Gonzaga Launches Accelerated Nursing Degree Program for Second-Degree Students
Applications are now being accepted for Gonzaga University's School of Health Sciences’ new Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, with courses beginning in Summer 2027.
The program creates a fast-track pathway for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field to earn a nursing degree and enter one of the nation's most in-demand professions. Gonzaga nursing graduates consistently achieve some of the strongest licensure outcomes in the nation, including a 99% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in 2026.
The hybrid, four-semester program enables students to complete a bachelor of science in nursing in just 15 months through a combination of online coursework, hands-on clinical experiences and simulation-based learning in Spokane.
The program expands Gonzaga's longstanding tradition of excellence in nursing education while helping address ongoing workforce needs throughout Eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest. Gonzaga's ABSN is the only such offering in Eastern Washington.
“The need for well-prepared nurses makes this the right time to open another pathway into the profession. For Gonzaga, it’s an opportunity to build on our nursing strengths and welcome students whose earlier education and life experience will enrich the care they provide. Gonzaga's program pairs online coursework with hands-on clinical learning in Spokane, so the accelerated timeline does not mean leaving practical preparation behind.”
The ABSN program welcomes applicants from a variety of academic backgrounds, including biology, kinesiology, human physiology and other disciplines. The program features a small-cohort model that allows for personalized faculty interaction and mentoring. Students will gain experience through clinical placements with leading healthcare organizations throughout Spokane while building professional networks that support career success after graduation.
Susan Edwards is a lecturer in the nursing program and the Resource and Simulation Center director. She develops high-level skills training simulation activities for Gonzaga nursing students. She's a certified healthcare simulation educator and certified progressive care certified nurse who's spent more than 35 years in critical care and cardiac care.
Edwards says the accelerated program is a natural fit for Gonzaga.
Edwards notes that the University's nursing simulation facilities are endorsed by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning, and "this endorsement provides us with the unique ability to harness the power of simulation, an experiential learning modality, to develop safe, ethical leaders in healthcare."
At Gonzaga, preparing nurses is about more than teaching clinical skills, Wolter adds.
"Our Jesuit mission calls us to educate people who care for the whole person, recognize every patient's dignity, and see service as central to their work," Wolter says. "The Accelerated BSN degree opens that kind of education to people who have already earned a degree and are ready to bring their experience and sense of purpose to nursing."
The application for Gonzaga's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is now open, with students starting classes in the summer of 2027.