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Austin Community College (ACC) will launch its first bachelor\u2019s degree program this fall. The RN-to-BSN program addresses a critical nursing shortage in Central Texas and creates a new advancement pathway for local registered nurses (RN). It allows registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma to complete a Bachelor\u2019s of Science in Nursing (BSN).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re 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,\u201d says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president\/CEO. \u201cThis new program expands opportunity for thousands of nurses in our region to grow their skill set and advance in their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than 7,500 Central Texas registered nurses qualify for the program. The demand for BSN-credentialed nurses has become essential. Many clinical agencies and hospitals require currently employed registered nurses to complete the bachelor\u2019s degree within a specified timeframe due to best-practice recommendations put forward by the National Academies of Science that call for 80 percent of nurses to have BSNs by 2020. In Central Texas, the need for more BSN-credentialed nurses is even higher because of the aging workforce and an aging and expanding population.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealthcare is in a time of transition,\u201d says Greg Hartman, chief of external and academic affairs with the Seton Healthcare Family. \u201cWe need more nurses. When someone comes from a community college program they\u2019re more likely to stay in the community, and that\u2019s a huge thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
ACC\u2019s RN-to-BSN Program provides students a flexible and affordable pathway. Traditional and hybrid (with face-to-face and online components) course options are available to accommodate busy schedules. Students learn management, leadership, theory, and research skills. The program can be completed in as little as 12 months. Upon completion, students are eligible to pursue supervisory jobs such as nurse manager and patient unit coordinator.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis (a BSN) is something I know I want and need in the workforce, but the cost of getting a bachelor\u2019s degree is hard to get past,\u201d says Megan Snay, ACC nursing graduate. \u201cThis makes it all so much more achievable and affordable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students enrolled in ACC\u2019s RN-to-BSN Program pay less than half the cost of typical public university tuition.<\/p>\n
| ACC<\/td>\n | $2,550 (in district)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Texas Tech online<\/td>\n | $8,022 (in state)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| UT Arlington online<\/td>\n | $8,995 (in state)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Texas A&M online <\/td>\n | $8,885 (in state)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Concordia<\/td>\n | $15,180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| *Additional coursework, such as general education, may be necessary. \n(Source: College For All Texans, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 2016-17)\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/h6>\n The program has been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional accrediting body.<\/p>\n Applications for fall are now being accepted. For more information and to apply, visit austincc.edu\/bsn<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Austin Community College (ACC) will launch its first bachelor\u2019s degree program this fall. The RN-to-BSN program addresses a critical nursing shortage in Central Texas and creates a new advancement pathway for local registered nurses (RN). … Continue reading |