NLU Launches New Nursing Program
National Louis University will launch its first baccalaureate program in nursing at the start of the university’s 2023-24 academic year later this month. Among the program’s customized pathways to a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) is an accelerated path for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. This accelerated pathway is based on a hybrid model of on-line coursework and in-person clinical experiences, enabling students to complete their degree requirements in five quarters.
The new BSN program will also offer a flexible, online-only pathway for registered nurses seeking to advance their careers, and more traditional, in-person paths for students entering the university as pre-nursing majors or transferring to the field after completing the necessary academic prerequisites.
“Equipping aspiring nurses from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge and skills to excel in their careers is a critical step in addressing the inequitable distribution of healthcare resources that has forged a 10-year death gap between Chicago’s underserved communities and more affluent neighborhoods,” said Nivine Megahed, Ph.D., president of National Louis University, recently named a top-30 university in the country for serving the public good, and the Midwest’s number-one bang for students’ buck, by Washington Monthly.
“As an urban university and top minority-serving institution, National Louis University is in a unique position to unearth and foster students’ passion for giving back to their communities,” Dr. Megahed added. “It is our responsibility to meet these students where they are with programs that set them up for long-term success.”
Beyond established affiliations with Chicago’s world-class teaching hospitals, the nursing program at National Louis University is also focused on forging clinical relationships with smaller community hospitals located in the neighborhoods that are among the city’s most under-resourced. These are, in many instances, the same communities in which the university’s students were raised and are motivated to return.
“Not only are we committed to fostering exceptional nursing professionals who will champion evidence-based care, elevate patient outcomes, and forge healthier communities,” said Laura Robbins-Frank, Ph.D., R.N., National Louis University’s founding executive director of nursing. “We are committed to supporting a diverse pool of candidates who are reflective of the populations and cultural traditions of the communities that need them the most.”
According to the American Nurses Association-Illinois, Illinois is expected to be 15,000 nurses short of meeting demand by 2025, with the greatest gaps impacting minority communities. Simultaneously, healthcare advocates are calling for an increased number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses, citing research that shows significantly improved patient outcomes with the presence of BSNs in the workforce.
“In 2020, fewer than 60 percent of working registered nurses held a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Robbins-Frank. “As hospitals continue to raise their quotas on baccalaureate-prepared nurses, our program is designed to empower students to seize burgeoning opportunities in a growing field, amplifying employment prospects and potential earning capabilities.”
