A University of Mary Washington initiative could help close the gap between Virginia’s growing population and its number of college-educated nurses.
Just a third of Virginia’s nurses hold bachelor’s degrees, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Nurse Supply Model. A new bachelor of science in nursing completion program at UMW could change that by allowing nurses with accredited associate degrees or nursing diplomas to earn bachelor’s degrees.
The program, planned for fall 2014 pending approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, is made possible by a $25,000 grant from Mary Washington Hospital’s Community Benefit Fund.
Those funds are “instrumental in developing this essential program to address the need for a highly educated nursing workforce,” said UMW President Richard V. Hurley.
Courses will connect students with liberal arts perspectives on health care delivery and won’t require new labs or equipment, said UMW College of Arts and Sciences Dean Richard Finkelstein, who will oversee the program’s implementation. Mary Washington plans to hire a curriculum-planning consultant and a director to act as academic administrator.
As the commonwealth’s residents and nurses age, an increasing need for health care and an expected mass retirement in the nursing workforce is predicted to lead to a severe shortage of RNs. By 2028, Virginia’s Department of Health Professions estimates the commonwealth could need an additional 30,000 registered nurses.
Marianna Bedway, chief nursing officer and senior vice president for Mary Washington Healthcare, said the program will offer a unique opportunity for students to meet current professional nursing standards and benefit from a liberal arts education.