General Questions
When does the program start?
The program has three entry dates in January, May and August of each year, aligning with the Emory University academic calendar for on-campus nursing programs.
Will you have an open house on campus, or virtual information sessions?
We hold regular virtual information sessions and record them for prospective students who are unable to attend. Session content is often driven by questions from participants, thus may differ slightly from session to session.
What is the cost of this program?
The cost of the program will be approximately $82,000, billed each semester at a credit hour rate based on the number of credit hours taken. An online fee per semester and a one-time laboratory fee are also assessed. We seek to limit the expense of textbooks and course materials to $1500 for the entire program.
Students requiring health insurance coverage will be charged an insurance premium. License testing preparation fees and a licensing test review course are included as part of tuition and fees.
What about supplies for the program?
During required DABSN orientation, the faculty and staff will review all the required expectations for the program including supplies, shoes, uniforms, etc. A dashboard is provided to students with links and examples for your textbooks, scrubs, and other supplies. When you begin the program, you receive a kit containing basic clinical supplies, also included in standard tuition and fees. The program may have access to scrubs donated by program alumni, available to students free of charge. The link for purchasing scrubs is in your Dashboard Canvas course for all students and is reviewed during orientation.
What about financial aid?
Students who have not used all of their federal loan eligibility from a prior degree may be eligible for student loans. Most students finance the DABSN degree with a combination of personal funds and private loans.
Are current and former students available to talk about their experience in the program?
Yes, recent graduates and current enrolled students are available and happy to speak with potential and admitted students in the DABSN program. If you would like to be connected, please ask.
How is a sense of community built among classmates living in distant locations?
Students attend live classes together and are expected to work together every day to respond to questions and contribute to discussions. You also work together on group projects. Our class size of no more than 30 students naturally encourages group interaction to develop during onsite sessions and in group projects.
Our faculty are also an important part of the learning community. When courses are in progress, faculty are available during virtual office hours and via telephone and email as needed to facilitate learning and support students.
Should students be concerned about joining a distance-based nursing program?
Our School of Nursing is highly ranked nationally and has offered BSN programs since 1944. We began offering our accelerated BSN (ABSN) program in 2011, and the distance-based program is built upon the solid foundation of our on-campus program. In 2017 100% of our ABSN students passed NCLEX, the certification examination to become a professional registered nurse (RN); and our overall NCLEX pass rate for all of our pre-licensure programs was 99%, well above the national average of 85%.
Our dedicated full-time faculty work closely to equip students for success. Students are assigned clinical site faculty visitors to coordinate and oversee all clinical experiences .and expert preceptors work with you and you clinical faculty one-to-one within the clinical setting.
How do students in the program preserve a positive work/life balance?
The three-semester program is rigorous and intense, requiring students to spend 8-10 hours per day interacting in online sessions with classmates, working on individual projects, or reading and studying. While the program is intense, it is designed to quickly move you to your academic goal—a nursing degree and career. Employment, even part time, while enrolled in the program is discouraged and no allowances are made because of conflicts with outside work schedules.
Courses are sequenced to build on prior knowledge, and clinical rotations enhance the application of concepts learned in course work. Fellow classmates create a sense of community, and faculty members foster connections and are closely involved with your progress.
Before you enroll in the program, it is important to talk to family members and significant others about the commitment you are making. Streamline your budget as much as possible and create patterns of positive health behaviors that include good nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Identify and practice coping strategies you’ve used successfully in the past; coping strategies such as mindfulness and yoga may be helpful.
What is the job outlook for students in the program?
Most our graduates receive job offers prior to graduation. Nationally, 99% of nurses are employed within three to six months of graduation. Working in the health system in which you have completed clinical study may also provide an advantage in the hiring process. Graduates of all nursing programs must pass the NCLEX-RN licensure examination to begin working as a registered nurse. The last few months of the program focus on preparation for the NCLEX-RN certification examination, and include a review course and assessment testing. The cost of NCLEX Assessment Testing and a review course are built into the program.
Some of our graduates will study toward a future master’s degree (MSN), Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP), or a PhD in Nursing. Emory offers nine specialty areas of study for those who choose to pursue a career in advanced nursing (nurse practitioner or midwifery). For graduates working in a critical care unit (intensive care or cardiac care), Emory’s certified registered nurse anesthesia (CRNA) program may be of interest.
