Choosing to become a nurse may be one of the best decisions you will ever make. You
have chosen to enter a challenging but highly rewarding career, and we are here to
ensure you are prepared for anything.
As a Duquesne nursing student, you will gain critical thinking skills needed for the
dynamic health care environment, while also learning how to see and treat a patient
holistically. By blending traditional classroom instruction with simulation labs and
hands-on clinical experiences, you will enter the profession with a strong, broad-based
clinical foundation for nursing practice.
We can't wait to welcome you on campus. Until then, please refer to this page for
resources and different ways of connecting with campus contacts, current students
and your fellow classmates.
BSN Second Degree Alumni
2022 Alumna
Do you have any advice for prospective and incoming Second Degree students?
For prospective students, if you're on the fence about putting off a year of your
life to come back to school for Nursing, do it. It's well worth it. I had considered
the switch to Nursing for three years before actually starting the program. It can
be scary to make such a major career change depending on your first degree and background,
but I wish I would have had someone telling me to go for it and how worth it it would
be. My previous degrees were in Business and Psychology. I worked in Advertising and
Marketing for 5 years previously. If you're not feeling fulfilled or like your work
is meaningful in your current career, you will absolutely find fulfillment with Nursing.
I wish I had made the change earlier.
For incoming students, enjoy the more relaxed pace of the Fall semester, because Spring
semester and Summer semester are very busy. On the positive side, since you're eating,
sleeping, and breathing nursing for an entire year, you'll gain more confidence as
you get more entrenched in the program. You really feel like all of the knowledge
you've learned comes together in the Summer semester. It's easy to get caught up in
your work, but I would encourage you to do something for yourself once a day that's
not school-related. The power center is great for a workout during your lunch break
or even doing something as simple as stepping off campus and getting a quick bite
to eat in the city with classmates. Duquesne's location is great with it being in
the heart of the city.
What does an average "day in life" look like for a Second Degree student?
It depends on the day. In both the Spring and the Summer semesters you'll be in a
full day of lectures both Monday and Tuesday with clinical rotations on Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday. On the lecture days, you'll spend a lot of time in class and
most likely complete assignments that are due when you're out of class. I found clinical
days to be a good time to study for the next upcoming exam when I got out of the hospital.
Why did you decide to attend Duquesne University School of Nursing?
There are a few reasons I chose Duquesne. I was looking at two other accelerated 12-month
Nursing programs back home in New York. Neither of those programs started students
in clinical rotations until the second half of the program. With an accelerated program
being so fast-paced, I wanted to start my clinical experience in the hospital right
away. Having classroom lectures paired with the clinical hands-on portion really helped
solidify what I was learning in class. We started in the hospital during our second
week of classes which is huge and uncommon for many other accelerated programs. I
also knew Duquesne had an excellent reputation for Nursing. The most successful nurses
I know attended Duquesne. Along with being a reputable school, I wanted the fastest
program possible. I appreciated that Duquesne offered the 12-month option.
August 2020 Alumna
The professors were always available to meet for office hours in order to clarify
information taught. The director of the ABSN program and professor, Amber Kolesar,
was incredibly helpful and understanding of my learning style. She worked hard to
give her students tips and tricks to remember key nursing knowledge that I still use in my job today.
I chose the 16-month track because, although intense, it is a little slower paced
than the 12 months. One would think that it would be overwhelming, but I never felt that way. There are busy moments, sure, but you learn to work through it and how to plan around
classes. Personally, I liked the way that the program was structured. The classes
gave me a strong foundation of scientific concepts and nursing practices before leading
into a heavier clinical schedule.
In early June, School of Nursing welcome packets will be emailed and are filled with
useful information such as class registrations, student handbook review and health
and clinical requirements.
Start of Fall Semester: August 21
Classes begin on Monday, August 21. The academic calendar has important dates for
the semester.
View our beautiful campus via thisvirtual tour, which is led by Duquesne students.
Learning and Simulation Center
The Learning & Simulation Center will help you learn practical nursing skills in the
safety of a simulation lab. Watch anofficial video tourof the Learning and Simulation Center and/or join our nursing recruiters fora walkthrough of the Center.
The Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion helps by providing support services and opportunities for learning. The Center coordinates
community-wide events and programs to celebrate, acknowledge campus leaders and raise
awareness about critical issues.
Office of Financial Aid
Duquesne University is pleased to announce a $10,000 Tuition Award to all new Second
Degree BSN students enrolled in the Fall 2023 semester, regardless of whether you
select the 12-month or 16-month format of study. Please review the other Financial Aid opportunities specific to Second Degree BSN students.
The Office of Commuter Affairs works diligently to help you feel at home and part of the Duquesne family. See what
sort of resources are available to commuters.
Office of Residence Life
The Office of Residence Life provides a highly trained staff of live-in Resident Directors, Assistant Resident
Directors and Resident Assistants who are available to support you on a daily basis
(24 hours a day, in fact).