Nursing program expands

Online RN-BSN Completion Program now offered

Registered nurses interested in earning the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to advance their careers can now do so through Westminster’s new online RN to BSN (RN-BSN) Completion Program.

The RN-BSN Completion Program, launched in January, is designed for working registered nurses with associate degrees or diplomas who are looking to increase or improve their career options.

Students can earn the BSN degree in as few as five semesters, with three program entry points offered every year—fall, spring and summer. The fall 2023 session will run Aug. 28 to Dec. 15 and the deadline to apply is Monday, July 31.

Coursework in the RN-BSN Completion Program focuses on topics such as leadership, pathophysiology, advanced assessment and community nursing. The asynchronous learning model will allow students to complete lectures and coursework on their own time and at their own pace.

“Responding to the growing national need for nurses, Westminster’s new online RN to BSN Completion Program offers nursing professionals a learner-centric education that is affordable and flexible. Nurses will be able to complete their BSN degree while working and they will have access to Westminster’s full array of academic and professional support services,” said Dr. Tricia Ryan, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Nursing. “Upon graduation, nurses with a Westminster BSN will be able to advance in their current role or in new roles across the healthcare industry.”

Registered nurses with BSN degrees have numerous career options to choose from, including medical-surgical nursing, intensive care, trauma nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, oncology, home health care and community health nursing.

In fall 2017, Westminster College launched its inaugural four-year nursing plan, a uniquely collaborative program that leads to both a diploma in nursing from UPMC Jameson School of Nursing and a BSN degree from Westminster College. This program received accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2020.

The community sees value in investing in and supporting Westminster College’s nursing education program, which has begun providing the county and region with highly-skilled medical talent.

The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners appropriated $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and the Buhl Regional Health Foundation (BRHF) approved a $93,000 grant—both to help strengthen and expand the nursing education program.

Both the ARPA and BRHF funding were beneficial in launching the recently developed RN-BSN Completion Program (see story at left) and will also be used to create a high-fidelity nursing simulation lab on Westminster’s campus.

The simulation/3D anatomy and physiology visualization lab—which includes computerized mannequins and healthcare equipment—will provide Westminster nursing students with vital learning experiences needed to develop life-saving and wellness-enhancing skills.