CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A new partnership between the University of Illinois at Chicago and City Colleges of Chicago aims to ease the country’s nursing shortage by making it easier for students to earn Bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
Nursing students working on their Associate's degrees at Malcolm X College can simultaneously enroll in online courses at UIC to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing, thanks to a dual admission agreement.
"This is better access to education for more diverse populations, and we are excited to offer this degree pathway to our ADN students interested in getting their BSN,” said David Sanders, President of Malcolm X College in a
statement.
“For many of our student nurses, it will now be possible to earn their BSN more quickly and relatively inexpensively.”
The schools announced the partnership on the same day as Malcolm X held its pinning ceremony for about 80 nursing student graduates.
Israel Luna said he’s excited to have his Associate’s degree and start working while earning his Bachelor’s.
"Coming out out of a South Side high school-being in a low-income family, I wanted to pursue a career that was a cash earning fast type of program."
Luna will begin a new job as a school nurse at Catalyst Maria High School in Chicago Lawn after the new year. He graduated from the charter school five years ago.
A spokeswoman for Malcolm X said the program offers a seamless transition for students who can work while they continue to learn.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are about 194,000 openings for registered nurses each year.
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