IU Kokomo transitioning emphasis to Bachelor’s in Nursing
March 8, 2006
KOKOMO, IND.—An increased demand by students for a bachelor’s degree in nursing and the needs of the region’s health care providers played a role in Indiana University Kokomo’s decision to emphasize the need for more nurses who hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Over the course of the next two years, IU Kokomo is moving to suspend its Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree. The campus will continue to offer both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing as well as the associate to bachelor’s degree transition program.
Jim Alender, chair of IU Kokomo’s Advisory Board and CEO of Howard Regional Health System, applauded the campus’ decision to suspend the ASN program and focus on bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “This move to focus on its baccalaureate mission brings IU Kokomo to the next level . . . I totally support your new journey in nursing education,” Alender said.
Hospitals and other health care facilities throughout the region, and across the country, are setting their sites on achieving the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) “Magnet Recognition.” According to the ANCC Web site, Magnet Recognition is “a seal of approval for quality nursing care.” The ANCC site continues “Recognizing quality patient care and nursing excellence, the Recognition provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care that they can expect to receive. As a natural outcome of this, the program elevates the reputation and standards of the nursing profession.” Magnet Recognition is the industry equivalent of the Nobel Prize in nursing. Jan Moran, assistant director of Magnet operations shared that while there are not currently standards for a minimum number of staff nurses with BSN degrees for a facility to receive Magnet Recognition, it is something that may be considered in the future. “We do evaluate the education levels of the nursing staff as well as the health care facility’s commitment to supporting the continuing education and educational achievements of the nurses,” said Moran.
Chancellor Ruth Person said that Indiana University Kokomo is committed to educating nurses to meet the health care needs of the citizens of north central Indiana and strongly believes that the expansion of the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs will maximize the opportunities available for area residents interested in pursuing a nursing career. “We anticipate that as more and more emphasis is placed on the desire to employ nurses who have bachelor’s degrees, many of our students who had initially planned to pursue an associate degree will decide instead to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN),” said Chancellor Person.
The bachelor’s degree program saw an increase in overall enrollment of 174 percent (115 students to 316 students) from fall 2000 to fall 2005, according to Jack Tharp, vice chancellor for student services. “The accelerated growth in applicants for the bachelor’s degree program shows that students understand the market place and the value the BSN will bring to their nursing careers,” stated Tharp.
“We are pleased,” said Dean of the School of Nursing Penny Cass referring to the bachelor’s degree in nursing, “to be able to offer the opportunity for more students to enroll in a program that is not readily available in our area.” Cass explained that, by collaborating with other nursing education providers, increases should be seen in the number of positions available in ASN programs throughout the region.
“Plus, by fall 2007 we will be able to accept 160 students each academic year into the bachelor’s degree program at IU Kokomo. The revisions in our program emphasis will meet the increased need for highly educated nurses in our region,” continued Cass. Explaining the importance of nursing professionals having a bachelor’s degree, Cass shared that while physicians continue to rely on nurses to provide round-the-clock observation of patients in health care settings, more and more they are counting on those same nurses to make critical decisions related to patient care and to follow protocol for treating patients when a physician is not readily available. The additional classroom and clinical training that a bachelor’s degreed nurse receives makes him or her much more comfortable analyzing a patient’s condition.
Letters were sent to three groups of students on Friday, March 3—those who have recently been admitted or applied to the IU Kokomo campus as pre-nursing majors for the ASN program, individuals who have expressed an interest in the LPN-to-ASN (Licensed Practical Nurse to Associate of Science in Nursing) transition program, and current pre-nursing students who have not yet completed their application for the ASN program.
Current IU Kokomo pre-nursing students who have expressed an interest in the ASN program received a letter from Morris Starkey, coordinator of nursing student services, informing them that if they wish to be considered for the ASN program that begins in Fall 2006, they must complete their application by March 24. The letter also detailed the academic criteria which must be met for final admission to the ASN program. These students will receive formal notification of their acceptance into the program by April 21. Additionally, Dean Cass, sent a letter to those who had expressed interest in the LPN-to-ASN transition program informing them of the need to begin their coursework either summer 2006 or 2007. The program known in the nursing community as “pods” which offers an opportunity for those nurses who have completed their associate degree to earn a bachelor’s degree will continue.
The letter from Jackie Kennedy-Fletcher, director of admissions and financial aid, advised those who have yet to begin their studies at IU Kokomo that as of March 1, 2006, pre-ASN admission had ceased. The Office of Admissions invited the recipients to attend open forums on campus to learn more about the future of the nursing program at IU Kokomo as well as ask any questions that they might have. Dean of the School of Nursing Penny Cass, Kennedy-Fletcher, Starkey, and others will be on hand for the meetings scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, in Room 221 of the Kelley Student Center at 1 and 5:30 p.m. Prospective students who are unable to attend one of the sessions are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions at 455-9217 or toll-free (888) 875-4IUK.
