BS in Nursing Now Offered at Western Illinois University

Applications for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree are being submitted at Western Illinois University. The final regulatory hurdle was cleared at Friday. This is an announcement made last Wednesday morning  at Tri States Public Radio, 320 W. University Dr by the University President Al Goldfarb and others connected with the program.  Only 30 students will be admitted first for the fall semester. Last fall, Western first offered a BS in Nursing degree for students who were previously registered nurses and six applicants are enrolled in that course. This fall, students may start as freshmen; must complete the two years of pre-nursing studies and then, they may enter the two-year nursing program that will help them qualified for a registered nurse license.

Students will be considered for admittance in the fall as seats are available after the April 15 deadline of application. The primary training hospital for Western's nurses training will be the McDonough District Hospital according to Dr. Lea Monahan, the university's first director of nursing. She has a doctorate in community and human resources and she’s a RN and a certified nursing educator. Monahan said that it is significant that students obtain excellent clinical practice through hospitals that offer good nursing care. Wanda Foster, VP of nursing for McDonough District Hospital said that they were very delighted to be an anchor clinical spot for Western's program. The BS Nursing program will also be a joint effort of St. Mary's and Cottage hospitals in Galesburg and Blessing Hospital in Quincy. According to Provost Jack Thomas, the baccalaureate nursing program will take a different variety of student to Western and the door will be opened to more study grants.

There will be a tremendous demand for nurses according to Inessa Levi, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A bachelor's degree with a registered nurse license will welcome many opportunities such as teaching. Becoming a nurse practitioner and management positions within the health-care industry is also expected. Monahan said that most of their expected students will pursue with their graduate studies. [via]