Goshen College kicks off partnership with Glen Oaks Community College to offer RN to BSN program in Centreville, Michigan

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A new partnership between Goshen College and Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan, will bring Goshen’s RN to BSN program to St. Joseph County, giving registered nurses a new avenue to achieve their bachelor’s degree.

“We were the first college in the state of Indiana to offer the BSN program, so it’s a very old and distinguished nursing degree that we offer,” said Dr. James Brenneman, president of Goshen College. “We’ve had connections with Glen Oaks Community College for quite some time. We are both committed to an excellent program.”

As more hospitals are calling for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, many registered nurses are returning to school while working full time. The Goshen College RN to BSN program allows students to take one class a week year-round, completing the program in 19 months. More than 50 percent of students experience job promotions or new jobs before the completion of the program.

“The demand for the nursing workforce to hold a bachelor’s degree continues to grow,” said Dr. David Devier, president of Glen Oaks Community College. “The community has expressed an interest in this program and we felt that this was the right time to move forward. We made contact with administrators at Goshen College last winter and we are delighted that we were able to pull this together in a fairly short amount of time. Goshen College is highly respected in the community for its nursing programs.”

(L-R) Bill Lederman, director of nursing at Glen Oaks and Goshen College graduate; David Devier, Glen Oaks president; James Brennaman, Goshen College president; and Vicky Kirkton, director of the RN to BSN program at Goshen College
(L-R) Bill Lederman, director of nursing at Glen Oaks and Goshen College graduate of the MSN program; David Devier, Glen Oaks president; James Brenneman, Goshen College president; and Vicky Kirkton, director of the Glen Oaks RN to BSN program at Goshen College

This year, 100 percent of graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to receive nursing licenses. The national passing rate is between 67-73 percent.

The Goshen College RN to BSN program is designed for registered nurses with an associate’s degree from an accredited college or university. Students can complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while working full-time. All books and materials are included in the tuition cost and are brought to the classroom by the instructors. To enroll, students must have an active Indiana or Michigan nursing license. Clinical hours are typically completed at one’s place of employment.

The Goshen College RN to BSN program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The format is a cohort model (students move through coursework as a group); students take one class at a time and attend class one night a week from 6 to 10 p.m. year-round. Students complete the 40-credit hour program in 19 months.

Goshen College also offers RN to BSN classes at Elkhart General Hospital and has graduated nearly 340 nurses through the RN to BSN program.