RNs MAY COMPLETE DEGRESS OFF-CAMPUS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Registered nurses (RN) in the region wishing to advance their careers by earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) from Southeast Missouri State University may do so conveniently, without ever setting foot on the Cape Girardeau campus.

Southeast's RN to BSN Outreach program is a 2+2 program that allows registered nurses to complete all of their BSN requirements at a community college in their area or at one of Southeast's regional outreach centers.

The program is based on the Three Rivers Community College campus in Poplar Bluff.

"The RN to BSN option offers a great degree of flexibility by offering classes in the evenings and on weekends," said Desma Reno, coordinator of the program. "Students can opt to attend class on a part-time or full-time plan of study. The degree is designed to recognize their experience and clinical skills by building on their existing knowledge base and meet their personal needs."

Debbie Frazier, director of clinical services in home health at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff, graduated from the program in May. "I worked the entire time I was in school," she said. "If it hadn't been for the proximity of the program to my home and work, there's no way I could have managed that. I really enjoyed the program"

Reno said today's changing health care field is making it more imperative for registered nurses to obtain their bachelor's degree.

Cathy Wampler, chair of the Nursing Department at Three Rivers Community College, says the RN to BSN Outreach Program has attracted many working parents who lack the time to drive to Cape Girardeau.

"It's a lifesaver for them," she said. "Even alternative scheduling has made higher education so much more accessible. It's a godsend. Three-fourths of the students who are participating couldn't do it if it were physically removed from the (Three Rivers) campus."

Wampler says that all students currently participating are registered nurses working in such cities as Poplar Bluff, Dexter and Greenville.

"The program is such a benefit for those RNs who are still working while completing their baccalaureate degree," said Dr. Mary Phyfer, vice president and dean of academic affairs at Three Rivers Community College. "It has also done a great deal to enhance patient care in our area. It's been a very successful program for nurses in our area."

Reno says the rapidly changing dynamics of today's health care require staying up-to-date with significant changes and critical developments in the nursing profession.

"Registered Nurses can accomplish this through the RN to BSN Program. The RN to BSN option will assist Registered Nurses who want to advance their career, expand their nursing opportunities and achieve their own individual goals."

Reno says that students may enroll in nursing courses through Three Rivers Community College and may take University Studies courses at such locations as the Harry L. Crisp Bootheel Education Center in Malden, the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center, the Kennett Area Higher Education Center and Mineral Area College in Park Hills. Some of the University Studies courses are taught on site, some are offered through interactive television and others are web-based courses.

Reno says that students who have participated in the program from throughout the region have been delighted with it. She says that several single mothers who are nurses have participated.

"It was a struggle, but they were committed to enhancing their education for employment advancement, she said. "They have been pleased it provides them with an opportunity to advance their degree without increasing their transportation and other costs" by traveling to Cape Girardeau.

One student wrote in a recent evaluation of the program, "The Outreach Program was close to home, and the faculty were considerate in planning class schedules."

Another wrote, "The faculty were dedicated, concerned and supportive. They were cognizant of individual needs. They helped make the student experience one we'll always remember."

Wampler says graduates of the program are raising the standard of care in area hospitals such as those in Poplar Bluff and Doniphan.

Southeast's Baccalaureate Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing and the Missouri State Board of Nursing. The RN to BSN Program enables a registered nurse, who has either an associate degree or diploma in nursing, to gain advanced placement in the BSN nursing major.

Upon completion of the program, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing is awarded. The degree combines liberal arts courses, through the University Studies Division, with current nursing theory and practice. Advanced assessment, research, leadership/management and community health skills are taught with an emphasis on critical thinking and personal development. The purpose of the program is to graduate individuals who are committed to lifelong learning and who are prepared for professional nursing roles and graduate education.

For more information on the program, call the Department of Nursing at (573) 651-2939. Information also may be obtained online via the Department of Nursing web site at http://www2.semo.edu/nursing/.