What if prospective students have specific questions about the program?
Watch for our virtual information sessions. Times are posted on the School of Nursing website, and recordings of the information sessions are available. Please contact the DABSN program with program questions or contact the Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs for information about your application.
ELIGIBILITY AND ADMISSIONS QUESTIONS
Will students be able to enroll from anywhere in the United States?
Currently, students are accepted from states with existing clinical affiliations. Additional states are being added on a continual basis, so please follow up directly with inquiries about your specific state. There are several states that currently do not support DABSN enrollment, including but not limited to, California, Texas, Tennessee, New York, Oregon, and New Jersey.
When are application materials due?
Completed applications are reviewed as they are received. (See website tab for admission requirements.) If you are notified that a cohort is full, you are advised to notify the Office of Student Enrollment if you would like to be considered for admission in the next cycle. Applicants are not required to submit a second deposit or resubmit materials already present in their application file. For questions about the application process, please contact the School of Nursing's Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs at 404.727.7980.
How are candidates evaluated for admission?
Completed applications are reviewed in a holistic process that includes evaluation of transcripts, and work and life experiences. If there are factors that you would like to be considered that are not required as part of the application, you should communicate these in your application. You may be asked to participate in an interview as a part of the admission process.
Do you require all transcripts if I have attended multiple schools?
Yes. All transcripts must be submitted, even if only one class was taken at an institution. Science and life science-related courses and grades receive particular attention.
How do I accept an offer of admission?
Once you’re admitted, a deposit is required to hold your place in the program and is applied to your first tuition bill. We offer admission to applicants each semester until we receive deposits from the limit of 30 enrolled students.
Does Emory offer online prerequisite classes?
Emory does not offer online prerequisite courses. Prerequisites can be taken at any accredited university, either online or on campus. Please note the credit hours required to fulfill admission eligibility requirements. Applicants should contact the Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs with questions about whether particular courses fulfill the prerequisite requirements.
Course Work Questions
What is the format for the distance classes?
Courses will be offered in 6-8 week sessions for six total sessions (three consecutive semesters--refer to the current plan of study for specific class dates and times). Our curriculum, using the clinical judgment model, uses an active learning approach in which you must be present and participate to receive maximum benefit. Prior to scheduled class times (based on Eastern Standard Time), students prepare by watching pre-recorded lectures and completing course readings. During scheduled real-time class sessions, students participate in active learning strategies, including discussions among class members, for application and analysis of course content.
Students should plan to spend 8-10 hours per day working on assignments, readings, and studying. Clinical rotations vary based on the preceptor’s daily schedule; we anticipate, however, that preceptors work standard 12-hour nursing shifts. Students should expect some course assignments to be due during clinical rotations, but your clinical requirements will never conflict with scheduled class sessions.
How are students tested?
We use an online proctoring service for testing to ensure test integrity. Testing is at an application and evaluation level using multiple choice, multiple-multiple choice and other methods to prepare you for the nursing license (NCLEX) exam.
How are students prepared in basic nursing skills before beginning clinical practice? How is simulation incorporated into the program?
During the first on-campus clinical visit, you practice nursing skills through laboratory and simulated experiences, are evaluated for basic skills competence and complete your first clinical experience at an Emory Healthcare site under the supervision of an Emory clinical faculty member.
Where do students stay during visits to campus? Are transportation and lodging provided?
Round trip travel to Atlanta and hotel accommodations are provided for each student from their approved home location. A meal allowance is provided, but some meals are provided during the on-campus programming. These costs are included in your tuition and fees.
Clinical Placement Questions
How are clinical sites and preceptors chosen in the state where I live? Will I make the clinical site arrangement or will Emory?
Emory identifies clinical sites and manages the requirements for student placement. You are not responsible for your clinical arrangements. Emory identifies and assigns experienced clinical site faculty visitors and preceptors for each rotation in your local geographic areas, as available. Although placements are not guaranteed, no student enrolled in the DABSN program has never failed to graduate on time because of a lack of clinical practice hours.
How does Emory evaluate clinical sites and preceptors, and how is clinical performance evaluated?
Local clinical preceptors work with school-assigned clinical site faculty visitors to support your clinical experience, including review of course objectives, clinical assignments and student evaluations. Site evaluations also occur annually, or more frequently if needed.
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