to complete the bachelors in nursing degree.

Fourth, we offer an RN-to-BSN degree for ASN nurses who wish to complete their BSN degree. The courses in this program are offered mostly in the afternoons and evenings to accommodate working nurses.

We hope that you will contact the school of nursing if you are interested in pursuing one of these avenues into the nursing profession. Nursing is the hardest job you will ever love.

In my next blog, I will talk about our exciting Masters programs in nursing and our Certificate programs.

Mary McHugh

Dean, School of Nursing

University of Indianapolis