The nursing profession has seen a dramatic increase in demand for bachelor’s trained nurses due to changing standards in the Affordable Care Act and from the Institute of Medicine. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, will now be able to help the local area keep up with these demands.
Many hospitals in North Carolina are seeking recognition as “magnet facilities,” and prefer to employ nurses with bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degrees. However, at present, more than half of the registered nurses in North Carolina do not hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
In response to the changing standards and employment trends, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Nursing have entered into a partnership to offer the university’s registered nurse to bachelor’s of science in nursing program on the Rowan-Cabarrus campus located at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.
The courses will be taught by University of North Carolina at Greensboro faculty, and students will earn degrees from the university.
“This partnership will provide local practicing nurses access to baccalaureate education. The program will be cost effective for the student since the RN-BSN classes will be offered locally. Students will also have the ability to take required pre-requisite and cognate courses through the community college,” said Dr. Rod Townley, vice president of academic programs at Rowan-Cabarrus.
The program is available to all practicing nurses, including those who just completed their degrees at Rowan-Cabarrus. However, graduates of Rowan-Cabarrus are given first priority.
“We anticipate that the first courses will be offered as early as this fall,” said Dr. Anita Tesh, associate dean for nursing at the university. “One or two of the RN-BSN courses will be offered most semesters, to best accommodate working nurses.”
“Local employers have expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and indicated that they will support work schedules and assist graduates with tuition reimbursement to accommodate enrollment in the UNCG RN to BSN program,” said Cathy Norris, registered nurse, masters of science in nursing, director of the college’s nursing programs.
Rowan-Cabarrus nursing programs have a track record of success in both student performance and program recognition.
Rowan-Cabarrus offers multiple nursing program options, including associate degree in nursing, licensed practical nursing and the practical nursing to associate degree in nursing transition.
“We are very proud that 90 percent of Rowan-Cabarrus nursing graduates are employed by Novant Health Rowan, the W.G. Hefner Veterans Administration Medical Center, Carolina’s Medical Center-Northeast, long-term care facilities, hospice and other medical providers throughout the state,” said Townley.
Additional information about the program can be found at http://nursing.uncg.edu/undergraduate/Outreach.php. Registered nurses interested in enrolling in the program should contact Cathy Norris (cathy.norris@rccc.edu) or Linda Anderson (lmanders@uncg.edu).