A publication for employees, students, and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Vol. 15 Issue 5May 2009
 

Headlines

A-B Tech and Western Carolina University Partner to Increase Baccalaureate Nurses

Partnership to Combat Nursing Shortage Both Locally and Nationally

Dr. Maureen Wallace discusses baccalaureate nursing

Dr. Maureen Wallace, chair of the Nursing Department at Queensborough Community College, New York City, discusses the baccalaureate nursing partnership between her college and Hunter College in NYC with area nursing professionals. The program is similar to the partnership between A-B Tech and Western Carolina University.

The Nursing Education departments at Western Carolina University (WCU) and A-B Tech have teamed up to join in a unique national initiative to help close the gap in the nursing workforce and faculty shortage across the country. The regional partnership, Western North Carolina Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (WNC RIBN), is designed to combat the nursing workforce crisis that will eventually impact all North Carolinians.

"These schools of nursing have a strong history of coalescing to improve nursing education," said Vincent P. Hall, PhD, RN, CNE, Director, School of Nursing, WCU. "The WNC RIBN partnership is another collaborative effort between the schools that will help to provide quality nursing education and ultimately improve the health and well-being of the citizens of western North Carolina."

Without significant intervention, by 2020 there will be a potential shortage of 32,000 registered nurses in North Carolina, according to the NC Center for Nursing RN Supply and Demand forecasting model (2006). Compounding those numbers is a current shortage of nursing faculty, which prevents the expansion of nursing programs. And, the even greater projected faculty shortage may result in decreasing the production of new nurses in the near future.

A major component of the faculty shortage is an inadequate pipeline of nurses that are academically prepared to enter into faculty roles. Currently, 65% of new nursing graduates are being educated in Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs. While this provides a relatively quick fix to the workforce shortage by increasing the immediate number of registered nurses entering into the workforce, ADN nurses rarely obtain the educational requirements necessary for faculty roles.

"This important project will serve as a model for increasing the percentage of BSN-prepared nurses and thus increase the pipeline for future nurse educators across our state," said Polly Johnson, MSN, RN, FAAN, President and CEO of the Foundation for Nursing Excellence. "This new model will also provide an opportunity for an increased number of socioeconomically at-risk individuals to achieve a BSN degree with broader career options than are currently available to them."

A master's degree in nursing is considered to be the minimum requirement for nursing faculty, and 80% of the nurses in North Carolina who hold master's degrees began their nursing education at the BSN level. However, according to a longitudinal study conducted in NC, only 15% of nurses who graduated in nursing with an associate degree went on to complete a bachelor's degree and only 3% completed a master's degree in nursing (2006). It is therefore critical to identify and implement new ways to increase the number of ADN graduates who complete baccalaureate education and, thereby, increase the number of BSN prepared nurses.

"The WCN RIBN project will provide access to a university education at an affordable price," said Brenda Causey, MSN, RN, Chairperson, Nursing Programs at A-B Tech. "This project makes a bachelor's degree a viable option for the community college student."

The successful implementation of WNC RIBN will simultaneously enroll students in the associate degree program at A-B Tech and the baccalaureate degree program at Western Carolina University. This dual enrollment and seamless progression from ADN to a BSN between these two institutions will serve as a model for future implementation in other associate and baccalaureate programs across North Carolina.

Overall funding for the national project titled "Multi-Regional Model to Increase the Number of Baccalaureate Nurses in the U.S. (RIBN)," was awarded by the Partners Investing in Nursing's Future (PIN) program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Northwest Health Foundation to the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence in New York, which contributed matching funds to the project. These funds allow faculty at Hunter College (HC) and Queensborough Community College (QCC) in New York City and faculty at WCU and A-B Tech to develop and share strategies, evaluation tools, and faculty development ideas as well as obtain advice from a national team of experts. In addition to support from national foundations, partial funding for this new initiative has been received from the University of North Carolina General Administration.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and healthcare issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years, the foundation has brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and healthcare of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit http://www.rwjf.org.

Nursing Programs

back to top

« Bailey Elected to State Board of Community Colleges

Enka Site Receives ATF Recognition »

 

Tech Talk is published by the Communications Office for employees and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
Editor: Mona Cornwell, Writer: Martha Ball, Designers: Justin Page, April Sides
Send submissions to: Mona Cornwell, Director of Communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu
Publication of the next issue is scheduled for June 1. Deadline for submissions is May 15.