Local hospitals are asking for it, and New York State may be asking for it.
Nursing students at UB and nurses already in a career will now have a way to achieve a bachelor's degree in nursing while still working in their field. The entirely online program caters to the working student and nurse, while furthering the education and way in which people take care of patients in local hospitals and doctor's offices.
After ending the program during the 2009-2010 school year, UB's School of Nursing received approval from the State Education Department to start implementing the year-long online program once again.
The original nursing degree-completion program began in 1995, but it closed due to a declining student enrollment rate.
The Institute of Medicine recently recommended that at least 80 percent of nurses reach the baccalaureate level by 2020, and a New York State proposal may require all registered nurses to earn a bachelor's degree within 10 years. The program is open to those who have earned associate degrees or hospital-based nursing diplomas and who want to further their educations with a bachelor's degree.
Dr. Margaret S. Grinslade, clinical professor and chair of UB's undergraduate nursing department, believes that the program is well-designed to meet the needs of the working nurse and improve the quality of the current nursing workforce in Western New York.
"The changing complexity of the health care environment requires a nurse prepared with the ability to manage complex patients; work collaboratively with an inter-professional health care team; provide leadership at the bedside; engage in the quality improvement; and practice safe, patient-centered nursing care," Grinslade said.
Local cancer treatment center Roswell Park Cancer Institute in downtown Buffalo is in support of the new program being put in place.
"Roswell Park is supportive of UB's RN to BSN program for a number of reasons – the primary one being that research has shown that the more education nurses have, the better care they provide for patients, and the patient outcomes tend to be much better," said Mary Ann Long, a director of patient care services at Roswell Park.
Grinslade said the core nursing program can be completed in a year, and students must reach all university requirements to earn a degree.
"The curriculum builds on the knowledge and skills they currently have and provides upper-division nursing curricula tailored to this group of students," Grinslade said.
Grinslade believes the program will ultimately improve the treatment of patients. In a press release, Grinslade said that even a 10 percent increase in the bachelor's degree prepared nursing workforce directly decreases the morbidity and mortality of current patients.
"It's important for nurses to keep up with their education as they move along in their careers so they can keep up with the latest research and trends, especially in specialty areas like oncology," Long said. "Education level is one of the things that accrediting agencies and quality-designation programs look at very closely, and the Institute of Medicine has also made bachelor-level education a major priority, so this is a priority issue for everyone in nursing."
The program's online nature will also benefit students who are too far away from campus to physically attend classes.
While hospitals aren't requiring a bachelor's degree, many are asking for them because of the improved care for patients.
"To my knowledge, there is no requirement, but a preference," Grinslade said.
The program will begin March 1, and officials expect to enroll about 25 students.
Email: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
