KENTUCKY BOARD OF NURSING APPROVES BSCTCS NURSE NOW PROGRAM

The Kentucky Board of Nursing has approved an innovative program that will allow licensed practical nurses (LPN) the opportunity to pursue an associate degree in nursing while at Big Sandy Community and Technical College.

The Nurse Now program is currently accepting students for its first cohort that will begin this summer.

The Nurse Now program provides LPNs the opportunity to earn their associate degree in nursing at your pace and in your place, said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of BSCTC. This program provides the flexibility needed for working adults, while utilizing a state-of-the-art platform that provides access to our experienced faculty.

Myra Elliott, dean of academic affairs, said the Nurse Now program is not only beneficial to students but will allow us to meet the needs of hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare facilities.

This program creates an additional pathway for registered nurses, she said. As healthcare facilities and services continue to grow, so will the need for highly-trained registered nurses.

Dr. Patsy Jackson, associate dean of academic affairs, said the Nurse Now curriculum, while online, provides engaging classroom experiences and convenient face-to-face clinical opportunities at local facilities.

Its about meeting our students where they are and getting them to where they want to be, she said. This pathway will provide an accelerated platform for LPNs to move into registered nursing positions.

The college will host a pre-admission conference for its first class at 10 a.m., Thursday, February 25 in the Student Center (Rooms 203 A and B) on the Prestonsburg campus.

In addition to attending a Nurse Now pre-admission conference, prospective students should apply for admission at BSCTC at bigsady.kctcs.edu; forward all transcripts and/or ACT scores to the office of admissions; take the required PAX exam (which is offered on the Prestonsburg, Pikeville and Mayo campuses); and apply for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

For more information on the Nurse Now program, contact Pamela Jarrell at (606) 889-4790 or email pjarrell0004@kctcs.edu.