River Bend Times

St. Ambrose University (SAU) and Presentation College (PC) have signed a memorandum of understanding, entering a partnership to enhance and extend online nursing education across the United States. The flexible online LPN-BSN and RN-BSN programs are designed to reach rural healthcare professionals who wish to advance their careers in nursing without leaving the workforce.

Leveraging SAU’s deep experience in providing high-quality online instruction and a robust network of healthcare partnerships, the agreement between SAU and PC seeks to address a rising and urgent need for access to high-quality rural healthcare following the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, the projected demand for registered nurses will hit more than 3.6 million by 2030. In order to meet this target, the nursing profession would have needed to add nearly 50,000 new registered nurses each year since 2014 to meet that demand. In contrast, the number of registered nurses plunged by 100,000 in 2021, representing the steepest drop in the RN workforce in 4 decades.

“We know the nature of healthcare continues to change and become more complex,” said Amy C. Novak, EdD, president of St. Ambrose. “It is more important than ever that educational institutions come together to deliver high-quality experiences for students wherever they are located using new modalities targeted at learners of all ages. Under this consortium, the partnership is a force multiplier for good in the communities impacted.”

With the opportunity to extend the reach of these programs to all 50 states, the strategic partnership between SAU and PC is a direct response to the reality that the nursing workforce needs to be cultivated from within hospital and clinic systems for sustainable future growth. Working adults in healthcare settings will become a key focus for recruitment efforts as SAU builds out learning opportunities that recognize the different needs and location-bound realities of these students.

“Our institutions are a natural fit, given that our missions are anchored in the Catholic intellectual and social tradition, and we share a collective dedication to equip ethical, human-centered healthcare leaders,” said Paula Langteau, EdD, president of Presentation College. “Current and future generations will benefit greatly from the continuation and expansion of PC’s nationally-ranked online Nursing program, in partnership with St. Ambrose University.”

The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM), commonly known as the Presentation Sisters, are a global Catholic institute and the founders of Presentation College. Anchored in a shared tradition of community and service, this person-centered approach to the delivery of both education and health services demonstrates a unique opportunity for both schools to play a role in transforming the future of healthcare.

“This joining is an example of the Presentation Sisters’ long history of partnering with others in our faith,” said Sister Mary Thomas, president of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “We are delighted to have these fine Catholic institutions coming together to provide for rural health care needs, especially in the area of nursing. This is going to be an exciting time for us today and into the future as we explore even more ways to expand our academic offerings to students.” For more information on the joint agreement between St. Ambrose University and Presentation College, please email presentation@sau.edu or visit sau.edu/presentation.

Original source can be found here.