Careers & Success Stories
Our ABSN Students
DISCOVER
Where do they come from?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 StoryOnce 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.
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.
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.