It’s official. Central Michigan University’s new online nursing program is a go.
Approved by The Institutional Actions Committee of the Higher Learning Commission earlier this month, the new program allows students with active RN licenses to complete a bachelor’s degree in just a year’s time--and all from the comfort of their home.
"While most two-year RN programs focus on skill development, the BSN program includes more emphasis on advanced skills such as critical thinking, decision-making and cultural competence," says Kechi Iheduru-Anderson, CMU’s director of nursing.
"In addition, the bachelor’s degree expands education to include leadership, research, and community and population health."
It’s a win-win for both students and the job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for nurses will see a 15 percent increase through 2026. At the same time, the industry is experiencing a nurse shortage.
The RN-to-BSN program makes for better nurses, and ones more attractive to the job market, at that.
According to the university, many "magnet" hospitals require nurses with BSN licenses. What’s more, nurses with bachelor degrees may be more likely qualified for career advancement opportunities.
Required courses include Concepts of Culture and Diversity, Nursing Informatics, Health Care Finance and Economics, and more.
"Research has found that nurses who obtain the BSN provide more holistic, better-quality care," Iheduru-Anderson says.
"Several studies have shown that nurses with greater levels of education experience lower patient mortality rates and betterpatient outcomes."
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