Chamberlain College of Nursing to Open New Campus in Houston in February 2011
College’s eighth campus location continues to increase nursing education opportunities to address the national nursing shortage

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.—January 11, 2011— In response to the growing need for registered nurses in Texas and across the nation, Chamberlain College of Nursing announced today that, pending approval from the Texas Board of Nursing, it will expand nursing educational opportunities in Texas by opening a new campus in Houston.  The Texas Department of State Health Services predicts the state will face a nursing shortage of 71,000 by 2020 and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the U.S. will have a shortfall of more than one million nurses by 2020.  

“Increased access to high quality nursing education is needed in Texas,” said Susan Groenwald, president of Chamberlain College of Nursing. “The potential new healthcare reform measures combined with an aging baby boomer population requiring increased healthcare support suggest that the nursing shortage in Texas and across the nation will only intensify. Chamberlain’s new campus in Houston will allow us to help communities throughout the state respond to this critical and growing shortage of nurses as we increase access to nursing education and prepare the nurses of tomorrow.”

Chamberlain’s Houston campus will be led by recently appointed campus dean Carole Eldridge, DNP, RN, NEA-BC. Pending approval from the Texas Board of Nursing at its January 27-28, 2011 meeting, the campus will offer an onsite Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program that can be completed in three years of year-round study instead of the typical four years, and a Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) option for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. The Second-Degree BSN option can be completed in as few as 13 months of rigorous coursework, once a prospective student has completed required pre-requisite courses.  While the majority of the coursework for the Second- Degree BSN option will be completed online, students will be on campus for approximately four weeks, one week at a time, during the program. Students will also be placed with a healthcare organization within a 50-mile radius of their residence for clinical experience.

The economic downturn has impacted job placement for college graduates across the country in all career fields, but with the federal government’s estimate that more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2020, statistics show job placement improves with a BSN degree. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s research brief entitled, “Employment of New Nurse Graduates from Entry-Level Baccalaureate Programs,” in 2010, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that the average job offer rate for all new college graduates is 24.4 percent, while average job placement at the time of graduation is 65 percent for BSN degree program graduates. In Texas, the numbers are even more impressive; around 84 percent of nursing students with a BSN or MSN degree had a job offer when they graduated. And within four-to-six months after graduation, that placement rate rose to 97 percent. view the AACN’s report in its entirety.

The Houston campus is the 121-year-old college’s first location in Texas and its eighth nationwide  “With each new campus, Chamberlain College of Nursing continues to expand its role as a strong advocate for the nursing profession, striving to honor nurses and raise awareness of the national need for nurses and the need to improve the quality of healthcare,” said Groenwald.

Chamberlain’s new Houston campus is located at 11025 Equity Drive. The new Chamberlain facilities feature more than 20,500 square feet including state-of-the-art nursing skills laboratories, a simulation lab space comprising an intensive care unit, a coronary care unit, an obstetrics area and pediatric beds, as well as two general skills labs and a health assessment lab. Chamberlain will share classroom space and a library with DeVry University at an adjacent building. Both Chamberlain and DeVry University are a part of DeVry Inc.

Chamberlain students will benefit from a student-centric learning environment enhanced by small class sizes, personalized attention from faculty, diversified clinical learning opportunities and a singular focus on preparing nurses for successful careers. Chamberlain is committed to student success through student resources such as the Center for Academic Success, the SIMCare™ Center and its experiential learning model. Experiential learning provides students with opportunities to expand their education beyond the classroom through a full spectrum of social, cause-related and field experiences.

Chamberlain is currently accepting applications for its three-year BSN degree program for its first spring class semester, which will begin February 28, 2011, pending Texas Board of Nursing approval. For individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, Chamberlain will be accepting applications for its Second-Degree BSN option for the summer class semester, which will begin July 5, 2011, pending Texas Board of Nursing approval.  Open houses for prospective students will be held on campus on Tuesday, January 11 from 3-7 p.m.; Saturday, January 22 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Tuesday, February 1 from 3-7 p.m.; and Wednesday, February 9 from 3-7 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.chamberlain.edu/events.   

For more information about Chamberlain College of Nursing’s Houston campus and nursing degree programs, call 713.277.9800 or visit www.chamberlain.edu/houston.

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) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, www.ncahlc.org, 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. For more information about Chamberlain College of Nursing visit www.chamberlain.edu or call 888-556-8CCN (8226).

Houston Campus Accreditation:
Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC), www.ncahlc.org, one of the six regional agencies that accredit U.S. colleges and universities at the institutional level. The Houston campus is pursuing programmatic accreditation for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that standards of quality have been met. The program is pending approval from the Texas Board of Nursing.  Program availability varies by location.

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