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Waynesburg U. nursing partnership with CCBC called a ‘win-win’

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WAYNESBURG – A new partnership between Waynesburg University and Community College of Beaver County will offer a streamlined pathway for students working to earn their nursing degrees.

University officials announced the five-year agreement Tuesday for the nursing program that will allow Waynesburg to work closely with the faculty and advisers at CCBC to recruit potential students who have earned a registered nursing license and are interested in entering the university’s bachelor of science program.

Lina Hixson, director of the university’s RN-to-BSN Program, said the courses are designed to move students to the level of education expected of a bachelor’s-prepared nurse.

“The academic skills needed by today’s nurse leaders in all avenues of health care are developed in courses such as scholarship for evidence-based practice, leadership and management, and population health,” Hixson said. “Our graduates are well prepared to assume leadership roles in the ever-changing health-care system.”

Shelly Moore, acting provost at CCBC, lauded the agreement as a way to expand the education options for that community college’s nursing students.

“Both CCBC and Waynesburg are known for their high-quality nursing programs,” Moore said. “It’s truly a win-win partnership for our institutions, our students and the future of the health-care profession throughout the region.”

The announcement comes less than two years after Westmoreland County Community College announced it was closing its Greene Education Center. The closure of the satellite school in Franklin Township last May affected mostly nursing students who were working toward an associate’s degree.

Stacey Brodak, vice president for institutional advancement and university relations, said the partnership with CCBC is the same one Waynesburg had with WCCC.

“These programs are designed to create a pathway for qualified RN students seeking their bachelor of science in nursing degree,” Brodak said. “We do not have a limit as to the number of agreements that we can have in place, and they can serve as good pathways into our program.”

Shari Payne, vice president for enrollment at Waynesburg University, said students who earn their registered nursing license from CCBC will be able to complete their bachelor of science degree “in just a little over a year.”

Waynesburg officials said they will provide eligible students with a personal connection and guide them through the online application process. Accepted students will enter the Waynesburg program with 85 credits and work through 11 RN-to-BSN courses.

For more information, prospective students should contact Hixson at 724-743-7614 or lhixson@waynesburg.edu.

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