The program will provide a pathway for Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students with a Registered Nurse (RN) license to complete their BSN degree locally. The BSN program will be the first baccalaureate degree offered by MCC.
MCC anticipates starting its first cohort of BSN students in January 2020. The program will help address nursing shortages as well as assist medical institutions in providing a greater quality of care. According to The American Nurses Association (2018), there will be more registered nurse jobs available through 2022 than any other profession in the United States. BSN completion programs focus heavily on research, community health, and leadership, and provide students with opportunities to advance in the workplace.
The program has received significant support from local donors. In 2018, the Williams Family Foundation gifted $2,275,000 to support an Endowed Chair for the BSN Director position. The endowment will fund the director position in perpetuity, decreasing the program’s overall operating expense. MCC plans to use the cost savings from the endowment to make the BSN program more affordable to students.
Students will also be able to apply for scholarships for the BSN program through the Dr. Jarrold Schaefer and Family Endowment Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial support to students who have an interest in remaining in northeast Colorado to work after graduation.
“The ability for MCC to offer an RN to BSN completion program will have a profound impact on the nursing profession in Northeast Colorado,” stated Kathy Frisbie, MCC’s Vice President of Instruction. “This will open opportunities for ADN nurses to continue their education at an affordable cost. Offering this program aligns well with the Institute of Medicine’s call to action to increase the proportion of nurses with baccalaureate degrees.”
“The approval of MCC’s BSN program by the Higher Learning Commission is a monumental stride forward for the college,” said Dr. Curt Freed, President of MCC. “Community colleges across the nation have begun offering baccalaureate degrees over the last 15-20 years where those degrees specifically meet local industry needs. The BSN program is MCC’s first baccalaureate degree, but it will not be the last.”
For additional information on the BSN completion program, contact Gwen Steffen, Student Success Advisor for health programs at [email protected] or (970) 542-3224, or visit www.morgancc.edu.
About the Higher Learning Commission:
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) an independent corporation, founded in 1895 that accredits degree-granting post-secondary education institutions in 19 different states. The HLC ensures institutions have the capacity to provide a quality teaching and learning curriculum while meeting current industry standards.
About The American Nurses Association:
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nations registered nursed. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all.
