The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing will begin classes in January for its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) – four months earlier than it has traditionally started the classes.
The change, which does not affect the college’s traditional BSN or other programs, will make it possible for students to graduate in December and for employers to recruit nurses mid-year rather than waiting until May when the largest numbers of students graduate.
Applications will be accepted now through Oct. 1 for the semester that begins in January. The 12-month program is offered at four of five of UNMC College of Nursing locations — in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Scottsbluff.
"This change is a result of a request from our hospital partners and we’re excited about moving forward with this," said Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. "This helps hospitals manage the nursing workforce and ensures they have people for the positions they need throughout the full calendar year. There continues to be a shortage of nurses, particularly in rural areas, and this will have an immediate impact next year."
She said students also benefit.
"We’ve had a number of inquiries from applicants who really would prefer a January start date, and so for many of them, this will mean they can move the timetable forward to apply for the program," Dr. Sebastian said.
The accelerated BSN program is open to students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. The accelerated bachelor’s degree program is an intense program requiring 12 months of full-time study. As part of their educational preparation, students will have access to state-of the-art simulation labs and complete clinical rotations in nearby facilities to gain a variety of experience.
Students who graduate from the accelerated and traditional bachelor’s degree programs earn 62 credit hours. The hours, coupled with their 58 credit hours of required prerequisite course work at any accredited community college, college, or university, earns a bachelor’s in nursing degree from UNMC.
Regional West Health System in Scottsbluff, is one of the many hospitals that provides clinical experiences for nursing students. Connie Rupp, vice president for patient care services and chief nurse officer for Regional West Health Services, said the change will benefit their system and students.
"We are pleased to have an opportunity to enhance our partnership with UNMC," Rupp said. "Through our partnership, we will continue to be able to offer a quality nursing educational experience for more nursing students each year. We believe this benefits the student, Regional West and the patients we are privileged to serve."
For more information in Scottsbluff, contact Karen Schledewitz at (308) 632-0413, klschledewitz@unmc.edu; in Kearney, contact Hilary Christo, (302) 865-8322, hchristo@unmc.edu; in Omaha, Molly Belieu, (402) 559-4110, molly.handke@unmc.edu; and in Lincoln, Amy Frizzell, (402) 472-7343, amy.fellhoelter@unmc.edu. To apply online, go to: http://www.unmc.edu/nursing.
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