An agreement signed today by officials at Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College will benefit nursing students at both institutions.
In higher education, an articulation agreement means that two or more institutions have agreed to accept coursework from each other to award student degrees. Under today’s 2+2 agreement, students at FHTC who complete an associate of applied science degree in healthcare administration and management will be able to transition into ESU’s bachelor of science in nursing program.
“FHTC is so excited to be able to offer an opportunity to our students and graduates to advance their education and nursing career without having to repeat classes they have already taken,” said Savannah Phillips, FHTC practical nursing program director. “With this agreement, students will get credit for the education they have already completed toward a bachelor of science in nursing.”
Today’s signing of the articulation agreement in the Clinical Simulation Lab at Newman Regional Health, a critical-access hospital serving Emporia, Lyon County and the surrounding area. Created two years ago, the lab is a partnership among Emporia State, Flint Hills Tech and Newman. Patient simulators and the experiences they provide students are key to both programs.
“We’re very excited about this new partnership between Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia State University,” said Dean Hollenbeck, FHTC president. “It is a win-win for students and the first 2+2 agreement for AAS in Healthcare Administration and Management to BSN degree offered in Kansas.”
The agreement demonstrates the types of partnerships outlined by the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report published in 2010, which focuses on removing obstacles and preventing duplication that keeps nursing students from attaining their bachelor in science in nursing, said Linda Adams-Wendling, chair of ESU’s Department of Nursing.
“This agreement is the outcome of a 10-year vision for nursing education in Emporia, Lyon and surrounding counties,” Adams-Wendling said. “With this agreement LPNs with an associate’s degree are able to complete their BSN in a similar time to completing an associate degree in Nursing and then returning to complete the BSN.”
The seamless transfer of Flint Hills Technical College graduates into the Emporia State nursing program begins this month for the 2016-17 academic year.
“This partnership is a dream come true,” added Adams-Wendling, “and is consistent with the recommendation of the IOM that 80 percent of the nursing workforce in the United States have a bachelor’s degree by 2020.”
Earning that bachelor’s degree through Emporia State’s nursing program provides students a high-quality education designed for their success.
“The passage rate on the NCLEX licensing exam for Emporia State nursing graduates is 10 percent higher than the Kansas average,” said Allison Garrett, ESU president. “And our students pursue outside opportunities to enhance their education. Senior Zach Mandell is completing a summer nursing externship at the Mayo Clinic and senior Adam Tebben is serving as president of the National Student Nurses’ Association.
“We are pleased to extend our high-quality program to additional students.”
For more information about Flint Hills Technical College’s healthcare administration and management program, go to https://www.fhtc.edu/web/majors/details/ham.
For more information about Emporia State University’s nursing program, go to http://www.emporia.edu/NURSING/.