Answering the Call for a Bachelors-Prepared Nursing Workforce: An Innovative Model for Academic Progression

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Policy
• Higher Education Reform

Background:

• Healthcare reform necessitates changes in nursing education to address fragmentation and inefficiency.
• Evolving health care, policy, and funding landscapes drive the need for new nursing education models.
• A shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses impacts workforce capacity and quality of care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of an innovative nursing education model.
• To increase the number of prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates.
• To enhance accessibility and preserve the integrity of nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a common, concept-based curriculum across educational institutions.
• Establishment of strategic partnerships between universities and community colleges.
• Focus on increasing student access to prelicensure BSN programs statewide.

Main Results:

• The model facilitates increased access to BSN education for nursing students.
• It ensures the continued integrity and accessibility of associate degree nursing programs.
• The initiative aims to expand the pipeline of baccalaureate-prepared nurses.

Conclusions:

• Innovative nursing education models are crucial for aligning with healthcare reform goals.
• University-community college partnerships are effective in expanding BSN education access.
• This model successfully balances the need for more BSN-prepared nurses with the value of associate degree programs.