DUNMORE, Pa. — Penn State Worthington Scranton has partnered with the Geisinger Health System to provide its registered nurses with flexible learning options that will allow them to earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) in as little as 18 months.
The partnership was created in response to an Institute of Medicine report that recommended that 80 percent of registered nurses in the United States be "baccalaureate prepared" by 2020.
Interested nurses currently employed at Geisinger will apply individually through Penn State Worthington Scranton.
"Helping our employees obtain BSN degrees is an important mission of Geisinger Health System," said Terri Bickert, vice president of nursing, system education, research and magnet for Geisinger Health System.
"Penn State Worthington Scranton is very excited about this program and we are proud to partner with Geisinger to offer working registered nurses the opportunity to obtain their bachelor of science in nursing in a flexible learning environment at an affordable cost," said Michael Evans, assistant chief academic officer and instructor in nursing at Penn State Worthington Scranton. "This program will prepare nurses to be leaders and change agents in the nursing profession."
"We have identified Penn State Worthington Scranton as a partner that will offer our nurses a quality education with flexibility and very strong student support services. This partnership will help us reach our goal toward magnet status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center at each of our hospitals," said Bickert.
