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Second Degree BSN Program
Accelerate Your Path to Becoming a Nurse
The Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers two accelerated pathways for the non-nurse with a baccalaureate degree to obtain a BSN. Within each pathway, all requirements for a BSN degree are met and students are eligible to take the nursing licensure examination upon graduation. Our most recent class scored a 100% on the NCLEX-RN exam.
12-month Second Degree Pathway
The 12-month full-time pathway begins in August, and includes three semesters of intensive coursework and clinical practice in health care settings.
16-month Second Degree Pathway
For those who seek a second degree program on a slightly less intense course schedule, the 16-month pathway begins in August and includes four semesters of rigorous coursework and clinical practice in health care settings.
Additional costs may apply for the 16-month pathway options.
Clinical Practice
As a Second Degree student, your clinical experiences begin your very first semester of the program. You will complete your clinical hours in hospitals and community facilities under the supervision of expert clinical faculty and nurse preceptors. These experiences are a great way to apply knowledge and theory gained in the classroom to your clinical practice.
This information serves as a guide to help students determine the best program of study option. If needed, students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor for guidance.
| Pathway | Tuition | Technology Fee | Total |
| 12-Month Pathway | $54,093 | $3,226 | $57,319 |
|
16-Month Pathway - Option 1: Selected prior to the University Add/Drop deadline during the first Fall Semester |
$54,096 | $3,337* | $57,433 |
|
16-Month Pathway - Option 2: Selected prior to the start of the Spring Semester |
$58,603 | $3,337* | $61,940 |
*16-month Pathway students are billed a $110 technology fee for the additional semester of study.
Second Degree BSN $5,000 Tuition Award
Duquesne University is pleased to announce a $5,000 Tuition Award to all new Second Degree BSN students enrolled in the Fall 2020 Semester.
Here is the breakdown of this award:
| Pathway | Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall 2 |
| 12-Month Pathway | $1,666 | $1,666 | $1,668 | N/A |
| 16-Month Pathway | $1,250 | $1,250 | $1,250 | $1,250 |
For questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 412.396.6607. Once accepted as a student, you can reserve your place today and secure the $5,000 tuition award by submitting your enrollment deposit online.
The total tuition for this unique 12- or 16-month undergraduate second degree nursing program is a discounted rate established by the University. Because this is a second bachelor's degree, students may not be eligible for the usual undergraduate grant and scholarship monies. Since the Second Degree BSN program leads to the undergraduate BSN degree, students do not qualify for graduate student funding opportunities. Historically our second degree students have funded their nursing education using personal loans, parental contribution, and personal income.
It is strongly recommended that you review the most current information available on the Office of Financial Aid website and then contact the Office to assess your specific financial needs.
General Information
View important financial aid information from the Office of Financial Aid.
Second Degree BSN $5,000 Tuition Award
Duquesne University is pleased to announce a $5,000 tuition award will be offered to all new Second Degree BSN students enrolled in the Fall 2020 Semester. Here is the breakdown of this award:
| Pathway | Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall 2 |
| 12-Month Pathway | $1,666 | $1,666 | $1,668 | N/A |
| 16-Month Pathway | $1,250 | $1,250 | $1,250 | $1,250 |
For questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 412.396.6607. Once accepted as a student, you can reserve your place today and secure the $5,000 tuition award by submitting your enrollment deposti online.
School of Nursing Endowed Scholarships and Resource Funds
The School of Nursing has a growing number of endowed scholarships and resource funds that are available to undergraduate and second degree students each year who have completed 30 credits in their program of studies. Scholarships are awarded prior to the start of the academic year. Eligibility criteria vary for each scholarship or resource fund. Applications are made available to students in May of each year with a submission deadline of July 15th. You can view the most current listing on the Nursing Scholarships page.
Additional Financial Aid Opportunities for Nursing Students
Accredited Schools Online: Funding your nursing school education - scholarships, financial aid and other ways to pay.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing: View a listing of financial aid and scholarship sites.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nurse Corps Scholarship Program: In exchange for at least two years service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses, the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program pays tuition, required fees, other reasonable cost, including books and clinical supplies, and a monthly stipend. U.S. citizens or nationals enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a full-time or part-time student in an accredited school of nursing are eligible to apply.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Minority Students: Scholarships and other financial assistance are vitally important in helping minority students achieve their college and career dreams. View the Scholarship guide
Local, Regional, National Organizations and Foundations
The School of Nursing receives a number of scholarship notifications throughout the academic year from various local, regional and national foundations and organizations. This information is forwarded to all students via email and the School of Nursing intranet site, and applications are available through the Office of Student Services. It is the individual student's responsibility to apply for each scholarship if interested.
The Jewish Scholarship Service of Greater Pittsburgh
The Jewish Scholarship Service of Greater Pittsburgh (JSS) coordinates the efforts of a group of organizations, agencies and scholarship endowment funds that provide scholarships to local Jewish students enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education. JSS provides financial support to as many eligible students in our community as possible. Demonstrated financial need is a primary criterion in evaluating applicants. Financial information is considered along with other pertinent facts such as family size and the number of children/siblings in college.
The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County
The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County oversee more than 325 scholarship funds.
