TRCC seeks OK for Cape-based nursing program

~ The community college has filed an application with the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

Three Rivers Community College wants state approval to offer a nursing program at a Cape Girardeau hospital.

TRCC has filed an application with the Missouri Department of Higher Education to offer a degree program at Saint Francis Medical Center that would allow licensed practical nurses to get the training needed to become registered nurses.

TRCC needs the approval of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the Missouri State Board of Nursing to begin the new nursing program.

Saint Francis Medical Center officials see it as a way for many of the hospital's LPN nurses to advance in their careers while providing the medical center with more registered nurses.

But Southeast Missouri Hospital's board of trustees voted last week to send a letter of concern to state education officials, suggesting it would be an unnecessary duplication of nurse training.

There are two nursing programs operating in Cape Girardeau. They include the four-year degree program at Southeast Missouri State University and the associate-degree program offered by Southeast Missouri Hospital's College of Nursing.

Southeast Hospital provides the nursing training for its associate-degree program; the university teaches the general education courses.

The two degree programs combined graduate about 62 nurses a year, TRCC officials said.

Three Rivers officials said earlier this fall that the Poplar Bluff-based community college wanted to teach all of the courses including general education classes for the proposed nursing program at Saint Francis.

But Southeast Missouri State University objected, saying that the university would have to teach the general education courses. State education policy gives priority to Southeast to offer general education courses in Cape Girardeau County, university president Dr. Ken Dobbins said.

TRCC officials said in September that it wouldn't be cost-effective for the community college to offer only the nursing courses.

But TRCC said it's now feasible because Saint Francis Medical Center has agreed to fund part of the cost of nursing instructors.

"They sweetened the pot," said Dr. Larry Kimbrow, TRCC's executive vice president.

Saint Francis Medical Center would reimburse TRCC for 50 percent of the cost of a full-time nursing instructor and provide all classroom, lab and clinical spaces at no charge to the community college, the application states.

Full-time TRCC faculty would teach all of the nursing and nursing-related courses, according to the application filed with the state.

TRCC said the hospital could contract with Southeast to provide the general education courses.

But a hospital official said negotiations continue with TRCC and Southeast on the exact terms of any agreement.

"At this point, it is premature to talk about it," said Barbara Thompson, vice president of marketing and public relations at Saint Francis.

But she said Saint Francis would like to start its own nursing program in January. "The nursing shortage in this country is huge," she said. "Clearly there is a need."

TRCC already operates programs in Sikeston and Poplar Bluff that provide the training needed for LPNs to become RNs to advance their nursing careers.

Nursing students in the proposed Saint Francis program could earn associate of applied science degrees in nursing in three or four semesters, TRCC officials said.

Kimbrow estimated initial enrollment in the LPN-to-RN program at 26 students annually.

While general education classes might begin next semester, the first nursing courses aren't slated to start before June, Kimbrow said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123