The University of Louisville School of Nursing and Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS) today announced that they will partner to offer a baccalaureate nursing program (BSN) in Owensboro through a combination of distance education and on-site clinical instruction.

The program, intended to graduate 36-40 students each year, will address the shortage of baccalaureate nurses in Owensboro, the region and beyond.  According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, demand for nurses is growing at 2-3 percent each year, worsening an already acute shortage of nurses that is projected to reach 800,000 by 2020.

“This innovative program will address one of the key workforce issues we face here in Kentucky,” said UofL President James Ramsey.

The U of L program aligns with OMHS objectives to meet its quality goals, workforce needs and retain nurses in Owensboro. Evidence indicates that 75 percent of nurses elect to work in the community where they study nursing. According to the Institute of Medicine, a well-educated nursing workforce is a key component of quality in patient care.

“UofL’s curriculum is aligned with our focus to continuous improvement and healthcare quality,” said Vicki Stogsdill, OMHS’ chief nursing officer. “Their leadership has experience in educational programs at multiple sites and UofL’s school of nursing has an excellent reputation.”

According to Marcia Hern, dean of the School of Nursing, UofL will bring a rigorous, yet flexible program to Owensboro.

“Our leading-edge curriculum using distance education, patient simulation laboratories, a broad spectrum of clinical care experiences and the research expertise found at an academic health sciences center bring a state-of-the-art educational experience to both aspiring nurses who are completing their prerequisites at other institutions and working RNs who want to complete their BSN,” Hern said.

“UofL is a good fit for our organization,” said Jeff Barber, president and CEO of OMHS.  “We have established strong partnerships with UofL in heart care, cancer research, neurology and pediatric cardiology that benefit our patients and the communities we serve.”