Chamberlain College of Nursing Now Offering Master of Science in Nursing Degree — May 4, 2009

Contact: Kyla Springer
Jasculca/Terman and Associates, Inc.
for Chamberlain College of Nursing
P: 312/573-5492
kyla_springer@jtpr.com

 

Currently accepting applications for master’s degree program classes to begin in July

ADDISON, IL — May 4, 2009 — In response to the growing demand for nursing professionals who can assume advanced roles in nursing education or nursing administration, Chamberlain College of Nursing announced today that it is establishing a Master of Science in Nursing degree program.

The MSN program is a post-baccalaureate professional degree program designed to prepare nurses for expanding roles in health care and enhance opportunities for professional advancement. Chamberlain is currently accepting applications for students interested in beginning the MSN degree program in July 2009. The MSN program is available to nurses nationwide who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The program can be completed in as few as two years through online courses and local practicum experiences.

"Chamberlain College of Nursing takes seriously our responsibility for preparing knowledgeable, caring, and clinically proficient nurses," said Susan Groenwald, president, Chamberlain College of Nursing "Adding the Master of Science in Nursing degree to our program offerings is the next step in continuing our rich tradition of excellence and innovation in nursing education and in providing educational opportunities for nurses at all stages of their careers."

Chamberlain’s course of study focuses on providing students with well-developed skills in inquiry, communication and leadership. The MSN curriculum provides core courses in nursing theory, research, leadership, professional role development and informatics in health care. After completion of the core nursing courses, students select from two specialty tracks: educator or executive. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to work either in the field of nursing education, or to take a leadership role within a healthcare organization.

Educator Track
The curriculum in the educator track includes courses designed to prepare the student to teach in an academic or clinical practice setting. Coursework includes educational foundations, instructional methods, program assessment and evaluation, and curriculum development.

Students also complete a practicum experience in their own geographic locations, allowing them to develop educational skills with the support of an experienced nurse educator in their own health care community.

Executive Track
The executive track curriculum builds the foundational skills essential to nurse leaders. Coursework includes the foundations of organizational leadership, including managerial communication, organizational change and decision-making. Students also complete a leadership practicum, allowing them to develop leadership skills.

A student may expect to complete the MSN program in two years of full-time study -- comprised of two courses per semester, three semesters per year -- for a total of six semesters.

The MSN program is aimed at alleviating the national nursing shortage

The institution of Chamberlain’s MSN degree program is timely, as the nation is experiencing a shortage of nurses, which is forecasted to continue for several years to come. Qualified nurse educators and nurse executives produced by the MSN program will be on the frontlines to address this shortage.

For the first time, the U.S. Department of Labor has identified registered nursing as the top occupation in terms of job growth through the year 2016. The federal government estimates that more than 1 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012. The current shortage of nursing professionals does not result from a lack of students interested in the field, but rather the limited capacity to educate and train new nurses.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2007-2008 annual survey, U.S. nursing schools turned away more than 40,200 qualified applicants to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs last year. Almost three quarters of the schools responding to the survey pointed to faculty shortages as the top reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into their programs. AACN members reported a national nurse faculty vacancy rate of 8.8 percent, which roughly equates to 1,600 faculty vacancies across the country. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts about 233,000 additional jobs will open for registered nurses each year through 2016, on top of about 2.5 million existing positions. As experienced educators reach retirement age in great numbers, a wave of faculty retirements is projected for the near future, further exacerbating the problem.

"Chamberlain College of Nursing’s MSN program is one more way in which the College is working to address the nursing shortage – by increasing access to nursing education for those nurses who want to educate the nurses of tomorrow," said Groenwald. "Our new MSN program will culminate in graduates who support contributions to society and the profession of nursing by building upon their knowledge with both theoretical foundations of nursing and professional nursing practice. The program also provides a strong foundation for doctoral study, life-long learning and continued scholarship."

Prospective students interested in being considered for the July class are urged to collect all required documents, including official transcripts from all schools attended. For more information, visit www.chamberlain.edu/academics/nursing-school/master-of-science-in-nursing or call 877-994-6388.

Chamberlain College of Nursing, formerly Deaconess College of Nursing, was established in St. Louis, Mo., in 1889. DeVry Inc. purchased the school in March 2005. Chamberlain opened its first campus outside of St. Louis in early 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. Last March, the College opened campuses in Phoenix, Arizona and Addison (Chicago), Illinois. Chamberlain continues to explore opportunities to expand its footprint nationwide.

The Chamberlain College of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing program is approved by the Higher Learning Commission. The bachelor’s degree program in nursing at the Addison, Columbus, Phoenix and St. Louis campuses is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The associate and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing at the Columbus and St. Louis campuses are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

To learn more about Chamberlain College of Nursing, visit www.chamberlain.edu.

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About Chamberlain College of Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing (formerly Deaconess College of Nursing) offers associate, bachelor's and degree completion programs in nursing (program availability varies by location). Campuses are currently located in St. Louis, Missouri, Columbus, Ohio, Phoenix, Arizona and Addison (Chicago), Illinois. Chamberlain’s nursing programs have a strong historical foundation, broad general education background and extensive clinical practice that culminate in compassionate and clinically proficient graduates.

Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (http://www.ncahlc.org) one of the six regional agencies that accredit U.S. colleges and universities at the institutional level. The associate and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing at the Columbus and St. Louis campuses are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The bachelor’s degree program in nursing at the Addison, Columbus, Phoenix and St. Louis campuses is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that standards of quality have been met. Program availability varies by location.

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

© 2009. Chamberlain College of Nursing LLC. All rights reserved.