School launches inaugural summer BSN cohort

By Pareasa Rahimi

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing is welcoming its first summer cohort in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pathway this month, expanding to year‑round enrollment to address Alabama’s nursing workforce needs. The School’s BSN Pathway—ranked No. 13 nationally and No. 1 in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report—has admitted 72 students to the inaugural summer group.

“As Alabama’s top-ranked nursing program, we are proud to be driving growth in nursing education, expanding our number of graduates and equipping them with the skills and readiness they need to thrive in today’s workforce,” said Dean and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair Maria R. Shirey, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FACHE, FNAP, FAAN.

With the addition of the summer cohort, the School will admit BSN students all three semesters, with most graduates accepting positions and practicing in Alabama.

“The addition of this cohort reflects both the rising interest in the nursing profession and our continued focus on expanding Alabama’s nursing workforce,” said Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Prelicensure Education Katie Parris, DNP, RN, CNE. “It is exciting to welcome this group of motivated students and give them the chance not only to join the profession, but to begin their journey earlier.”

First-semester BSN student and Dean’s Nursing Scholar Hannah Grace Steele said she was initially drawn to the summer cohort because of its smaller size. Dean’s Nursing Scholars are pre-nursing students who receive priority admission to the School of Nursing during their senior year of high school if they have a 3.8 GPA and have been admitted through the UAB Office of Undergraduate Admission.

“I knew I wanted to form a close connection with students in my cohort and with the faculty,” Steele said. “And as I learned more about the summer cohort, I also was motivated by the nursing shortage. Being able to enter the workforce even a little earlier means I can start helping sooner.”

She initially was drawn to the School because of the early engagement built into the pre‑nursing track, giving students opportunities for involvement and exposure to nursing before applying to the program. Steele gained early clinical exposure through her School of Nursing Freshman Year Experience course, which helped her explore the specialties she may want to pursue after graduating.

“I spent time shadowing in the emergency room, and it was incredible because that experience is what sparked my interest in working in emergency and acute care once I graduate,” Steele said. “I also had the opportunity to shadow a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at UAB St. Vincent’s, and it opened my eyes to the roles they play in the operating room.”

Steele’s early involvement with the School also included connecting with the Student Nurses’ Association. She attended a panel where nursing students shared their experiences, which gave her early insight into the program and helped her begin building relationships within the School. She later went on to serve as Chair of the Student Nurses’ Association Junior Board, a group specifically geared to promoting involvement in the School for pre-nursing students. Within the group she was able to contribute ideas and support other pre‑nursing students.

“I knew I wanted to join when I learned about the School’s mission to help pre‑nursing students get acclimated early,” Steele said. “They offered study tips, professional development and chances for students to get their feet in the door and start understanding the ropes of nursing school. I wanted to be part of that and offer my ideas.”

Alongside her leadership involvement, Steele also found ways to connect with her future classmates and faculty. She met several members of her cohort during a CPR certification class offered by the School and continued building those relationships during the program’s information session.

“I’ve been with the same people these past two years through prerequisites, so it’s allowed us all to form close relationships,” Steele said. “The NUR100 course I took my freshman year was also very helpful. It gave me study tips, introduced me to faculty in the School and helped me adjust to the transition from high school to college.”

The summer cohort will follow the same five‑semester curriculum as the fall and spring BSN cohorts. Students will benefit from the School’s extensive involvement opportunities and dedicated support, including Student Success Champions, the Nursing Honors Program and the Student Nurse Internship Program, along with student organizations such as the Student Nurses’ Association. The School launched the Student Success Champions program in 2022. It combines mentoring and academic coaching to strengthen student outcomes. Since its launch, the program has helped reduce BSN attrition to just 2 percent.

Some of the most exceptional opportunities the students have are the hands‑on clinical experiences across UAB’s academic health science campus, many of which are in walking distance of the School and include trauma, critical care, pediatric and adult health.

“As the first summer BSN cohort, these students are instrumental in helping meet the growing needs of the nursing workforce,” Shirey said. “We are dedicated to ensuring they, and all of our students, receive the support and exceptional clinical training needed to succeed academically and be fully prepared for practice. Our academic and clinical partnerships, both on-campus and in the community, allow us to provide students with robust clinical experiences across multiple care settings.”

Learn more about the BSN Pathway or register to attend an upcoming info session.