FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sacred Heart University will begin offering an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program in May. This accredited, second-degree program will enable a student with a bachelor’s degree to become a registered nurse (RN) with a BSN in just 15 months.
There is a critical shortage of RNs in Connecticut and throughout much of the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of RNs to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. This need results largely from an aging nursing workforce and the demands of a changing health-care delivery system.
“There’s a serious need for registered nurses, and people want to be nurses, but programs in the local area haven’t had the resources to supply enough candidates,” said Mary Alice Donius, dean of SHU’s Dr. Susan L. Davis & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. “Data from the Connecticut League for Nursing indicates the current second degree programs are unable to accept all qualified applicants. So, this accelerated BSN program fills a critical need in the preparation of RNs for the local workforce.”
Median pay for RNs is $71,730 per year, making the profession a viable option for people looking for a rewarding second career.
The accelerated BSN program will begin in May and end in August of the following year. The coursework will be similar to that of Sacred Heart’s traditional B.S. in nursing program, but it will build on the existing bachelor’s degree, focusing exclusively on the nursing curriculum. This format will enable students to immerse themselves fully in nursing.
Students will have the option to select a week-long clinical immersion experience, for instance, spending a week or more in Guatemala, Jamaica or the Central Appalachia Mountain area of the U.S. In these underserved communities, students will work directly with patients or on fundamental team projects. They also will have the option to travel to SHU’s Dingle, Ireland, campus for a three-credit nursing leadership course. While there, they will learn about nursing issues and trends through a global lens and participating in clinical observations at local hospitals.
Graduates of SHU’s accelerated BSN program will be well-prepared to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and work in hospitals or other clinical settings and pursue graduate nursing education to advance in a variety of specialty areas. They also will be able to apply to a master of science in nursing program, specializing as clinical nurse leaders, nurse educators or family nurse practitioners.
“Particularly exciting about this new program is the distinguished faculty,” said Sherylyn Watson, associate dean of academic affairs at the Davis & Henley College of Nursing. “They hold doctoral degrees, hold specialty certifications in their clinical specialties and in nursing education and have received state and national recognition. Perhaps most importantly, they are active in their field. These are the faculty members you want preparing you for your future career as a registered nurse.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Sacred Heart University nursing students at the Center for Healthcare Education (photo by Tracy Deer-Mirek)
###
About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 385 Colleges–2020 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 252 Business Schools–2019 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theater. www.sacredheart.edu