University of Mary Washington (UMW) President Richard V. Hurley and Germanna Community College President David A. Sam signed three transfer and co-enrollment agreements for nursing education at a Monday morning ceremony on UMW’s Stafford campus.
The agreements provide three different pathways for a person in the community to become a nurse who is baccalaureate prepared.
“This area now has a four year nursing program, thanks to the seamless connection between Germanna and Mary Washington,” said Richard Finkelstein, dean of UMW’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Patti Lisk, dean of nursing at Germanna Community College. Photo by Susan Larson.
“It is a great day to be a nurse in the Fredericksburg area,” said Patti Lisk, dean of nursing at Germanna. “These agreements are pivotal to meeting the Institute of Medicine’s 2020 goal of 80 percent of baccalaureate prepared nurses in our area.”
Of the approximately 1,000 registered nurses (RN’s) in the Fredericksburg area, less than half have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), said Pamela McCullough, director for UMW’s BSN completion program.
“This above all benefits hospitals and health care professionals, and through them — most importantly — patients,” said President Sam. “As the son of a nurse, I’m always happy to see us producing more “angels in white.”
The new articulation agreements:
Guarantee admission to UMW’s BSN-completion program for Germanna graduates who have an associate’s degree in nursing, have maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average and meet criteria established by UMW. Under the BSN-completion program direct transfer plan, also known as the “3 + 1” BSN plan, students attend Germanna for three years and spend one year at UMW. The guaranteed admission program is effective beginning with the fall 2014 semester.
Allow nursing students who want a four-year residential experience to live on the Fredericksburg campus while taking courses at both Germanna and Mary Washington. Through the BSN Academic Partnership plan, also known as the “1 + 2 + 1” BSN plan, students complete required liberal arts and nursing prerequisite courses at both UMW and Germanna during the first year; attend the community college during the second and third years to complete an associate’s degree in nursing; then return to UMW for course work during the fourth year to complete the BSN-completion program. This program will begin in 2015 pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Permit Germanna nursing students to enroll in the BSN-completion program while working toward an associate’s degree in nursing. In addition, the students may take liberal arts courses at UMW. The BSN Concurrent Enrollment plan begins in 2015, pending SACSCOC approval.
In addition to the Germanna and UMW agreements, the University has partnered with Mary Washington Healthcare to offer the BSN-completion program to practicing registered nurses who desire a BSN degree. Registered nurses must have earned an associate’s degree or an associate of applied science degree in nursing from a community college or university; or a diploma from a school of nursing. They also must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Register Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and hold an active license to practice in Virginia. This program begins August 25.
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