FOR RELEASE: Oct. 19, 2018
CONTACT: Marketing and Communications at 406.791.5366
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA – To meet the growing demand for bachelor’s-prepared nurses, the University of Providence is now accepting applications for its new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prelicensure program in Lewistown, MT. This program has been approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing and will begin January 2019.
“We’re pleased to offer an accelerated program for those who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing and have taken the required pre-requisite courses,” says Cynthia Gustafson, associate dean for undergraduate nursing. “We have forged formal clinical partnerships with Central Montana Medical Center, the Nexus Drug Treatment Center, and the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center, all located in Lewistown. The accelerated program uses a hybrid design of clinical training at these facilities plus online coursework.”
“Expanding our School of Health Professions nursing programs in Montana broadens opportunities for both the local community and beyond,” says Tony Aretz, president of University of Providence. “The positive impact our future students will have in healthcare, especially in rural communities where nurses are in most demand, is immeasurable.”
“There is a great demand for more nursing program student openings,” Gustafson went on to say. “Students are being turned away because there aren’t enough placements available. We are hoping to meet the needs of the students while simultaneously working with other educators to ensure gaps are filled within nursing education in Montana.”
The accelerated program will allow students to complete 54 credits in 12 months. Students are encouraged to make the curriculum their full-time job during those 12 months. At the end of the 12 months, with a successful completion of the BSN degree, graduates will be eligible to take the licensing examination for Registered Nurses (RN). The exam is the NCLEX-RN and allows for licensure as an RN in any state. To learn more about the program or to apply, click here. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30.
In 2017, the university launched a new School of Health Professions to respond to growing demand for skilled healthcare workers. The School of Health Professions offers a number of online degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s degree level as well as post-baccalaureate certificates, including: RN to BSN completion program, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Science in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Applied Health Informatics Certificate, and a Medical Assistant Certificate. The university has plans to expand the School of Health Professions in the future to better meet high-need, critical workforce demands.
The University of Providence (UP) is a ministry of Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) and sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. Students have access to a quality education with a direct connection to the healthcare industry with the partnership between UP and PSJH.
The University of Providence is a private Catholic university located in Great Falls, Montana. Founded in 1932, the university includes both a School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a School of Health Professions. For more information, go to uparchive.wpengine.com.
