Now, registered nurses can earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees by taking online courses. Northwestern has recently expanded its nursing program.
This program is specifically tailored to the nontraditional student because it can be completed in approximately 2.5 years. Most courses can be completed in just eight weeks and are taken one at a time. Professors will avoid repeating subjects that RNs have already mastered and will instead focus on advancing the students’ nursing skills.
The program was designed by Professor Ruth Daumer in the Department of Nursing. Currently, five students are enrolled in the first class. It is taught by nursing instructor Karie Stamer. Students will use technology such as Skype to keep in touch with one another as well as their instructor.
“Our goal with this course is to make it feel like we are living in the course with our rapid response time and ability to utilize Skype and Collaborate (an online communications system),” Stamer said.
This will be Stamer’s first year teaching at NW.
“I thoroughly love teaching in the online environment,” Stamer said. “I feel that if the online course is well developed, students can learn very effectively and comprehensively while adapting it to fit into their already busy lives. Experiential learning combined with technology, evidence-based practice, research, and faith is a great combination.”
According to the NW website, the goal of this program is “to train nurses who continue Jesus’ healing ministry by advocating for social justice; healthy environments; and individual, family and community health.”
The RN to BSN program is available for those who have an associate’s degree or have graduated from a hospital diploma nursing program and are a resident of Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota or Nebraska. Earning one’s BSN is a step towards becoming a nurse practitioner, midwife, or pursing other careers in the healthcare field.
Janet Pitsenberger, a senior nursing major in NW’s traditional RSN program, said, “I think that classes like this would be helpful for RNs seeking their BSN because it would allow them to take quality BSN classes, and it would benefit NWC from having greater enrollment and support.”
