MU Fights the Nursing Shortage

by Redirecting Career Paths

Program teaches nursing to students

with bachelor's degrees in other areas

Contact: Pam Roe
S218 School of Nursing
(573) 884-2690

by Jennifer Faddis of the MU News Bureau

August 2 , 2006

COLUMBIA , Mo. – The shortage of nurses is making some people rethink their career choices. The University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing is doing its part to help alleviate the nursing shortage by educating people with degrees in other areas in order to redirect their career paths.

People with bachelor's degrees in other areas may earn a bachelor of science in nursing by enrolling in the "accelerated option," a 15-month program.

"It's very competitive," said Roxanne McDaniel, associate dean of the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. "We had more than 100 applicants from all over the country, interviewed 80 of them and could only accept 40 into the program."

The bachelor's degree can be from any area, but the students must have completed anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry and nutrition before beginning the accelerated option. Students without a background in science can take the prerequisite courses before applying to the program.

"Here at the Sinclair School of Nursing there is a limit to the actual, physical space that is available; however, we really wanted to think about what we could do to combat the nursing shortage that is such a national problem," McDaniel said. "We began the accelerated option with 10 students, then 20 and we now accept 40."

The program is financially supported by University Hospital . Students who receive scholarships have guaranteed positions at the hospital.

"Any of the students can have jobs as soon as they walk out the door," McDaniel said.

Registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations.

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