June 2, 2003
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine (724) 738-4854; e-mail:
gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu
AN EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNTITY FOR REGISTERED NURSES -
RN-MSN PROGRAM
LAUNCHED BY CLARION, EDINBORO AND SLIPPERY ROCK
CONSORTIUM
SLIPPERY
ROCK, Pa. – Registered nurses with either diploma or
associate degree educations can now pursue a master’s degree
in nursing through the RN-MSN curriculum offered by Clarion,
Edinboro and Slippery Rock universities master of science in
nursing.
The
MSN program, accredited by the National League for Nursing
Accrediting Commission, prepares students for careers as family
nurse practitioners and nurse educators. The RN to MSN program
requires fewer credits than would be required if the curricula were
completed separately, said Dr. Joyce E. Penrose, who coordinates
the MSN consortium.
Each
student receives a baccalaureate degree in nursing from either
Clarion or Slippery Rock University at some point in his or her
studies, then receives the MSN conferred jointly by the
three-university consortium at the completion of the
curriculum.
Both
full- and part-time study is available. Students do not have to
travel between the three universities, Penrose said. Instead the
universities pool resources and offer evening classes at several
sites through interactive television. Some content is also
provided on the World Wide Web. The program, White explained,
is tailored to the needs of working RNs, many of whom have families
and are committed to achieving their goals of becoming nurse
practitioners or nurse educators as efficiently as
possible.
Family nurse
practitioners
Family nurse
practitioners are most often employed in outpatient settings, but,
increasingly, are in demand in hospitals, nursing homes,
rehabilitation centers and other in-patient facilities. In spite of
increases in FNP graduates, recent reports have demonstrated a need
for more of these clinicians. As the population ages, it will
be necessary to have enough primary care clinicians to manage the
chronic diseases that often accompany aging, Penrose
says.
Nurse
Educators
Nurse educators are in
equally high demand because the national nursing shortage
means nursing schools are trying to educate more students
than ever. Without adequate numbers of faculty members schools
cannot educate the increased number of nurses that are
needed. Also, as many nursing faculty reach retirement age,
there are more jobs than ever in schools of nursing. Many
hospitals are adding to their education staffs, as well, Penrose
says.
The Clarion, Edinboro
Slippery Rock Universities Nurse Practitioner Program entered its
first class in 1995. The program has been successful in preparing
nurse practitioners for rural and medically underserved
communities.
PN, PR, Hospital
News