FORT SMITH, Ark — Aspiring nurses have one more path forward after the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith (UAFS) announced the revival of its Associate of Applied Science nursing degree, approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing on May 16.
The degree program, also known as an associate degree in nursing (ADN), offers a two-year curriculum to train students how to operate as a registered nurse (RN).
"COVID impacted every community and demonstrated the need for nurses at all levels, especially those bedside acute care professionals. This program breaks down potential barriers for students by allowing them to earn a degree in just two years," said Program Director Brooke Gray, who also earned her two-year nursing degree in 2004.
Savannah Baldwin, a recent graduate of the UAFS nursing program, was in college when COVID hit, and she said the obvious strain and difficulty the pandemic placed on healthcare workers may have led some to avoid the profession.
Although she graduated from UAFS's bachelor's program, she said she can see the immediate need for a two-year path, "The ADN program is going to be great for a lot of students."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national nursing shortage will grow to 1.4 million in the next few years, due to both the growing need, and the growing percentage of RNs either approaching retirement or leaving the field.
According to a study conducted by the National council of State Boards of Nursing in 2023 - about 100 thousand registered nurses left the industry during the 2020 pandemic. The study found another 900 thousand plan to leave the workforce by 2027.
"I came into the program directly out of high school as a first-gen student,” said Gray. “I was able to earn a good salary with benefits and enjoy the flexibility that comes with a career in nursing ... It all started with my ADN."
According to UAFS, its school has one of the highest passing rates for the NCLEX-RN exam, a crucial step for becoming a registered nurse.
Baldwin works at Baptist Hospital and says she was able to focus on becoming a better nurse without the stress of finances through the tuition reimbursement program.
The program offers UAFS scholarship opportunities and tuition reimbursement through partnerships with Baptist and Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith.
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