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for Chamberlain College of Nursing
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Chamberlain College of Nursing Introduces Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing Option for Chicago Area Students
Allows career changers to obtain Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in as few as 13 months

Downers Grove, Ill—June 8, 2011—As job seekers look to reenter the workforce, many are deciding to make a career change to growth industries with the opportunity to make a positive impact. Chamberlain College of Nursing is responding to this trend by introducing a hybrid Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) option for career changers through its Addison, Ill. campus.

Available to those who already hold 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 completes prerequisite courses. While the majority of the coursework is 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.

“The recession left many local residents unemployed with little hope of regaining a job in their field of expertise,” said Laura Fillmore, DNP, MSN, RN, dean of Chamberlain College of Nursing’s Second Degree BSN option. “Chamberlain’s Second Degree BSN option prepares students with the skills they need to make the career change into nursing without having to return to school for multiple years, like in traditional BSN degree programs. This new degree option caters to career changers who are passionate about working in a rewarding field with purpose and growth opportunities.”

Nursing appeals to many career changers as it provides the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others, while also offering a flexible work environment. In addition to direct bedside care, nursing professionals can become academicians, clinical practice leaders, researchers, government officials, missionaries or school nurses – fulfilling a limitless array of diverse and rewarding opportunities.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nurses are needed now more than ever as the country addresses an estimated shortage of more than one million nurses by 2020 . Chamberlain College of Nursing is addressing this critical and growing shortage of nurses by enabling college graduates to switch to a nursing career. 

Enrollment for Chamberlain’s Second Degree BSN option is now available, with the first class scheduled to begin coursework in October 2011. To qualify for the option, applicants must already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and have earned a 3.0 grade point average in all post-secondary work. Chamberlain’s Second Degree BSN option will also be offered through the Houston and Jacksonville, Fla. campuses. Chamberlain will seek approval from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education to include the Second Degree BSN option within the accreditation of its regular BSN degree program as soon as appropriate.

To learn more about Chamberlain College of Nursing and its Second Degree BSN option, visit www.chamberlain.edu/seconddegreebsn.
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  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 and Miramar, 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 at the Addison, Arlington, Chicago, Columbus, Houston, Jacksonville, Phoenix and St. Louis campuses 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, GA 30326, 404.975.5000). Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that standards of quality have been met.

Chamberlain College of Nursing 2450 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202 is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, 101 N. 14th Street, 10th Floor, James Monroe Building, Richmond, VA 23219, 804.225.2600. Chamberlain College of Nursing has provisional approval from the Virginia Board of Nursing, Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463, 804.367.4515.

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. ©2011 Chamberlain College of Nursing, LLC. All rights reserved. www.chamberlain.edu.