Marian University and St.Vincent Health Announce Collaboration to Address Nursing Shortage in Indiana

New Program Will Combine Online Education with On-Site Clinical Preparation at St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
March 10, 2009

In response to a growing shortage of qualified registered nurses in Indiana, today Marian University and St.Vincent Health announced a collaboration to increase the number of nurses educated in central Indiana. The new program, which will begin admitting students this fall, is the first of its kind in Indiana to incorporate leading-edge online education with traditional clinical preparation.

"Marian University is pleased to join forces with St.Vincent Health in creating this innovative program," said Daniel J. Elsener, president of Marian University. "St.Vincent and Marian University have a longstanding partnership in nursing education and scholarships. Today’s announcement shows how two Catholic organizations can build a partnership that meets the needs of our community by helping alleviate the crisis in nursing through a blend of tradition and technology."

This fall, Marian University students will begin classes in an online accelerated BSN program that blends the convenience of online learning with on-site clinical education at St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. Individuals who currently hold a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field will be eligible for the program. Marian University has offered a more traditional, classroom-based accelerated BSN program for several years, and this program will continue to be offered on the Marian University campus.

"Through our affiliation with Marian University, we will aim to provide optimal real-world nursing experiences for students so they can deliver the highest level of care for Indiana patients," said Darcy Burthay, chief operating and nursing officer of St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. "We will launch the program at our Indianapolis hospital, and hope to develop it at our other facilities across the state in the future. Our goal is for nursing students to have an array of convenient locations to receive their on-site education from our health system’s outstanding clinical staff."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the nursing shortage has severe national implications, with approximately one million unfilled nursing positions projected by 2020. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), has reported that nursing schools must increase the number of graduates by 90 percent in order to combat this shortage.

Graduates of the new program will earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree and be eligible to sit for the state licensure examination. According to the AACN, hospitals prefer nurses with a bachelor’s degree because facilities with more educated nurses experience lower patient mortality rates, fewer medical errors, and increased job satisfaction.

For more information, call toll-free 888.682.2761.