UCA nursing students (stock image)
By: Kyra Waller
Office of Media Relations
The University of Central Arkansas School of Nursing has announced the Bridge2BSN, a dual enrollment program, in partnership with Baptist Health College Little Rock School of Nursing.
The pilot program is an alternative for UCA pre-Bachelor of Science in Nursing students.
This dual enrollment track allows pre-BSN students to apply for admission and begin the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program at Baptist Health College Little Rock. While completing the three semesters of nursing courses at BHCLR, the B2B students will simultaneously take the required online BSN courses through UCA. After the students complete the AAS and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), they will complete a fourth semester of required clinical courses for the BSN at UCA. Following successful completion of these clinical courses, the B2B students will receive a BSN from UCA.
“Every year, I see several qualified students that we have to turn away because we do not have program capacity, even after expanding the program several times within the past few years. With the state’s nursing shortages, this was incredibly disheartening,” said Susan Gatto, UCA School of Nursing director. “Through this program, we’re going to be able to serve more students, and that is super exciting.”
The program is active with a pilot cohort and available for current UCA Pre-Nursing students and transfer applicants. For more information, contact program counselor Julie Ingram at jjones111@uca.edu
