Austin Community College is proposing a new program that would offer associate degree nursing graduates the opportunity to earn a bachelor of science in nursing – a credential that is increasingly required by health care providers.
“Texas and the nation are already facing a severe nursing shortage. It is important to do everything we can to ensure a workforce with the training and credentials that clinics and hospitals require,” says Dr. Charles Cook, ACC provost/executive vice president for academic affairs. “Our goal is to provide a flexible, affordable pathway for our registered nurse graduates to earn their bachelor’s degree.”
While associate degree nursing students are eligible for the same registered nurse (RN) licensure as bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) students, the four-year degree has become essential. Many clinical agencies and hospitals require currently employed registered nurses to complete the bachelor’s degree within a specified timeframe.
“I had to sign a contract to get my BSN within five years,” says Michael Park, ACC nursing graduate. “If I could get my BSN at ACC then I could afford to work part-time while attending class to meet my five-year requirement.”
The program would require legislative approval; the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recommends state lawmakers increase the number of community colleges allowed to offer RN-to-BSN programs.
If approved by the Legislature, ACC would begin offering the RN-to-BSN program in 2017 for 25-40 registered nurses. The program would allow the nurses to complete the additional 60 credits of core curriculum and nursing coursework needed to earn a bachelor’s degree. Students would pay less than $4,500 for two years in tuition, compared with $10,000 to $15,000 at a public university.
The need for ACC’s graduate output is high in Central Texas. There is a critical nursing shortage because of the aging workforce, an aging population, and an expanding population. ACC graduates more than 200 associate degree nurses a year who are then eligible to take the state licensure exam to become registered nurses. ACC graduates excel on the exam, with pass rates exceeding 91 percent.
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By Karen Ann Osborne October 17, 2014 - 8:38 am
What a great idea! I will look into going back to school if you start this program.
By c.ramsey October 21, 2014 - 8:46 am
Why would you wait for ACC when there are a number of RN to BSN programs available now. Many are online and taught by Master’s and PhD prepared nurse educators. A strong partnership with upper level state universities would provide a better outcome without other disciplines demanding the same treatment. Is ACC prepared to become a four-year university?
By mreyes October 21, 2014 - 10:28 am
Hi C.Ramsey, thanks for your question. ACC would maintain the associate degree nursing program and our valued partnerships with four-year universities offering RN-to-BSN programs. However, online learning is not for everyone, and on-site education is severely limited in our area. ACC’s RN-to-BSN program would increase the availability of on-site instruction for registered nurses while providing the same standard of excellence we offer in our associate degree program. We currently have four faculty with doctoral credentials and eight master’s level professors who are enrolled in doctoral education.
By Longhorn Justice October 18, 2014 - 4:35 pm
Bad idea. The ACC Master’s level so-called ‘professors’ are simply not qualified to teach BSNs. ACC would need to replace MSNs with PhDs and some DNPs just to be accredited (let alone to be considered a quality degree).
By mreyes October 20, 2014 - 3:56 am
The ACC Nursing Program has a long history of excellence, and our goal for an RN-to-BSN would be to have a quality program. We currently have four faculty with doctoral credentials and 8 who are currently enrolled in doctoral education). We would seek national accreditation as soon as possible if able to offer the program.
By Mulenga C. October 19, 2014 - 2:50 pm
This is a great proposal!!! I would definitely consider doing my RN-BSN with ACC!!
By anthony October 19, 2014 - 5:16 pm
ACC can offer a Nursing BS degree without raising property taxes. Don’t Students already pay tuition? Why do property owners have to pay tuition too? ACC is already the largest in the country. The money ACC will get from stealing students from other universities and offering on line nursing classes will offset the unending need for more money. Don’t they offer classes in accounting and efficiency? Why does a 1 cent property tax increase translate into a $2500 increase in our property tax bill?
By mreyes October 20, 2014 - 6:48 am
Hi Anthony, ACC would implement the RN-to-BSN program with current dollars if the Legislature approves the proposal. Any new revenue from a maintenance-and-operation tax cap increase would impact the pace of implementation and enrollment capacity. Good news is tax cap approval would NOT result in the increase shown in your question. For a home valued at $200,000, the maximum monthly tax impact of the M&O tax cap change when all 3 cents were implemented, would be: $4.88 a month, or $1.75 a month for senior citizens and homeowners with disabilities. See details here: https://sites.austincc.edu/bond/tax-cap-election/
By anthony October 20, 2014 - 2:16 pm
We need a tax decrease. Numbers are deceptive & can be manipulated. If you are so good with numbers then find a way to run a budget on less money instead of increasing taxes. Why do tax payers have to give money to ACC it’s not a public school and it’s not free to go to college. Funds can be generated by stealing students away from other nursing university programs and by offering online nursing programs. It has been done in the Philippines and it was good enough for local hospitals to employ nurses from the Philippines. If concerned about flooding ACC with too many students at once then only require nursing classes to graduate instead of forcing students to take govt, history, art, language, and other nonessential classes. At this tax rate increase Austin will become the next Venice, Italy and Bolder Colorado where you have to make at least $100,000 to afford to live close to where you work.
By Joyce October 31, 2014 - 12:23 am
Actually, a slight increase (adjusted for yearly inflation) in taxes is needed. Unlike you, I’m not bothered by a slight increase of taxes if it’s going to the betterment of education.
By Rochelle October 20, 2014 - 9:11 pm
This is a great idea. Why pay $10k to $15k at a university when you can pay half of that at ACC? So will it be a 2 year program after the RN degree? Seems kind of long for a RN-BSN program. Most BSN plans do 2-3 semesters
By Patricia Nehme October 22, 2014 - 1:31 pm
This is very exciting – a great opportunity to encourage BSN.
By Jacqueline Tarleton October 23, 2014 - 1:16 pm
The RN to BSN is an excellent idea. The problem for me is that because I live in Travis County with a Pflugerville address, I will NOT have a cheaper tuition. I will be charged as if I am a student from out of the country even though my sales tax dollars are spent in cities that pay into the Austin Community College system. The tuition would not be cheaper for me and others like me. Yet, I still support the plan because those community college RNs usually don’t follow through with their BSNs. I know several in that situation who are excellent nurses. One cannot leave her job because she cannot compete with BSNs for jobs and the other left nursing with only a Diploma from an excellent nursing program but the BSN is the minimum for many nursing jobs. The associate degree RNs have become the LVNs with little to no career mobility. This is the reality for many associate degree nurses. I am hoping for ACC to become a college instead of “community” college. Go ACC!