Capital University to Launch Nursing Accelerated Program in Fall 2006

Capital University to Launch Nursing Accelerated Program in Fall 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio,Tuesday, March 14, 2006–The Capital University School of Nursing is accepting applications for its new 20-month bachelor of science in nursing program geared toward people who have a degree in another field, but want a career in nursing.

The Capital Nursing Accelerated Program is funded by a $285,000 grant from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce as part of a nursing workforce initiative.

The accelerated program, which will begin this fall, consists of five consecutive 15-week terms, including a summer term. Clinical experience is incorporated into the program, along with four master’s-level courses that make up the core of Capital’s master’s program.

That means someone taking three classes each term beginning this August could graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in May 2008 and apply for licensure totheir license to practice as a registered nurse. They may also apply to the Capital master’s program and have a third of it already completed through courses taken as a part of C-NAP. Capital offers a master’s degree in nursing with concentrates in legal studies, theology, administration and nursing education.

This program is the latest development in a statewide effort to address the nursing workforce shortage. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2004 suggested that nursing is the fastest growing profession and will continue to be through 2012. Other bureau statistics suggest the nursing shortage is alive and well and will last through 2020, which is as far out as the bureau predicts.

"Last year, more than 32,000 qualified students nationally were turned away from professional nursing programs because of lack of space and qualified faculty," Jacqueline Loversidge said. Loversidge recently left her post as nurse education consultant for the Ohio Board of Nursing to direct Capital's accelerated program. "In Ohio, the number was 3,532; and the year before that, it was 3,356. People want to get into nursing programs, but most nursing programs are at capacity."

"Most schools of nursing nationwide will have a significant turnover in nursing faculty within five years because of retirement," School of Nursing Dean Elaine Haynes said. "We need programs that will replenish the supply of nurses and nurse educators right here in Central Ohio. This program’s niche is the bachelor's/master's hybrid design merged with the quality programs that already exist at Capital. We’re proud that the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation and the Columbus chamber saw that quality and invested in it."

To qualify for the accelerated program, applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and a 3.0 grade point average. As prerequisites, they must have completed microbiology, anatomy and physiology – all within the last five years – and statistics, human nutrition, life span development and psychology or sociology.

Tuition is the same as the master's program, plus a clinical/lab fee for each term. Those who enter the program in fall 2006 will receive a free laptop computer.

For more information on this or any of Capital’s nursing programs, please visit http://nursing.capital.edu/.

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