Pathway to BSN streamlined for community college students in Southeastern Maryland
The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury, Md., have launched an agreement of dual admission that will enable seamless academic progression from Wor-Wic’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
Wor-Wic becomes the 12th community college in the state where students can apply to, be admitted to, and begin taking classes in UMSON’s BSN program while still completing their ADN, saving them time in completing both degrees. In addition, UMSON is currently covering the cost of its BSN courses for students participating in the dual-admission partnership while they are still enrolled in the ADN program, an opportunity made possible with funds from a gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation.
The partnership further expands opportunities for nurse academic progression in Southeastern Maryland, a predominantly rural/agricultural area. Nurses play a prominent role in delivering care in these communities, where access to health care professionals and institutions may be limited.
“Supporting nurses within these communities to progress academically is crucial to the health of these rural areas,” said Linda Murray, DNP ’16, MS ’84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director, RN-to-BSN program, UMSON. “Many of these future BSN-prepared nurses will choose to continue on to an advanced practice role serving their home communities and providing people there with the services of a trusted professional.”
The dual-admission agreement gives Wor-Wic students the opportunity to be immersed in upper-level coursework, preparing them for a smooth transition into the UMSON BSN program. Students will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at Wor-Wic.
“The collaborative partnership between Wor-Wic and UMSON is such a grand opportunity. It will enable our students to pursue their educational goals toward earning their BSN and to advance their nursing careers while improving the overall health of the community,” said Brenda J. Mister, EdD, MD, RN, department head and professor of nursing, Wor-Wic.
Aimed at increasing the number of qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to transform health care through nursing. The campaign, based on the goals set forth by the Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health report, aims to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020.
To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from Wor-Wic and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria.
About the School of Nursing
The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the school develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.