Alverno College Addresses Critical Need in Changing Field of Health Care

Alverno College is launching a redesigned RN to BSN program in June of 2013. The 18-month program, a blend of online and in-classroom learning, is structured so that working registered nurses can earn their Bachelor’s degree.
“This program was prepared based on national nursing standards and a commitment to excellence, in combination with the voice of practicing nurses who told us what they needed in a program to fit their busy lives,” said Patricia Schroeder, dean of Alverno College’s JoAnn McGrath School of Nursing. “We also listened to health care systems which highlighted the value of development in leadership, care coordination, evidence based practice, quality improvement, and population focused perspectives. The liberal arts base and the nursing science combine to offer a program that enhances the way nurses think and practice.”
As the health care industry continues to change, more employers are placing greater importance on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The Institute of Medicine’s 2010 Future of Nursing Report set a goal of 80% of BSN-degreed nurses by the year 2020. The Report also calls for all nursing schools to “offer defined academic pathways … that promote seamless access for nurses to higher levels of education,” and encourages employers to offer promotions and salary differentials for those with a BSN.

Program Specifics
Registered nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing (RDN) will be awarded 70 credits for previously completed coursework. Alverno College’s RN to BSN program includes 36 credits, and students can complete the program in nine 8-week course blocks. The courses consist of a blend of online learning and in-classroom evening instruction, offering greater flexibility. The 18-month program has three start dates each year, in February, June and October. Alverno's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Alverno College has educated nurses for more than 80 years and is home to one of the largest undergraduate schools in nursing in Wisconsin. Students interested in applying for, or learning more about the RN to BSN program can find more information at www.alverno.edu/rnbsn or call the admissions office at (414)-382-6100.

About Alverno College
Alverno College, a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college for women, exists to promote the personal and professional development of its students. The college has earned accolades and respect internationally for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, and has consulted with three U.S. presidential administrations on accountability and outcomes in higher education. For two years in a row, Alverno College was ranked first in the Midwest for doing “the best job of educating undergrads” by U.S. News & World Report. Educators from throughout the world visit Alverno to learn about its proven, student-centered teaching methods.
Alverno offers more than 35 major program areas of study, including graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology and business that are open to women and men. For more information about Alverno, visit our website at www.alverno.edu or call 414-382-6100.