Johnson & Wales University announced the launch of a new Bachelor of Science in nursing degree earlier this year, an accelerated, four-semester program that will begin in fall 2023.
Suzan Menihan is the chief nursing officer and director of the new nursing program. She discusses the features of the new program, its impact on the nursing workforce shortage and its future.
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PBN: Johnson & Wales recently launched a new, accelerated nursing program that allows students with a bachelor’s degree to complete a nursing program in just 16 months. What are the advantages of an accelerated degree?
MENIHAN: This degree is intended for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree, meaning all classes will be focused on nursing. The main advantage is the most obvious: you get to finish your degree faster. That means less time commitment for those looking for a career change and the ability to get qualified professionals into the workforce in less than a year and a half.
That’s a win for our graduates and employers since a nursing degree can open the door to a significant pay increase for workers, and health care companies will have a larger pool of motivated, qualified applicants.
PBN: Rhode Island is currently seeing a shortage of health care workers, including nurses. What role do you see Johnson & Wales’ new nursing program playing in helping the state’s health care field recover and boost its workforce?
MENIHAN: JWU’s accelerated nursing program is designed to get graduates hands-on and classroom training in just 16 months, rather than a traditional four-year degree program. By December 2024, our first cohort of students will complete their degrees, with following cohorts close behind.
Our program will infuse the applicant pool with highly qualified, motivated nursing professionals ready to help address the critical shortage statewide. The program also will incorporate concentrated real-world experiences that will prepare our students to be “practice-ready” on day one of their first job as a nurse.
PBN: What should students expect from the program? Is JWU collaborating with health centers and hospitals in the state for hands-on training opportunities?
MENIHAN: Students can expect their time at JWU to fully prepare them for a career in nursing through an immersive experience. We have already established partnerships with local health care facilities, including several hospitals, allowing students to follow a real-world “day in the life” experience of a registered nurse during clinical rotations.
In the classroom, students will be utilizing a new state-of-the-art simulation center equipped with high-fidelity mannequins to allow them the opportunity to develop their skills before interacting with real-world patients.
PBN: How does this program fit within Johnson & Wales’ larger educational approach?
MENIHAN: The mission of the program is “to prepare graduates for professional nursing roles in an ever-changing health care environment and global community while practicing intellectual curiosity.” That fully aligns with our Powered by Purpose 2024 strategic plan, which aligns the university under the four pillars of an educational experience rooted in excellence, shaping and strengthening industries, having a strong institutional foundation and our enhancing culture and reputation. The nursing program was developed with these pillars in mind, investing time, money and personnel into a highly competitive, academically rigorous degree program.
PBN: How do you envision the program growing and developing over time?
MENIHAN: There has been an overwhelming amount of enrollment interest in our program since it was announced in September, and we look forward to welcoming a full cohort of students next fall. Because this is a new program, we can only accept a limited amount of students in the first class, however we expect the demand for this unique program will increase, and we intend to expand our capacity in the coming years.
Claudia Chiappa is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Chiappa@PBN.com.
