Registered nurses will soon have a path to earning their Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Reinhardt University.
The Reinhardt Board of Trustees unanimously approved the program at its Jan. 30 meeting, and classes are expected to begin in fall 2018.
“We are excited to be able to offer registered nurses a path to complete their four-year degree in an online format at Reinhardt University,” said Dr. Kina S. Mallard. “This is another example of Reinhardt University’s commitment to our community and our students, and we are excited for the next big step for our Cauble School of Nursing & Health Sciences.”
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2014), 39 percent of hospitals and other healthcare settings now require new RNs to have a baccalaureate degree in nursing, and 77 percent express a strong preference for nurses educated at this level. BSN graduates command higher salaries and are more likely to be considered for roles in leadership, research and education.
“The new RN to BSN program at Reinhardt University is one that was built to accommodate the working registered nurse who holds an unencumbered RN license and graduated with a diploma or associate degree from an accredited program,” said Dr. Glynis Blackard, dean of the Cauble School of Nursing & Health Sciences. “The need for nurses with a BSN is so critical that medical institutions worked with us to establish this program. But ultimately this degree isn’t for the employers. It’s for the nurse who has decided they want to do more, for themselves and for their patients.”
The new program, to be offered year-round, includes nine courses ranging from “Perspectives in Professional Nursing” and “Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse” to “Nursing Legalities and Ethics” and “Nursing Leadership.” Once accepted to the RN to BSN program, students can complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as little as 18 months. Clinical practicums may be completed at an approved medical institution of the student’s choice.
Reinhardt University launched its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in August 2017, with pure nursing classes that began last month. Twenty-seven students were inducted into the traditional BSN program on Jan. 7 and are in classes this semester developing their skills in nursing.
There will be an opportunity to learn more about Reinhardt’s RN to BSN and Bachelor of Science in Nursing at two open house events. Join Reinhardt admissions counselors and Cauble School of Nursing & Health Sciences faculty Tuesday, Feb. 20, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Appalachian Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College, 100 Campus Drive, Jasper. The open house will be held in conjunction with the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Event.
An additional open house will be held March 15, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., in the Galleria Conference Room at Northside Hospital Cherokee, 450 Northside Cherokee Blvd., Canton.
For more information, visit nursing.reinhardt.edu. Questions about the RN-BSN program can be sent to finish@reinhardt.edu.
NOTE: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing holds ongoing initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing.
