IU Bloomington nursing students to complete degree requirements without transferring

The move was hailed not only on the Bloomington campus but throughout the community. Hospitals, treatment centers and other health care agencies will benefit from another year of IU Bloomington students' skills, and they also may be able to keep more promising new nurses from leaving the area.

Currently, students may complete the first three years of the IU School of Nursing program in Bloomington, but must move to the IUPUI campus for their senior year. As a result of today's action, students admitted as freshmen this fall will be able to stay at IU Bloomington for their fourth year.

"We have received repeated requests from students and their families that they be able to stay in Bloomington for their fourth year," said Sharon Farley, executive associate dean of the IU School of Nursing. "Health care agencies are very anxious for this to happen because when students have a four-year affiliation with health care agencies and graduate from the Bloomington campus, they are more likely to stay and work at those agencies."

The IU School of Nursing presently has clinical contracts with a dozen health care agencies in the Bloomington area, including the area's largest hospital. Nancy Carlstedt, chief executive officer and president of Bloomington Hospital and Health Care System, welcomed today's decision and said it should lead more prospective students from the area to apply.

"Currently, we have an 8 percent vacancy rate in the registered nurse level at the

hospital," Carlstedt said. "Keeping students on the campus for a fourth year will give us the opportunity to demonstrate to them that we are an employer of choice and we can provide them with a wide variety of opportunities.

"The fact that they can come and establish a lifestyle and participate in a four-year program without having to move will encourage more students from the central and southern parts of the state."

Bloomington Hospital and Health Care System is a major employer of nurses in south central Indiana and serves people in nine counties. In addition, many Indianapolis health care agencies are reporting many openings for registered nurses, especially in the areas of critical care and emergency medicine, and are actively recruiting IU graduates.

"For years, students have been able to complete the first three years of the nursing degree in Bloomington, but then had to go to Indianapolis for year four. My thanks to the commission for approving a full four-year degree in Bloomington, for this enables the IU School of Nursing to recruit from a national pool and also benefits Bloomington by adding another major degree program to enrich student options," said Kenneth R.R. Gros Louis, IU vice president for academic affairs and chancellor of the IU Bloomington campus.

The school admits 50 students into its program at IU Bloomington after they complete their freshman year. Today's decision will allow the school to provide a seamless transition for others, who currently are nurses with associate degrees who want to continue on to earn the bachelor of science in nursing degree.

In the past, the requirement to complete the degree at IUPUI has affected many IU Bloomington students who have families with housing, financial and child care needs unique to them. Also, some student-athletes have had to relinquish their athletic scholarships because of the transfer requirement.

The IU School of Nursing at IUPUI will continue to award the bachelor of science in nursing degree, so students can continue to have a coordinated experience that meets their needs and preferences.

Founded in 1914, the IU School of Nursing is one of the largest in the United States. It offers undergraduate educational opportunities on IU's eight campuses and prepares professional nurses to meet the current and future health needs of our society.