University Of Southern Nevada
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Media Information Center
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Please call Jason Roth, Director of Marketing, at 702-968-1633 or email to arrange interviews or campus tours.
08/23/07 - USN's College of Nursing Experiences Remarkable Enrollment Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2007
Contact: Jason Roth
Director of Marketing & PR
702-968-1633
University of Southern Nevada’s College of Nursing Experiences Remarkable Enrollment Growth
Henderson, Nev. – August 23, 2007 – Since launching its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program in 2006, the University of Southern Nevada, College of Nursing has seen a dramatic increase in enrollment of high-quality nursing students. Classes began this week at the college with a new class of 82 students, an increase of more than 240 percent over last year’s class of 34.
“Interest in our BSN program has been extraordinary,” said Dr. Mable Smith, dean of the College of Nursing at USN. “Our ability to hire highly qualified faculty has allowed us to increase our enrollment significantly so we can make a positive impact on the region’s nursing shortage.”
According to Dr. Smith, USN continues to attract students because of its high academic standards and unique block curriculum, in which students focus on one study area at a time to master course content and clinical experience. The format allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 18 months. Because the nursing program is completed about six months earlier than most programs, more job-ready nursing candidates are available to combat the region’s nursing shortage.
In a report released in April 2006, the Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) projects that nursing schools must increase the number of graduates by 90 percent in order to adequately address the nursing shortage. With an 18 percent increase in graduations from baccalaureate nursing programs this year, schools are falling far short of meeting this target. By the year 2020, HRSA projects that more than one million new Registered Nurses (RNs) will be needed in the U.S. healthcare system to meet the demand for nursing care.
“Our student retention rate of more than 95 percent, combined with our growth will allow us to graduate large numbers of nursing students to work in our communities,” said Dr. Smith.
Founded in 1999, the University of Southern Nevada is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) higher learning institution with campuses located in Henderson, Nev. and South Jordan, Utah. The university offers high-quality degree programs in the area of health sciences, including a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a Master of Business Administration degree program. The University of Southern Nevada is licensed to operate by the Nevada Commission on Post Secondary Education. For information call 702-990-4433.