RN to BSN Programs Offered at BWH
Approximately 100 BWH nurses are enrolled in RN to BSN programs through partnerships established between the Center of Nursing Excellence and several area nursing schools, including Regis College, Emmanuel College and UMass-Boston.
“Education prepares nurses to be clinical scholars who use critical thinking skills to improve patient care and advance professional nursing practice,” said Patrice Nicholas, DNSc, MPH, RN, ANP, FAAN, director of Global Health and Academic Partnerships, a joint appointment in the Center for Nursing Excellence and the Division of Global Health Equity. “Pursuing education can help nurses to achieve self actualization and accomplish their personal and professional goals.”
In January, an onsite RN to BSN program through Emmanuel College begins at BWH. Last fall, Regis College began offering its program onsite at BWH, with six BWH nurses enrolled, taking one course per semester. More than 50 BWH nurses are pursuing their bachelor’s degree through UMass-Boston’s online RN to BSN program.
In addition, all Partners HealthCare hospitals are participating in a UMass-Boston diversity program and clinical leadership collaborative. Details are being finalized for another program for nurse managers from Longwood Medical Area hospitals to pursue their MSN.
“Broadening your horizons with the knowledge that a professional nursing degree can offer advances care at the bedside,” Nicholas said.
Space is available in the Emmanuel College program that begins in January 2009. The cost of each four-credit course is $1,550, which will count towards individual annual tuition reimbursement allotment. As of early December, approximately 15 nurses from the Perioperative area were enrolled in the program.
The first course is “Concepts of Professional Practice” for four credits. It meets seven Wednesday evenings, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning Jan. 28 in the Duncan Reid Conference Room. To facilitate payment for this first course, BWH will reimburse Emmanuel directly from tuition reimbursement funds, thus eliminating the need for nurses to pay out of pocket. The schedule of classes is Jan. 28, Feb. 11 and 25, March 25, April 8, 22 and 29.
For more information, contact Linda Evans, RN, MSN, CNOR, nurse educator in the OR, at levans3@partners.org or 617-732-7375.