SCHOOL OF NURSING LAUNCHES THIRD SITE IN MARTINSVILLE

 

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA:  The School of Nursing of Radford University launched its third site on August 21, 2007, at the New College Institute in Martinsville.

 

Six students are enrolled in the RN-BSN program which allows those already licensed as Registered Nurses to complete their bachelor’s degrees.  They attend class approximately every other Saturday and Tuesday evening.  Five students are full-time, and one student is part-time.  Johnathan Phillips, R.N., M.S.N., Coordinator of the Undergraduate Program for Registered Nurses, states, “The NCI program is traditional with a nontraditional approach.  The students receive face-to-face instruction and interaction with faculty but do so with a schedule which allows them to maintain full-time employment and other commitments, such as family and church.”  He has advised over 80 students since last September.

 

Student Stephanie Wagoner, R.N., states, “I have been wanting to work on my bachelor’s but didn’t want to leave home to do so because I have a family.  NCI allows me to get my education in my hometown and also continue to work full-time.”

 

NCI is Virginia’s newest educational institution and state agency, effective July 1, 2006, and is partnering with seven Virginia colleges and universities to offer eight undergraduate and five graduate programs for the 2007-2008 academic year.  In addition to nursing, RU is offering programs in earth science teaching endorsement, MS in Reading, and BS in Information Technology.  A needs assessment is planned for this year regarding a MSN program at NCI.  Funding for NCI is provided by The Harvest Foundation, which was a result of the sale of Memorial Hospital in Martinsville, and the Virginia General Assembly.

 

RNs interested in obtaining their BSN are encouraged to contact Phillips at jphillips32@radford.edu, (540) 831-7656, or (276) 403-5610.  He advises students in community colleges, also, as RU’s general education and prerequisite courses can often be incorporated into their programs of study.  The SON will continue to offer its online RN-BSN program.

 

 

RU SON faculty members Laura Larue, Kereen Mullenbach, Ginger Burgraff, and Johnathan Phillips pose with Dr. Barry Dorsey, NCI Executive Director (L-R)

SON NCI students Brian Cox, Shannon Joyce, Leslie Sechrist, Stephanie Wagoner, Linda Wallace, and Paula Janey take a break from their first nursing class in Martinsville (L-R)