RADFORD –The Radford University School of Nursing recently launched its third site at the New College Institute (NCI) in Martinsville with a focus on a RN to BSN program, providing registered nurses the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and offering a local solution to nationwide healthcare needs.

According to the Legislative Coalition of Virginia Nurses, Virginia alone will have nearly 23,000 fewer nurses than needed in 13 years, which means one in three Virginians will lack access to the nursing care they need. The RN to BSN program at NCI was therefore designed to answer the increased need for area nursing programs and ensure quality healthcare for residents.

“The collaborative agreement that allows the RU School of Nursing and NCI to provide nursing education is an outstanding model to reach the healthcare education needs across the region,” said Kathleen LaSala, director of the RU School of Nursing. “The RN to BSN program is able to help registered nurses advance their education without leaving their home communities.”

Six students are currently enrolled in the program at NCI, attending classes approximately every other Saturday and Tuesday evenings.

“The program is a convenient route for nurses to obtain a BSN degree. The courses are held at convenient times, recognizing that the students are already full-time nurses,” said Barry Dorsey, executive director of NCI.

“I have been wanting to work on my bachelor’s degree but did not want to leave home to do so because I have a family,” said NCI student Stephanie Wagoner. “NCI allows me to get my education in my hometown and also continue to work full-time.”

Johnathan Phillips, coordinator of the undergraduate program for registered nurses, said the program is “traditional with a nontraditional approach. The students receive face-to-face instruction and interaction with faculty but do so with a schedule which allows them to maintain full-time employment and other commitments.”

RU recently partnered with NCI to offer a teaching endorsement for earth science. In 2008, RU will again collaborate with NCI to offer a master’s degree in reading and a bachelor’s degree in information technology during the spring and fall semester, respectively. Plans for a needs assessment for a master’s degree in nursing at NCI are currently underway.

LaSala said the RU School of Nursing is exploring the creation of future nursing and healthcare programs across the region. The school recently opened two clinical simulation centers at RU and the Roanoke Higher Education Center that were specifically designed to address the nursing shortage by providing regional nursing schools the ability to increase enrollment, retain faculty, increase nursing training and decrease the competition for scarce clinical training sites.

Registered nurses interested in learning more about the RN to BSN program at NCI should contact Johnathan Phillips at (540) 831-7656, (276) 403-5610 or jphillips32@radford.edu.