BGSU and Northwest State Community College announce nursing articulation agreement

Partnership designed to help students, address nursing shortage

Bowling Green State University and Northwest State Community College signed an articulation agreement earlier this week that will allow students to transfer credits from an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (R.N.) degree at NSCC into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree at BGSU.

“We are proud to establish this pathway with Northwest State Community College, which not only helps area students continue their education, but also supports the Institute of Medicine’s initiative recommending that 80 percent of the RN workforce have a BSN by 2020,” said Dr. Jim Ciesla, BGSU College of Health and Human Services dean.

BGSU’s RN to BSN program is 100 percent online and assists the working registered nurse to complete the BSN degree in a flexible and convenient manner. The goals of the program include helping RNs broaden their professional career opportunities, enhance their academic credentials and advance their health care knowledge.

NSCC students will be able to complete general education courses for BGSU while they are taking their courses at Northwest State. After receiving their associate degree and passing the NCLEX exam, students can begin working on their BSN and complete it in as few as three semesters.

Graduates of the RN to BSN program may find employment in a variety of health care settings, including acute care, home health, community health, school nursing, long-term care, hospice and health departments.

“Educating the next generation of nurses drives the health vitality of our communities. This transfer agreement is a great example of two public organizations coming together to create public good,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “BGSU is excited about the nursing education opportunities this partnership brings.”

Ciesla and Rogers were joined at the signing by NSCC President Dr. Michael Thomson and NSCC Vice President of Academics Dr. Dan Burklo.

“We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Bowling Green State University in this nursing pathway, and we are equally honored that Henry County Hospital volunteered to host this signing event,” Thomson said. “This articulation agreement is not just an academic connection. It is about strengthening the community overall, so we can have a high quality of life.”

The nursing articulation agreement was signed at Henry County Hospital in Napoleon, highlighting the lifeline between higher learning institutions and local health care providers in terms of workforce development. Kim Bordenkircher, CEO for Henry County Hospital, noted a Bureau of Labor Statistics study at that signing that concluded there will be a shortage of 200,000 nurses in the health care setting over the next decade.

During the signing event, the creation of the Henry County Hospital nursing scholarship was also announced. The hospital’s foundation board agreed to a philanthropic gift of $35,000 to support an endowed nursing scholarship for BGSU’s RN to BSN program. The scholarship will give preference to students matriculating to BGSU from Northwest State Community College.

“I think at times it’s easy to support something through hosting press conferences, talking and getting to know people, but sometimes you have to put your money where the issue is,” Bordenkircher said.