School of Nursing celebrates milestone with graduation of first ABSN cohort
Kim Chaudoin |
Four students are making history at fall commencement as Lipscomb University’s first cohort of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program to graduate. Ana Bencomo, Peyton Dowling, Abbey Grogan and Kallie Ogburn completed the 16-month program in December and are stepping directly into nursing roles.
“This is an extraordinary milestone as we celebrate our inaugural cohort of ABSN students, trailblazers who have answered the profound calling to nursing with unwavering dedication and courage,” said Chelsia Harris, executive director of Lipscomb’s School of Nursing. “Through an accelerated, rigorous curriculum that compressed 15-week courses into intense 8-week sessions, these exceptional graduates balanced work, life and school with remarkable professionalism, drive and perseverance, not only meeting but exceeding the highest standards of nursing education.”
Launched last year to meet workforce demand in Nashville’s $97 billion health care industry, Lipscomb’s Accelerated BSN is one of the few of its kind in Tennessee. The hybrid-format program enables students who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in another field to earn a BSN in 16 months through a combination of online coursework and in-person clinical experiences. The program builds on the School of Nursing’s strong outcomes, including first-time NCLEX pass rates that consistently exceed state and national averages.
“When I think of our first ABSN cohort, the word that comes to mind is courageous,” said Ashley Jackson, assistant director of the ABSN Program. “These students took a leap of faith in the decision to return to school and pursue nursing. They trusted us not just with their education but with their future careers and we are genuinely honored. This cohort has been flexible, resilient and strong. I could not be more proud of each and every student.”
Harris said this first graduating class signals an important new chapter for Lipscomb. “Their success represents more than individual achievement,” she said. “It opens new pathways at Lipscomb University for aspiring nurses who seek an alternative route into this vital profession, ensuring that the calling to serve is accessible to all who possess the passion and determination to answer it.”
Dowling, of Arrington, Tennessee, joined the program after earning a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Western Kentucky University and working as an on-site specialist for Stryker's endoscopy team in operating rooms across Texas. Being immersed in the OR helped her find clarity about her future.
“I always knew I wanted to be in health care, but I wasn’t sure exactly where I belonged,” Dowling said. “While working in the OR with Stryker, I realized how much I loved being around the nurses and being part of a team that directly impacted patient care. I found myself wanting to play a more active, hands-on role. Seeing the compassion, teamwork and purpose that nursing offered made me feel confident that it was the right career path for me.”
When she researched ABSN programs, she saw that Lipscomb was accepting applications for its new program, which caught her attention.
“The hybrid format and the reputation of the university made it a great fit for my situation. The hybrid format was truly a blessing during such a hectic time in my life. I got married on June 18, 2024, and my husband, who is in the Army, re-enlisted for Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Georgia,” she explained. “After deciding to move forward with Lipscomb’s ABSN program at the end of July, we planned for me to commute as needed. When we arrived in Georgia in August, he learned he would be deployed in January for nine months.”
“While unexpected, it allowed me to move back in with my parents in Tennessee during his deployment. He returned in September, and I moved back to Fort Stewart, only needing to commute again for about three months,” continued Dowling. “Through all of these transitions, the hybrid structure and Lipscomb’s understanding and support made it possible for me to stay on track.”
Dowling said the program helped her develop not only clinical skills, but also the mindset of a nurse.
“Lipscomb has helped me gain a clear sense of the kind of nurse I want to be,” she said. “The program taught me not only clinical skills but also new ways of thinking, problem-solving and caring for patients. I feel confident and prepared as I step into my first nursing role.”
After completing the NCLEX in February, Dowling will begin work as a nurse at Centennial Medical Center on the BMT/Heme Oncology floor.
“I feel like I just started, and these 16 months have flown by. It’s been intense, but so unbelievably worth it. I’m grateful I chose Lipscomb, it truly prepared me for this moment,” she said. “I’m incredibly thankful for the support I received from Lipscomb throughout this journey. This program came into my life during a whirlwind season, and the flexibility and encouragement I received made all the difference.”
For Ogburn, of Germantown, Tennessee, discovering Lipscomb’s ABSN program felt like the turning point she needed. After earning her degree in 2022 from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, unsure of what career path to pursue. She planned on applying to Physician Assistant Studies schools after graduation, so she began a job in the medical field as a medical assistant in a pediatrics and family medicine office to gain clinical hours where she was exposed to many different experiences that provided a strong medical foundation as she triaged patients, took vitals, administered vaccinations, and ran tests of all kinds on patients. She also worked as a medical assistant in dermatology, where she assisted with invasive skin cancer surgeries. After being waitlisted for PA school, she decided she needed to pivot.
“After I made the decision to move to Nashville, I heard about Lipscomb's new ABSN program a week later,” she said. “I applied the day after hearing about it, and was accepted into the program three days later. Everything happened so fast, but it also reassured me that I was on the right path and I was where I was supposed to be.”
The hybrid format allowed Ogburn to continue working while pursuing her nursing degree.
“I have really enjoyed the hybrid format of Lipscomb's ABSN program,” she said. “I started off the beginning of nursing school working full time, sometimes up to 80 hours a week, in a dermatology office. This was a lot. However, the format of this program made it doable. For most, like myself, I needed to continue to work, so I was very thankful that I could work on my school assignments on my time.”
Ogburn said her experience was strengthened by meaningful relationships with faculty and classmates.
“My Lipscomb experience has been great. I’ve enjoyed developing strong relationships with my professors, which made me comfortable bringing up any concern,” she said. “Clinical rotations also helped me discover the areas I’m passionate about and expanded my nursing network in Nashville. I feel like I just began this journey, but the 16 months have flown by. I am excited to begin my career.”
Ogburn will begin her nursing career in the Intermediate Care Unit at Ascension Saint Thomas West, caring for patients transitioning from the ICU. “I am excited to gain these hands-on skills, and grow as a nurse,” she concluded. “I am open to any and everything that nursing has in store for me.”
Nursing remains the nation’s largest health profession, with nearly 4.7 million registered nurses nationwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the RN workforce to grow by 6% over the next decade, and a 2022 AACN study shows that 72% of employers prefer hiring BSN-prepared nurses. Research also links BSN preparation to lower mortality rates and better patient outcomes.
Harris said that Lipscomb designed its ABSN program to help meet this demand, both locally and nationally, while offering a path for individuals seeking a career transition or a return to healthcare. The program prepares students to deliver holistic, compassionate patient care while strengthening critical thinking, clinical judgment and leadership skills. Coursework is paired with clinical placements across Middle Tennessee’s robust healthcare ecosystem, giving students exposure to a wide range of specialties.