Representatives from nursing education associations have joined with national community college organizations to endorse a "Joint Statement on Academic Progression for Nursing Students and Graduates."
The consensus statement represents the shared view that nursing students and practicing nurses should be supported in their efforts to pursue higher levels of education with the goal of preparing a well-educated, diverse nursing workforce.
Endorsing organizations include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for Nursing, the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees.
The organizations announced their commitment to work together to ensure that nurses pursuing advanced education can proceed seamlessly into associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral programs.
"The design and implementation of seamless models that promote academic progression and lifelong learning are vital to meet the call to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation’s health," NLN CEO Beverly Malone, RN, PhD, FAAN, said in a news release.
Added AACN CEO Polly Bednash, RN, PhD, FAAN: "AACN stands ready to work with our colleagues in higher education to remove barriers to educational advancement and encourage all nurses to take the next step in their professional development."
Susan B. Hassmiller, RN, PhD, FAAN, director of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, and senior adviser for nursing for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, called the collaboration "a critical step to achieving our collective goal to advance nursing to meet America’s healthcare demands."
"For decades, community colleges have served as a pathway for individuals to pursue their education and build meaningful careers," Hassmiller added. "We know that approximately 57% of nurses enter practice through community college programs. As a community college graduate myself, I know how essential these programs are to creating a diversified nursing workforce prepared to meet America’s healthcare needs in all areas of the country."
"Through the Campaign for Action (www.thefutureofnursing.org), a nationwide network of grassroots coalitions has coalesced to advance nursing education progression. The campaign has identified four highly promising practice models with the potential to accelerate education progression efforts nationwide. Successful implementation of these models depends on strong partnerships with community colleges."
Verbatim
The full text of the joint statement is as follows:
"Nursing is by far the largest healthcare profession in the U.S. with more than 2.6 million RNs practicing in hospitals and other settings nationwide. Despite their large numbers, many more qualified nurses must be prepared in programs offered by community colleges and four-year institutions to meet the nation’s growing demand for healthcare and to replace a large wave of nurses nearing retirement. By 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 1.2 million additional RNs will be needed to work in acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health centers, nursing schools and other areas.
"To fulfill our shared goal to prepare a robust nursing workforce, the undersigned organizations acknowledge our full support of academic progression for nursing students and graduates. Community college presidents, boards and program administrators are aligned with the nation’s nursing association leaders in the belief that every nursing student and nurse deserves the opportunity to pursue academic career growth and development. It is through the collaboration and partnering of our various organizations that we can facilitate and inspire the seamless academic progression of nursing students and nurses. Our common goal is a well-educated, diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation’s health.
"Working together will facilitate the unity of nursing education programs and advance opportunities for academic progression, which may include seamless transition into associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral programs. Collectively, we agree that every nursing student and nurse should have access to additional nursing education, and we stand ready to work together to ensure that nurses have the support needed to take the next step in their education."
The consensus statement represents the shared view that nursing students and practicing nurses should be supported in their efforts to pursue higher levels of education with the goal of preparing a well-educated, diverse nursing workforce.
Endorsing organizations include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for Nursing, the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees.
The organizations announced their commitment to work together to ensure that nurses pursuing advanced education can proceed seamlessly into associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral programs.
"The design and implementation of seamless models that promote academic progression and lifelong learning are vital to meet the call to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation’s health," NLN CEO Beverly Malone, RN, PhD, FAAN, said in a news release.
Added AACN CEO Polly Bednash, RN, PhD, FAAN: "AACN stands ready to work with our colleagues in higher education to remove barriers to educational advancement and encourage all nurses to take the next step in their professional development."
Susan B. Hassmiller, RN, PhD, FAAN, director of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, and senior adviser for nursing for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, called the collaboration "a critical step to achieving our collective goal to advance nursing to meet America’s healthcare demands."
"For decades, community colleges have served as a pathway for individuals to pursue their education and build meaningful careers," Hassmiller added. "We know that approximately 57% of nurses enter practice through community college programs. As a community college graduate myself, I know how essential these programs are to creating a diversified nursing workforce prepared to meet America’s healthcare needs in all areas of the country."
"Through the Campaign for Action (www.thefutureofnursing.org), a nationwide network of grassroots coalitions has coalesced to advance nursing education progression. The campaign has identified four highly promising practice models with the potential to accelerate education progression efforts nationwide. Successful implementation of these models depends on strong partnerships with community colleges."
Verbatim
The full text of the joint statement is as follows:
"Nursing is by far the largest healthcare profession in the U.S. with more than 2.6 million RNs practicing in hospitals and other settings nationwide. Despite their large numbers, many more qualified nurses must be prepared in programs offered by community colleges and four-year institutions to meet the nation’s growing demand for healthcare and to replace a large wave of nurses nearing retirement. By 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 1.2 million additional RNs will be needed to work in acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health centers, nursing schools and other areas.
"To fulfill our shared goal to prepare a robust nursing workforce, the undersigned organizations acknowledge our full support of academic progression for nursing students and graduates. Community college presidents, boards and program administrators are aligned with the nation’s nursing association leaders in the belief that every nursing student and nurse deserves the opportunity to pursue academic career growth and development. It is through the collaboration and partnering of our various organizations that we can facilitate and inspire the seamless academic progression of nursing students and nurses. Our common goal is a well-educated, diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation’s health.
"Working together will facilitate the unity of nursing education programs and advance opportunities for academic progression, which may include seamless transition into associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral programs. Collectively, we agree that every nursing student and nurse should have access to additional nursing education, and we stand ready to work together to ensure that nurses have the support needed to take the next step in their education."
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