An innovative program between Everett Community College (EvCC) and the University of Washington Bothell aims to increase the number of nurses with four-year degrees in the state of Washington.

Starting fall 2014, a new “1+2+1” educational pathway will allow students to complete their freshman year prerequisite courses at UW Bothell. The student would attend EvCC to complete two years of clinical nursing education and pass the national nursing licensing exam. In the fourth year, the student would return to UW Bothell to complete requirements to graduate with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

“This partnership is a wonderful example of collaboration between the community and technical college system, UW Bothell and the business community,” says UW Bothell Chancellor Kenyon S. Chan.

The program, believed to be the first of its kind in the state of Washington, is expected to better prepare nursing students while reducing the time required earning a BSN. “Because of the prerequisites involved, it often takes students three years to earn a two-year associate degree in nursing,” says David Allen, Director of the Nursing and Health Studies program at UW Bothell.  “This program should take a year off the time it takes to get the BSN.”

Allen says the “1+2+1” program is on the ‘leading edge’ of a national movement intended to create seamless transitions from students to move from the RN to BSN degree.

“This alignment with our partners at UW Bothell is the ultimate win-win for our students,” says EvCC President David Beyer.” A nursing student can complete prerequisites at EvCC or at UW Bothell, attend the nursing program at EvCC and then complete their BSN year at UW Bothell here on our campus. I can think of no better example of creating seamless educational pathways.”

The program addresses a significant health care labor challenge issued by the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) “Future of Nursing” report released in 2010, which addresses the roles nurses play in meeting the objectives set forth in the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act. One of the challenges is to increase the educational attainment of the nursing workforce. The IOM report calls for 80 percent of the nation’s RNs to have their BSN by 2020.

“Providence Regional Medical Center Everett has had a longstanding partnership with EvCC and UW Bothell in regard to nursing education,” says Preston M. Simmons, Chief Executive Officer of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. “The healthcare industry is facing a critical need to increase the number of qualified candidates entering the workforce. This program will address the nursing shortage in Puget Sound, and lead to better outcomes for patient care and healthier communities throughout the region.”

Everett Community College and UW Bothell have a history of collaboration; UW Bothell already offers an RN to BSN program on the Everett campus.

For more information, visit uwb.edu/nhs/rnbprograms.