After years of discussions and pre-planning, 51福利社 has received state approval to move forward with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
The new program will allow Eastern to help address a shortage of nurses that is burdening health-care providers across the nation.
Provost Jonathan Anderson says the nursing degree program represents an exciting moment for the university. 鈥淭his program expands our offerings in the health sciences and continues Eastern鈥檚 mission as a driving force for workforce development of our region and our state.鈥�
Starting in January 2023, students can apply for admission to the 51福利社 nursing program, with an inaugural cohort of 40 students starting during fall semester of 2023. Another 40 students will be admitted in spring 2024.
鈥淭here is a critical shortage of nurses in the region, and Eastern aims to help increase capacity by graduating up to 80 new nurses each year,鈥� says Donna Bachand, RN, PhD, professor and nursing program administrator.
Earlier this year, Washington state lawmakers approved a two-year, $6.1 million grant to help Eastern cover some of the costs of expanding its two-year pre-nursing program into a four-year bachelor鈥檚 of nursing program, a move that will open doors for the 200-plus freshmen who declare pre-nursing majors at 51福利社 to potentially stay and complete their four-year degrees.
鈥淢ost of our pre-nursing students choose to come to Eastern for a reason. Now they will be able to complete their degrees in their university of first choice,鈥� says Bachand.
Anderson praised Bachand and Donna Mann, interim dean of the 51福利社 College of Health Science and Public Health, for their work with the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission in helping 51福利社 earn initial approval. There is still work to do, however, as Eastern now enters the third of a four-phase process that involves finalizing the program and its teaching center. Following completion of these steps, the university will move forward聽toward full approval聽and national accreditation.
Eastern鈥檚 nursing program will be housed inside the聽, located at 850 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. on the furthest east extension of the University District, near downtown Spokane. Anderson says the program鈥檚 location within the聽聽鈥� a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences 鈥� will help to further strengthen the university鈥檚 partnerships with other health education centers in the area.
Private fundraising is underway to ensure that the new school is equipped with state-of-the art聽medical simulation suites, laboratories and classrooms in order to train students to tackle diverse modern-day healthcare challenges.聽Benefactors are starting to pledge lead gifts and make donations to support start-up costs and scholarships for the new program.
Eastern鈥檚 program will initially have a director of nursing, nine full-time faculty, three staff and additional part-time clinical instructors. Special emphasis will be placed on providing care for the rural and underserved urban populations of our region. In addition, behavioral health concepts will be incorporated across the curriculum so students will be better prepared to work in integrated health care systems, says Bachand.
聽鈥淲e are planning more community-based clinical learning experiences in addition to the more traditional acute care experiences,鈥� Bachand says. 鈥淏ecause the nursing program is housed in a college that offers multiple clinical degrees, there are opportunities to design interprofessional learning and practice opportunities.鈥�
