Newswise — College of Notre Dame of Maryland School of Nursing is boldly addressing Maryland’s nursing shortage with the launch of its first entry-level, four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. Women who are interested in a nursing career and are high school seniors or graduates can apply now for fall 2011 admission to the Women’s College.
Approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the undergraduate nursing degree program supplements the College’s current co-educational registered nurse (RN) to BSN, RN to MSN (master’s of science in nursing) and MSN programs that have been offered for more than three decades in Weekend/Accelerated Colleges and Graduate Studies.
“I am so proud of my school for stepping up to solve the shortages in health care,” said Notre Dame alumna and internationally recognized breast cancer researcher Susan Love, MD, president of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and clinical professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “This new program, in addition to the School of Pharmacy, will enable many to enter the field of health care delivery at a time of greatest need.”
Founded in the liberal arts tradition, Notre Dame offers an undergraduate experience unique among Maryland schools. Small class sizes and low student-to-faculty ratio benefit individual students through engaging and challenging class discussions, hands on experiences and faculty mentoring. The program offers clinical learning at 15 partner hospitals, as well as a global experience through the College’s Study Abroad program.
Notre Dame’s four-year undergraduate nursing program responds to current healthcare trends. In Maryland, the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation projects a shortfall of 12,300 nurses by 2015. By 2018 more than 1 million new nurses will be needed in the U.S. due to needs-based growth and replacement of current nurses. The anticipated nationwide shortfall is more than 27 percent by 2015 and 36 percent by 2020 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004).
The new entry-level, four-year BSN is for non-nurses who wish to study in the Women’s College. Students who are accepted into pre-nursing take general education and science courses in the first and second years. During their second year, students apply to the School of Nursing and those accepted take upper level courses during their junior and senior years. The program prepares graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Visit www.ndm.edu/schoolofnursing for more information.
ABOUT COLLEGE OF NOTRE DAME OF MARYLANDCollege of Notre Dame of Maryland is recognized for its commitment to a liberal arts education, including strong teacher preparation and health sciences programs, and small class sizes. The Women’s College—the first Catholic college for women in the United States to award the four-year baccalaureate degree—offers 26 majors. Notre Dame was named to the “Great Schools, Great Prices” and “Best Regional Universities” rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” 2011 edition. In fall 2009 the College welcomed its inaugural class to the School of Pharmacy. Weekend and Accelerated colleges offer part-time programs for working women and men. Graduate Studies in education, nursing, management, communication and liberal studies provide students with a focused contemporary curriculum. Visit ndm.edu for more information.
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