Reinhardt University is launching the first Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to be offered in Cherokee County.
Quality healthcare providers always are in demand, and according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, more than 79 percent of employers are requiring or expressing strong preference for nurses with a BSN. And, according to the 2014 edition of Medical Care, an increase of only 10 percent in the proportion of BSN-prepared nurses lowers the odds of mortality by 10.9 percent.
Dr. Kina Mallard, president of Reinhardt University, said the BSN is the first step for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, with more programs planned for the future.
“Our goals for health sciences at Reinhardt include our launch of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in 2017-2018 with 40 students. We plan to add an additional 40 students annually,” Mallard said. “We also plan to launch an RN to BSN online degree completion program by fall 2018. We are working with health professionals in the area to plan for future programs that will meet community needs.”
The Atlantic recently published an article, “The U.S. is running out of nurses” (Feb. 3), citing an aging population, an aging nursing workforce, more chronic disease and limited capacity of nursing schools as the reasons for the nursing shortage that is on the edge of becoming a crisis.
Reinhardt’s program will provide a quality program in a faith-based atmosphere to prepare nurses to serve their communities.
Classes start in January 2018; Students being enrolled now
With classes starting in Spring 2018*, Reinhardt University will educate the nurses of tomorrow with state-of-the-art equipment and faculty with a combined 60 years of experience. Transfer students are invited to enroll for Fall 2017 to complete pre-requisite coursework.
BSN students will utilize the labs and classrooms of The Appalachian Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College to gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment. Patient care clinicals will be in the metropolitan area of Atlanta.
Reinhardt University currently is enrolling new and transfer students for its BSN program. For more information, visit www.reinhardt.edu/BSN. For questions about Reinhardt University’s BSN program, contact Dr. Blackard at GDB@reinhardt.edu.
*Reinhardt University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing has received initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing and is seeking approval through SACSCOC.
