Last month, Marian University at Saint Thomas Health hosted it’s grand opening. This month, the first classes get underway for the accelerated collegiate program that allows those with a bachelor’s degree to become registered nurses in less than two years.
On April 15, Mayor Karl Dean joined leaders from Saint Thomas Health to celebrate the launch of the educational partnership and discuss the program’s role in addressing the national nursing shortage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is expected to increase by 26 percent between 2010 and 2020, but the number of registered nurses is not keeping pace with that anticipated demand. Exacerbating the issue is a capacity problem. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing estimates 30,000 or more qualified candidates have been turned away from nursing education programs annually for more than a decade due to space constraints.
Marian University at Saint Thomas Health is designed to address the nursing shortage in Tennessee and nationally by launching a new program to educate highly skilled, compassionate professionals with bachelor’s degrees in other fields. The professional nursing curriculum is concentrated in a 16-month period after the successful completion of prerequisites. The program culminates in a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) that prepares students to earn their RN license after graduation.
Students complete lecture-based courses online and engage in onsite clinical experience at facilities that are part of the Saint Thomas Health network. Classes begin May 12 for the inaugural group of students.
“We are thrilled to be officially opening the program’s doors in preparation for welcoming the inaugural class of nursing students,” said Jennifer Elliott, RN, vice president of Clinical Operations for Saint Thomas. “Ours is a partnership between two organizations sharing the same values, the same commitment to exceptional education and the same focus on accelerated learning to help alleviate the projected national nursing shortage crisis.”
In addition to being the first program in Middle Tennessee to offer those with a bachelor’s degree the opportunity to earn a BSN through a combination of online courses and hands-on clinical training, Marian University at Saint Thomas Health brings together two organizations with the Catholic roots and spiritually-centered mission of delivering high quality, holistic care.
Numerous studies have shown a direct correlation between a nurse’s level of education and the quality of patient care. The Institute of Medicine has recommended increasing the portion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020.
Stauffacher Named Onsite Advisor for Marian at Saint Thomas
Amy Stauffacher was recently named Nashville admissions advisor for Marian University at Saint Thomas Health.
Stauffacher will manage the expanding number of program applicants, the enrollment process, academic evaluation and applicant advising. She also will be involved in in-person recruiting and community outreach, for the accelerated nursing program that was announced last December.
“We are excited to welcome Amy to the Marian University at Saint Thomas Health family,” said Julie Smith, regional site director. “Her background will provide a broad base of experience to our organization and the students we serve, which is ideal given the diverse backgrounds of our students.”
Stauffacher joins Marian University at Saint Thomas Health from Orchard Place, a nonprofit organization serving children in Des Moines, Iowa. At Orchard Place, Stauffacher worked in a number of roles since 1998, most recently as the admissions coordinator. She received a bachelor of science in psychology and sociology from Iowa State University.
