Accelerated R.N. to B.S. Degree Program
Overview
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science (A.B.S.) Nursing program is a newly-implemented fast-track R.N. to B.S. completion program available at two campuses: Penn State Altoona and Penn State Fayette. A three-year, $841,514 grant received by Dr. Raymonde A. Brown from the U.S Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) facilitated the program’s launch in July 2008.
The primary purpose of the program is to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses (B.S.-R.N.'s) in under-served rural areas of Pennsylvania with a special emphasis on creating a nursing workforce better prepared to assume the direct care of this vulnerable patient population.
According to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice 2006 recommendation, at least two-thirds of the nursing workforce should hold at least a baccalaureate degree (or higher) by 2010. As of 2005, only 43 percent of the nursing workforce possessed degrees at those levels and only 16 percent of associate-degree-prepared nurses were pursuing baccalaureate degrees.
The A.B.S. program enables associate-degree-prepared registered nurses to obtain a baccalaureate degree in one year—less than half the time it usually takes to complete a typical R.N.-to-B.S. completion program.
Program Goals
- Overall A.B.S. Program goal
- Impact the health profession workforce composition by increasing the number of B.S.-R.N.'s, which will ultimately impact the quality of care for rural Pennsylvania.
- Healthy People 2010 Goal 1
- Increase quality and years of healthy life (B.S.-prepared nurses have been linked to quality care, decrease in mortality, and a survival advantage).
- Bureau of Health Professions Goals (1 and 3)
- Eliminate Health Barriers: Assure the appropriate supply, diversity, composition, and distribution of the health professions workforce.
- Assure the quality of care: Improve the knowledge, skills, competencies, and outcomes of health professions workforce.
About the Program Curriculum
The program curriculum is designed so that students spend only one day per week on campus and all course work is completed in three semesters, which allows those individuals who are limited by location and/or employment a greater opportunity to participate in the program. The cornerstone of the A.B.S. curriculum is providing a quality B.S. completion program in a format that is time efficient.
The compressed curriculum design incorporates a blend of in-class, Web-enhanced, and online courses over seven-week sessions. Each student will have a plan of study developed and will have access to a variety of support and retention activities designed to ensure their success, including: the assignment of a mentor; computer support; tutoring and writing center services; access to Penn State’s course management system (ANGEL) and extensive library collection; and online or in-person access to project staff and faculty.
Benefits of Obtaining a B.S.
Historically, bachelor-degree-prepared nurses demonstrate stronger professional-level skills such as communication, critical-thinking, problem-solving, leadership, professional integration, and research/evaluation.
- Employment opportunities
- Hospitals preparing for Magnet status employ a larger proportion of B.S.-R.N.'s.
- Higher pay grades in some institutions (e.g. the Veteran's Administration system pays B.S.-trained nurses more).
- Advanced education
- B.S. required for admission to graduate level programs.
- Career advancement
- Management opportunities (e.g. many institutions require B.S.).
- Clinical specialty positions (e.g. critical care, life flight nursing).
- Career ladder opportunities (e.g. the Veteran's Administration system encourages nurses with A.D. degrees to pursue B.S. degrees).
Project Staff
- Raymonde Brown, Ph.D., A.P.R.N.-B.C., C.N.E.
- Project Director
- rab@psu.edu
- Suzanne Kuhn, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.E.
- Project Coordinator
- Penn State Altoona
- skk6@psu.edu
- Melissa Miner, M.S., R.N., C.N.E.
- Project Coordinator
- Penn State Fayette
- mbm12@psu.edu
- Delores McCreary, M.S., R.N., C.N.E.
- Project Student Adviser
- Penn State Altoona
- djm137@psu.edu
- Connie Hall
- Project Student Adviser
- Penn State Fayette
- cah38@psu.edu
More Information
For more information contact any of the project staff via e-mail, or learn more about the A.B.S. program by reviewing individual campus Web sites:
