Contact: Natalie Sparacio
Jasculca/Terman and Associates, Inc.
for Chamberlain College of Nursing
p: (312) 573-5483
natalie_sparacio@jtpr.com

CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING OFFERS NEW HYBRID SECOND DEGREE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING OPTION New accelerated Bachelor’s degree option prepares career changers for employment opportunities in nursing

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.—February 16, 2011—In response to the federal government’s estimate that registered nursing will be the fastest growing profession in the U.S. through 2020, Chamberlain College of Nursing announced today that it will begin offering an accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Option for students looking to switch careers and become nursing professionals. With baby boomers moving into retirement and the U.S.’s changing healthcare system, the Health Resources and Services Administration predicts that the U.S. will have a shortage of one million nurses by 2020. Chamberlain College of Nursing is addressing this critical shortage of nurses by enabling college graduates to be retrained for nursing careers.

The second degree BSN Option is available for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, and will be offered through Chamberlain’s Jacksonville, Fla. and Houston, Texas campuses. The BSN program can be completed in as few as 13 months of rigorous coursework, once a prospective student completes prerequisite courses. While the majority of the coursework will be completed online, students will need to be on campus for approximately four weeks, one week at a time, and will complete clinical requirements at a local healthcare organization.

“Healthcare is one of the nation’s few growing industries, and nursing, in particular, is projected to continue to grow at a rapid pace as a result of the enactment of healthcare reform legislation and the physician shortage, which is placing extra demands on nurses,” said Susan Groenwald, president of Chamberlain College of Nursing.

“Nursing offers a great opportunity for individuals pursuing a career change to make a difference in the lives of others. Chamberlain’s Second Degree BSN Option provides a quality education and prepares graduates to be nursing professionals who can hit the ground running upon entering the workforce,” continued Groenwald. 

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) annual survey of nursing colleges, graduates of accelerated baccalaureate degree programs in nursing are highly regarded by nurse employers who value the skills and education these graduates bring to the workplace. These accelerated programs are rapidly growing in popularity. A 2008 survey by the AACN showed that 11,018 students were enrolled in accelerated baccalaureate programs of nursing, up from 6,090 students four years earlier.

Enrollment in the Chamberlain College of Nursing Second Degree BSN Option is now available through the Jacksonville, Fla. and Houston, Texas campus locations, with the first class scheduled to begin classes in July. To qualify for the program, the applicant must already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and have earned a 3.0 grade point average.

To learn more about Chamberlain College of Nursing’s Second Degree BSN Option, please visit www.chamberlain.edu/seconddegreebsn.
~ ~ ~
About Chamberlain College of Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in nursing. Campuses are currently located in Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; Addison and Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Columbus, Ohio; Houston, Texas; and Arlington, Virginia.

Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, ncahlc.org.  HLC is one of the six regional agencies that accredit U.S. colleges and universities at the institutional level. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and the Master of Science in Nursing degree program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, 202.887.6791). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the St. Louis and Columbus campuses and the Associate Degree in Nursing program are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs at the Phoenix and the Addison campuses are candidates for accreditation by NLNAC. Candidacy is the first step toward NLNAC accreditation. (NLNAC, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, 404.975.5000). Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that  standards of quality have been met. Program availability varies by location. Chamberlain reserves the right to update information as it becomes available. Information is current at the time of posting. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation.

Chamberlain College of Nursing LLC is a part of DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV), a global provider of educational services.