The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and the
Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) recently joined forces to offer a
new dual admission BSN program. CCBC is the thirteenth school to create a dual-admission
partnership agreement with the school.
Dual-admission partnerships are growing in popularity
nationally, as more people are seeking out RN-to-BSN opportunities. These kinds
of programs benefit not only the program participants, but the schools and healthcare
employers as well. As the nursing shortage continues through the United States,
hospitals and health organizations are constantly looking for ways to meet staffing
needs.
This is one of several RN-to-BSN partnerships that CCBC has with various universities across Maryland, but the requirements at UMSON are different. “The UMSON partnership is unique, as the dual admission pathway provides flexibility and choice to CCBC students,” Linda Murray, DNP, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, shared. “The UMSON CCBC partnership does not require students to take BSN courses while still in the ADN program, but affords them the flexibility to take courses if they wish.”
Additional requirements include admission into CCBC’s ADN
program, and completion of the first semester of the nursing program at CCBC. But
while CCBC has several campuses, this program opportunity is only available to
students at the Catonsville and Essex locations.
Since fall 2016, UMSON has admitted 139 dual admission
students. These dual admission programs allow students to balance their coursework
and work and home responsibilities, giving students the option to continue
working, instead of solely focusing on their academics.
Beyond saving time in this RN-to-BSN program, students will also save money. “UMSON is currently covering the cost of its BSN courses for students participating in the dual-admission partnership while they are still enrolled in the ADN program, an opportunity made possible with funds from a gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation,” Murray said. “Once the student graduates from their ADN program and matriculates into UMSON, they can apply for a full Conway Scholarship, which covers the costs of in-state tuition, fees, and books for the duration of the program.”
For more information about the UMSON-CCBC dual admission program, click here.
A groundbreaking nursing education model is emerging in Kansas that will allow students to simultaneously earn their Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Four Kansas community colleges are joining the University of Kansas School of Nursing to make the program possible. Nursing students across Kansas will now be able to complete their BSN without leaving their home communities.
The new program, called the Partnership Model, received accreditation approval to join the four community colleges with the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Two students from Kansas City Kansas Community College became the first pioneers to complete the pilot program of the model and are both now employed as registered Nurses at the University of Kansas Hospital. Interest in the program is already very high with 43 students from the four community colleges enrolled in the new Partnership program. 60 percent of the students enrolled at Kansas City Kansas Community College have already chosen the new partnership route.
Using the partnership model makes the transition from associate level to BSN much smoother for students, while building relationships and capacity for students at the university level. It creates a more efficient pipeline for educating nurses to meet growing workforce needs and allows students to move easily through the pathway to achieve both degrees.
The program works by allowing students from community colleges with accredited nursing programs to simultaneously earn their ADN from the local school where they attend classes and their BSN from the University of Kansas via online coursework. To be admitted into the Partnership Model program, students must have completed prerequisite coursework for admittance into the University of Kansas School of Nursing and be accepted at their community college nursing program.
Faculty members from the University have worked with the community colleges to develop a curriculum that contains the necessary elements to sit for nursing licensure. Using resources already in place at the community colleges, the program is designed to be completed in four years without students having to leave the comfort and convenience of their community college setting. The Partnership Model was first introduced in 2013, and finally received accreditation this year. It is intended to improve the deficit of nurses nationwide, largely due to the high numbers of baby boomers expected to retire soon, and to increase diversity of the nursing workforce. Discussions about expanding the program across the Midwest are expected.