Opportunities for Military Veterans
Duquesne University is honored to serve those who have served their country. A wide array of academic programs and services make Duquesne a military-friendly university.
A Guide to Student Loans
Information on Federal Student Loans
Duquesne's Financial Aid office recommends applying for all scholarships, grants, and Federal Loans before resorting to Private Education Loans. After pursuing all Federal Loans, you can research a Historical List of Private Education Loans that Duquesne students have used.
At the completion of the nursing program, the student:
- Integrates clinical judgment skills when implementing care for individuals, families, groups and community.
- Analyzes one's clinical judgment skills when implementing care for individuals, families and groups.
- Demonstrates clinical judgment skills when implementing care for individuals.
- Explains the meaning of and necessity for using clinical judgment skills in one's professional role.
- Role models ethical, legal and professional standards into one's professional nursing practice when acting as a moral agent.
- Engages in ethical decision-making.
- Practices within the ethical and legal framework of one's profession.
- Differentiates between the ethical and the legal aspects of one's profession.
- Displays a caring attitude in all aspects of one's practice.
- Integrates caring into all aspects of one's practice.
- Initiates caring behaviors with self and others.
- Expresses the importance of caring to professional practice.
- Institutes collaborative efforts for the improvement of care to individuals/families and communities.
- Engages in collaboration with others in planning and implementing care.
- Describes the meaning of collaboration for the improvement of health care.
- Identifies the meaning of collaborative care to one's practice.
- Demonstrates the ability to utilize integrated systems analysis for personal and professional navigation of the health care delivery systems.
- Examines the use of various strategies within the system that can be used to improve patient outcomes.
- Explains how changes in the system can affect patient outcomes.
- Identifies the meaning of a systems thinking approach.
- Integrates culturally congruent care in caring for individuals/families of diverse populations.
- Implements care in a culturally sensitive manner with all persons.
- Illustrates examples of culturally sensitive care.
- Describes the meaning of cultural sensitivity.
- Engages in evidence-based practice.
- Interprets the research process methodology as it is related to sound practice.
- Gives examples of research-based practice.
- Explains the meaning of clinical inquiry to a profession.
- Incorporates teaching/learning process into all aspects of one's practice.
- Engages in the development of teaching plans to promote the health of patients, groups and communities.
- Explains the teaching/learning process.
- Discusses the relationship of teaching to health promotion.
- Participates in ongoing educational activities that enhance professional growth and improve health care.
- Identifies extracurricular opportunities to enhance professional development.
- Articulates the benefits of engagement in activities that support professional development.
- Utilizes best practices in improving the health of individuals, groups and communities.
- Utilizes evolving information technologies to enhance professional nursing practice.
- Utilizes technology in academic and clinical settings.
- Participates in analysis of ethical considerations when using technology.
- Demonstrates competencies in the use of technology in the clinical setting.
- Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing to all individuals and groups.
- Incorporates major communication theories in all interactions.
- Analyzes factors that promote/interfere with effective communication.
- Examines the major principles of therapeutic communication.
- Uses leadership abilities to influence professional nursing practice.
- Examines nursing leadership roles.
- Applies the principles of leadership in clinical environments.
- Participates in interprofessional collaboration to influence efficiency of health care services.
- Evaluates the interrelationship of nurse competencies and the patient characteristics to patient outcomes.
- Utilizes the unique strengths of the patient characteristics and the nurse competencies to affect patient outcomes.
- Examines the interrelationship of nurse competencies and the patient characteristics to patient outcomes.
- States the patient outcomes and the nurse competencies.
School of Nursing Conceptual Framework
The curriculum flows logically from the conceptual framework originally developed by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The Synergy Model suggests that patient outcomes are enhanced when the nurses’ competencies are compatible with the characteristics or needs of the patient.
When applied in the educational system, the center of attention for the model is the students and their learning. In the academic environment, developmental needs of the students are advanced when faculty competencies are aligned with the learning needs of nursing students. The competencies of the nurse identified in the model are those the faculty envisions as essential to the success of the nurses’ interventions. Underlying all of the nurses’ competencies is the unique contribution of nurses to provide “safe passage” for patients and their families through the health care environment.
According to Curly (1998), these competencies are:
- Clinical judgment – clinical reasoning that underpins decision-making in clinical practice, includes the assessment of given patient care situations and nursing skill.
- Advocacy and moral agency – representing the interests of the “other” and identifying and working to manage or explain ethical and clinical concerns. This dimension acknowledges the unique trust inherent in the nurse-patient relationship.
- Caring practices – constellation of nursing activities that are responsive to the uniqueness of the patient, family, group and community and create a therapeutic environment. Caring practices include vigilance, engagement and responsiveness.
- Facilitation of learning – ability to use self to maximize patients’ learning.
- Collaboration – working with others to promote and encourage each person’s contribution to achieving optimal goals for the patient. This includes intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary work.
- Systems thinking – appreciating the care environment and the interrelationships within and across health care systems.
- Response to diversity – sensitive to recognize, appreciate and incorporate differences between and among people along multiple dimensions in the provision of care.
- Clinical inquiry – process of questioning and evaluating practice, assessing evidence base of practice, and innovating through research and learning.