Registration Now Open for Alvernia RN to BSN Completion Program
Reading, PA (PRWEB) March 10, 2015 -- Nurses in Berks County can now register for the RN to BSN Completion Program at Alvernia University.
Ever since the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a report in 2010, which recommended increasing the number of nurses in the U.S. who hold at least a baccalaureate degree to 80% by 2020, the demand for RN to BSN Completion programs has been high.
To meet this demand, the RN to BSN Completion Program at Alvernia accepts applications year-round and is designed to match a nurse’s busy schedule.
The majority of classes in this program are offered in a modular format, which means classes meet once a week for eight weeks, with the rest of the course work completed online. Three of the nine nursing courses are offered in a semester format.
Nurses can start taking classes while completing the application process. Once transcripts are reviewed, nurses are notified what coursework has transferred and what courses are required to complete the program.
Those who earned a diploma in nursing from Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences or are employed at Reading Hospital receive a 20% tuition scholarship.
Benefits of BSN Educated Nurses
Multiple studies have been conducted looking at the impact nurses with BSN degrees have on patient outcomes. Here are a few highlights of this research:
• In the October 2014 issue of the journal Medical Care, researchers reported a 10% increase in the proportion of BSNs on hospital units was associated with lowering the odds of mortality by 10.9%. In the same study, findings suggest that increasing the amount of care provided by nurses with BSN degrees to 80% would result in significantly lower readmission rates and shorten the length of hospital stays.
• Researchers published a study in The International Journal of Nursing Studies and found that increasing the number of nurses with BSN degrees would significantly reduce the number of in-hospital deaths.
• The May 2014 issue of The Lancet contained research showing that patients experiencing complications after surgery are more likely to live if they received care in hospitals with adequate nurse staffing levels and higher numbers of BSN-prepared nurses.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) compiled a fact sheet that contains greater details on these and other studies. While all of these studies differ in the approach they took when examining the topic of nurses with a BSN degree, all researchers’ consistently note that a more educated nursing staff helps improve patient outcomes.
About Alvernia University’s RN to BSN program
The primary goal of Alvernia University’s RN to BSN Completion Program is to prepare graduates to integrate values, skills, knowledge, and ethical standards of the nursing profession into their nursing practice. Graduates develop and enhance their expertise to optimally deliver healthcare to individuals, families, and community groups in a wide range of healthcare environments.
About Alvernia University
Alvernia combines the personal touch and attention of a small private college with many opportunities of an outstanding university. It’s the best of both worlds! Our students benefit from our liberal arts foundation that offers a well-rounded education to help them develop their own opinions, attitudes, and beliefs. They also receive first-rate professional preparation to provide them with the skills and knowledge needed for career success after graduation.
Jennifer Richter, Alvernia University, http://www.alvernia.edu/, +1 610-568-1558, [email protected]
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