A partnership was recently created between the Community College of Beaver County and Waynesburg University that will allow the students who have earned their registered nursing license to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing.

CCBC, a community college located in Beaver County, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., for their associate’s degree in nursing.

David Mariner, the director of Graduate Programs, handles many of the advanced programs that are not offered to undergraduate students. At Waynesburg University, students can earn master’s degrees in education, business administration and science in nursing.

Mariner said the new partnership was created because of the clear benefit it would provide to students working towards a BSN.

“We entered into the agreement with CCBC because they graduate a large number of associate degree nurses each year who will most likely want to pursue their bachelor degree in the near future,” Mariner said. “The CCBC has a high-quality nursing program, and we are looking for this population for our RN to BSN program.”

The program offered towards CCBC will be a graduate program that is offered to those who have both an associate’s degree, as well as a registered nurse’s license. Mariner said

“Our agreement basically permits the associate degree nursing graduate who is also a registered nurse to transfer 85 credits into our RN to BSN program,” he said. “RN to BSN students can complete their bachelor degree in less than 2 years.”

After they finish their program at CCBC, students will transfer to Waynesburg University where they will finish their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Mariner said the program is great for those who realize they want more from their studies. There is also a low level of obligation for the students because they do not have to commit to a four-year program. However, if they decide to switch over, they are able to transfer from CCBC to Waynesburg to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree.

Mariner said the curriculum for these students will be different from the standard four-year program but will include the basic foundations of one.

“The RN to BSN curriculum focuses on nursing communication, physical assessment, evidence-based practice, clinical prevention and population health, and leadership and management in professional nursing practice,” Mariner said. “Our RN to BSN graduates may also go on to study in our Master of Science in Nursing Program and may also decide to continue in our Doctor of Nursing Practice program. The RN to BSN program opens many doors for our students professionally and academically.”

Mariner said he is optimistic that the articulation will benefit both CCBC and Waynesburg over this time frame, and that they will renew their agreement. He said that both CCBC and Waynesburg University hope to make long-term relationships that will benefit Waynesburg’s graduate students.