The University of Iowa College of Nursing and North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) have entered into a new agreement to allow NIACC nursing graduates to seamlessly transfer to the University of Iowa (UI) and complete their Bachelors of Nursing Science (BSN) degree in one year.
This articulation agreement, which is called “RN to BSN 3+1,” is significant for NIACC nursing students who wish to pursue their BSN. By enrolling in the program, qualifying NIACC students who have completed their nursing diploma can continue their education by attaining their BSN through UI’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program.
UI College of Nursing Dean Julie Zerwic and NIACC Interim Health Division Chair Laurie DeGroot signed the agreement at McAllister Hall on NIACC’s campus in Mason City.
“The University of Iowa College of Nursing is pleased to formalize this 3+1 agreement with North Iowa Area Community College. UI’s RN to BSN program is designed for associate degree and diploma-prepared RNs who are ready to expand their nursing skills and professional potential by earning the BSN. This new articulation agreement will provide qualifying NIACC nursing students a fast track to continue their educational journey by offering a seamless transition into our nationally ranked RN to BSN program,” said Dean Zerwic, UI College of Nursing.
Ranked fourth in the country, UI’s RN to BSN program is offered online and provides access to baccalaureate education for nurses throughout the state. Nurses who graduate from this prestigious program acquire knowledge and skills that help enhance their ability to provide quality care to diverse patient populations that have increasingly complex health care needs.
“We are very excited to announce this new articulation agreement. This 3+1 curriculum plan will provide advanced placement in the RN to BSN program to students meeting requirements prior to graduation from the NIACC Associate Degree Nursing program,” explained Laurie DeGroot, MSN, RN, interim health division chair, NIACC. “This articulation agreement and curriculum plan is in response to the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation to ensure education systems that promote seamless academic progression for nurses to achieve higher levels of education.”
This new agreement is also significant because it will help combat state and national nursing shortages. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age of a nurse in the United States is 47. The Iowa Board of Nursing reports that nearly half (44.9%) of registered nurses in Iowa are 50 years old or older. This partnership will enable NIACC graduates to help fill the void of the aging and retiring nursing workforce while allowing the students to continue working in their communities as they complete their degree.
“This articulation agreement opens up great possibilities for those seeking nursing education in the Mason City area and beyond,” noted UI President Bruce Harreld. “The University of Iowa is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities to the citizens of our state, and this agreement is a model for the ways in which public higher education institutions in Iowa can work together to provide the best opportunities possible for Iowans.”
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