Med Center Health and Lindsey Wilson College Sign RN-to-BSN Agreement
Med Center Health and Lindsey Wilson College recently held a signing ceremony for an agreement to assist Registered Nurses in the Med Center Health family receive their BSN. The agreement allows nurses working full time to earn an accredited baccalaureate degree in three semesters through an online format, with a reduced tuition rate from Lindsey Wilson College. Additionally, one Med Center Health employee in each entering RN BSN class will receive the LWC – Med Center Health RN BSN Scholarship.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) both recommend that nurses get their BSN within five years of earning a diploma or associate’s degree. The IOM recommends that BSN holders be increased from 50% to 80% by 2020. “This partnership is an important component of advancing patient care through increasing the educational preparation of our nursing workforce,” said Jill Payne, DNP, RN, CENP, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Med Center Health. “By making access easier through online learning and by making it more affordable, nurses at Med Center Health have more options to complete their bachelor’s degree. This is not only good for our nurses, but also good for patients that entrust us with their care.”
According to LWC Nursing and Health Division Chair Emiley Button, DNP, APRN-BC, the agreement marks another milestone for the continued collaboration between the college and hospitals in the region. “Med Center Health will begin serving as a key partner in our RN to BSN online program,” said Button. “The intent is to foster continuous improvement to both organizations and to provide opportunities for the collaboration and growth and the effectiveness of the hospital’s nursing staff.”
The agreement will streamline the LWC admissions and enrollment process for Med Center Health employees. For more information about the program, visit online.lindsey.edu/programs/nurn.