This fall Colby-Sawyer College will offer an online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree that can be completed in as little as 16 months. The courses emphasize engagement with faculty who are members of Colby-Sawyer’s Department of Nursing and Public Health.
Colby-Sawyer College is the long-time affiliated Nursing Program for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, the state’s only academic medical center. The Colby-Sawyer College Nursing Program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing.
The RN to BS degree offers registered nurses who already hold an associate degree or nursing diploma a flexible and affordable way to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. The bachelor’s degree opens doors to opportunities for new roles in a variety of health care settings, including leadership.
“The option to complete the baccalaureate degree in a high-quality program, at a modest cost, in a manner that suits professional and personal schedules, offers nurses the ideal way to enhance their career progression and simultaneously enjoy the life benefits of a broadened educational perspective,” said Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty Deborah Taylor.
The program at Colby-Sawyer integrates knowledge from the liberal arts and sciences with professional nursing education. Upper-division nursing courses with a focus on community and public health, quality, safety, evidence-based practice, and leadership provide value in the changing healthcare landscape. Courses are offered in 15-week semesters (12 weeks in summer) that cater to the demanding schedules of working nurses.
The full- or part-time rolling-admissions option allows students to progress through the program at the pace that is right for their lives. The program can be completed in as little as 16 months (five semesters) or can take as long as necessary; the average program completion rate is expected to be two to three years.
“Faculty who will teach in the RN to BS program have deep expertise in the subject matter of their courses, as well as a true enthusiasm to engage with working nurses in pursuit of their bachelor’s degree,” said Associate Dean for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Partnership Programs and Chair of Nursing and Public Health Susan Reeves. “There is a recognition among the faculty that this program’s strength will be drawn from the collaborative learning environment which exists at the intersection of practice and academics. The program has been years in development, and we are very excited to get underway in the fall.”
Students may transfer up to 90 credits toward the 120 credits required to graduate from Colby-Sawyer with a BS in Nursing. Financial aid is available for students who take at least one course per semester. Academic advisers will help students tailor an individualized academic plan, and support services, such as round-the-clock online tutoring, will help facilitate the online learning experience. The cost is $300 per credit plus books (Dartmouth-Hitchcock discount is 10%).
Interested students should apply at Colby-Sawyer.edu/online/bachelor-programs/nursing.html. The deadline to apply for the fall semester is August 22, 2014; the deadline for the spring semester is January 9, 2015.