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Careers & Success Stories

Our ABSN Students

DISCOVER

Where do they come from?

Our accelerated students come to Rochester, New York from across the state, nation, and world to pursue a career in nursing. They bring diverse backgrounds and career experiences—from nutrition and neuroscience, to music and marketing. Regardless of their previous fields of study or practice, all share a desire to make a difference in the lives of others.
Word cloud featuring various previous degrees of students: history, education, dance, biology, etc.

ABSN Students at a Glance

33%

STUDENTS ARE FROM GROUPS UNDERREPRESENTED IN NURSING

On average, one of every three students in the Accelerated Nursing Programs are from groups underrepresented in nursing.

24%

STUDENTS ARE MALE

On average, nearly one fourth of our students are male, which is twice the national average for men in the nursing profession.

50+

STATES, PLUS OTHER COUNTRIES

Accelerated students have come from across the U.S. and around the world to pursue a new career in nursing.

ABSN Student Stories

Sarah Cox Contact Information

Sarah Cox

Previous Degree: Spanish
Accelerated Student, Class of May 2023

As a professional birth doula and a cancer survivor, Sarah's admiration for the nurses in her life soon turned into a career goal of her own.

Sarah's Story
Christina Mather, '18N Contact Information

Christina Mather, '18N

Previous Degree: Microbiology
Project Nurse, UR Medicine Employee Wellness

From neuro-virology researcher to neuromedicine nurse, Christina discovered her passion for healing others right here at the University of Rochester.

Christina's Story
Joshua Billings Contact Information

Joshua Billings

Previous Degree: Psychology
Accelerated Student, Class of May 2023

A former case manager who helped survivors of human trafficking, Joshua is pursuing his bachelor's as the first step toward a career in psychiatric and mental health nursing.

Joshua's Story
Alice Fiatsonu Contact Information

Alice Fiatsonu

Previous Degree: Biomedical Sciences
Accelerated Student, Class of May 2023

A mother and former teacher with a passion for science and caring for others, Alice found nursing to be the perfect path for making direct, positive change. 

Alice's Story
Zoe Wilmot Contact Information

Zoe Wilmot

Previous Degree: Exercise Physiology
Accelerated Student, Class of August 2023

For Rochester mom of four Zoe Wilmot, becoming a nurse is a way of giving back to the nurses who impacted her family.

Zoe's Story
Tom Ruffing Contact Information

Tom Ruffing

Previous Degree: Culinary Arts Management
Accelerated Student, Class of August 2023

As a former chef and aspiring nurse practitioner, Tom has always wanted to heal and improve the lives of others through his work.

Tom's Story
Grace Smith Contact Information

Grace Smith

Previous Degree: Biology/Pre-Health
Accelerated Student, Class of August 2023

Former Division I hockey player Grace Smith is making the most of an academic medical center as she explores what kind of nurse she'd like to be. 

Grace's Story
Camren "Cam" Dove Contact Information

Camren "Cam" Dove

Previous Degree: Business
Accelerated Student, Class of August 2023

With a background in business, retail and real estate, Cam Dove has always felt his best when helping others. Inspired by friends who were frontline health care workers, he's ready to make an impact in a new way.

Cam's Story
Quotation Mark

Once I figured out the path I wanted to take to combine my passions of food, nutrition, diabetes, and medicine, I found that nursing was a really great option. One of the reasons the University of Rochester appealed to me as a returning student who already had a degree and a profession was that we can play off of our strengths and our passions.

Paige Steiner, '21N

Quotation Mark

Once I figured out the path I wanted to take to combine my passions of food, nutrition, diabetes, and medicine, I found that nursing was a really great option. One of the reasons the University of Rochester appealed to me as a returning student who already had a degree and a profession was that we can play off of our strengths and our passions.

Paige Steiner, '21N

Our Graduates

PHOTO GALLERY

Where are they now?

Twenty years ago, the University of Rochester began offering an accelerated path for college graduates to pursue a second career in nursing. Since then nearly 4,000 graduates have joined the nursing workforce as highly-skilled clinicians. They join a strong and respected profession working to improve care for patients in communities across Rochester and beyond. 

UR Nursing Alumni

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