EXCEL to offer B.S.N. program for registered nurses
FOR RELEASE: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Huntington, Ind.-In March 2010, Huntington University's EXCEL Adult Degree Programs will begin offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing for registered nurses. Classes will be held on Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. on the university's main campus.
"Our program is designed for adult learners who work and have family responsibilities," said Diana Shenefield, an R.N. and instructor in nursing who holds a Master of Science degree in Nursing.
Students will complete the nursing core in less than two years. The program consists of a total of 17 courses comprising 49 credit hours. These courses include Bible and writing as well as nursing courses such as research, ethics and current issues in nursing. Transcripts from previous educational institutions will determine the amount of transferable coursework and the courses needed for graduation.
With EXCEL's R.N. to B.S.N. program, the goal is to build on the experience and education nurses already have gained in the field and then to increase that knowledge from a Christian perspective.
Shenefield summed up the program by saying that "this education is based on our belief that caring, as exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ, is the essence of nursing."
She added that the university's smaller size allows for a more student-centered approach to learning.
"Students have more of an opportunity to speak out in class," Shenefield said. "They can ask questions as well as engage the professor in dialogue in and outside of class."
One of the hallmarks of EXCEL's R.N. to B.S.N. is that students will learn about nursing theory, leadership and care through a Christian lens.
"We believe and teach that nursing is the worship of God through the care of the biological, psychological, social-cultural and spiritual health of the person and community through the lifespan," Shenefield said.
For more information about EXCEL's R.N. to B.S.N. program, call (260) 359-4198 or (800) 600-4888.
EXCEL offers evening and online classes tailored to the schedule of working adults. Onsite classes are held one night per week, one subject at a time. Classes last five to eight weeks and lead to an associate degree in organizational management or Christian ministry or bachelor's degrees in accounting, business administration, human resource management, not-for-profit leadership or nursing.
Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S.News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest. In 2008, Forbes.com listed the university as one of America's Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review named the institution to its "Best in the Midwest" 2009 list. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
EXCEL Program Benefits
n Research and evidence-based nursing will increase knowledge as to why nurses do what they do and provide the reasoning for doing so.
n Completing the R.N. to B.S.N. program may permit graduates access into management and higher-level patient-care positions with potential increases in salary and responsibilities.
n A bachelor's degree will open up more opportunities for the graduate. Graduates from the EXCEL R.N. to B.S.N. program will have the opportunity to continue on to advanced education for positions such as nurse practitioner, nurse educator or nurse anesthetist.
n Healthcare agencies will benefit from the leadership and research skills of the graduate to meet the continually changing needs of nursing practice.
n Students can have confidence in knowing that a Christian worldview is part of each course.
EXCEL Program Features
n The EXCEL R.N. to B.S.N. program will provide additional educational components not completed in the diploma or associate degree program.
n Information related to community, national and global health is a part of the curriculum. Further instruction in ethics, culture, leadership, and issues and trends in nursing will be explored.
n Students attend class one evening each week, thus minimizing interference with work schedules and family responsibilities.
n Students attend classes with a small group of other nursing students, benefiting from mutual support and encouragement.
n Students can complete their degree, taking one class at a time, in less than two years.
