Kaplan College recently announced that it has officially changed its name and status to Kaplan University, having received formal approval from its accrediting body, The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Additionally, Kaplan University has launched a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program (B.S.N.). Kaplan University's new offerings can be found at www.kaplan.edu

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will serve registered nurses who have earned associate's degrees and diplomas and wish to grow professionally; to improve their job opportunities and salaries; and to prepare for graduate work at the master's level. The curriculum builds upon course work taught in associate and diploma programs, providing a more in-depth study of nursing research, public and community health, and nursing leadership.

The national nursing shortage continues to intensify. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, citing statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the United States could have a shortfall of nearly one million nurses by 2020. "Kaplan University's programs, delivered online, will offer RNs the flexibility they need and help them advance in their profession, take on greater leadership roles, and pursue graduate nursing education," said Dr. Constance Milton, Associate Dean of the School of Nursing.

"Advanced education for nurses directly translates to better care for patients," said Dr. Milton, citing an important study that was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association.* The study found that hospitals with higher proportions of nurses educated at the baccalaureate level typically experience lower patient mortality rates.

Kaplan University designed the nursing curriculum to contain the content required for completion of a professional degree, as defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Additionally, the School of Nursing will facilitate a personalized clinical experience for each student. The B.S.N. program will be delivered online with a mandatory clinical component. It has interim approval from the Iowa Board of Nursing. Kaplan University is currently seeking national accreditation for the program, which will be reviewed by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The deadline to enroll for the first term is November 5, 2004, and classes begin November 15, 2004.

The nationwide nursing shortage extends beyond a lack of nurses to work with patients. A shortage of nurse educators to prepare the needed nurses is also critical. A new nursing program at the University of St. Francis will help ease the shortage of nursing faculty, and provide educational benefits for registered nurses who have non-nursing bachelor degrees.

A federal grant will help USF initiate the "RN to MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health with Nurse Educator Concentration" which will be offered beginning this fall.

"Just about everyone knows there is a nationwide shortage of nurses, but of equal concern is a shortage of qualified nursing faculty," said Maria Connolly, dean of USF’s College of Nursing and Allied Health. "Last year, nationwide some 16,000 potential nursing students were turned away because there was not enough qualified faculty members to teach them." USF’s new program will prepare registered nurses to become nurse educators, she added.

Connolly announced last month that USF received federal Department of Health and Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant of some $672,000 over three years. The grant is to support the university’s "RN to MSN" program is for registered nurses presently in clinical practice who have bachelor’s degrees in areas other than nursing. The program offers undergraduate online coursework so those nurses can then move seamlessly into the master of science in nursing (MSN) program.

RNs who complete the program will become clinical nurse specialists in adult health who are also prepared to be nurse educators, explained Connolly, who added the program will be offered completely online with clinical practicums with qualified preceptors. This federal grant-supported "RN to MSN" degree is unique because it produces an advance practice nurse eligible for second licensure who is also prepared to teach in academia and staff development health care agencies. Once nurses complete the program, they will be eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC) national certification exam for medical-surgical clinical specialists.

To be eligible for the program, licensed RNs must be in current practice and hold a bachelor’s degree with at lease a 3.0 grade point average for undergraduate work. Illinois will be the first target audience. The university also hopes to attract minority students to the program, said Connolly. "We believe that all persons have a right to quality health care. It is part of our mission to bring education to diverse populations."

The University of St. Francis has received another federal grant award to promote the education of nurses bringing the total of funds received to almost $1 million in grant monies during the past two years to support innovative programming in the area of geriatric health, to support scholarships and now to support programming addressing the shortage of nurse educators.

"The nursing shortage and its effects on quality health care are being experienced by patients throughout the country. These grant funds are supporting the University of St. Francis’ efforts to produce nursing professionals who will be leaders in health care and education," said Connolly.

"Our goal is to continually improve the quality of the nursing profession by providing educational opportunities for nurses, who are central to effective and responsive health care," said Connolly.

The University of St. Francis offers the bachelor of science (BSN) in nursing for both traditional and transfer students, an online B.S.N. Fast Track program for R.N.s with a diploma or A.D.N. as well as allied health programs in medical technology, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy and radiography. The master’s degree in nursing is offered with two tracks of study: nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist. In addition the College of Nursing and Allied Health offers master’s degree programs in physician assistant studies and family nurse practitioners in Albuquerque, N.M. The University of St. Francis serves some 4,300 students nationwide.

Health care organizations rely on savvy business strategy, competent resource management and dynamic team leadership. The need for influential managers who can integrate these elements into the industry is more imperative than ever before, as indicated by a February 2004 Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

"Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, as the health services industry continues to expand and diversify," according to the U.S. Department of Labor in the 2004-05 Edition of Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco/ocos014.htm).

High demand for experience and a degree The labor report indicates that employers look to individuals with health care experience and a relevant master’s degree to fill management positions. It states, "In many cases, individuals with patient care experience or technical acumen are ideally suited to move into leadership roles, but they need education and training." This combination of experience and education prepares individuals to plan, direct, coordinate and supervise the delivery of health care and to deal with cost containment and financial accountability.

According to Robert Benway, Ed.D. Assistant Professor and Health Studies Department Chair at National-Louis University, the Master of Health Services Administration (MHA) program at National-Louis is ideal preparation for executive level health care management positions.

While MBA programs tend to provide a general management core followed by courses specializing in health care, Benway said the 20- to 22-month Master of Health Services Administration (MHA) program at National-Louis University provides a blend of health care and management content throughout the program. "Our students are learning to launch new health care services, forecast and manage financial plans and build emotionally intelligent teams through positive motivation."