McKendree University and SIH Launch RN-to-BSN Partnership
Classes to Begin at Southern Illinois Healthcare in August
Lebanon, Ill. — A new academic partnership between McKendree University and the Southern
Illinois Healthcare (SIH) system will enable nurses employed by SIH to take RN-to-BSN
classes at the SIH Patient Simulation Center at the John A. Logan College campus in
Carterville, starting in August. Nurses who work at SIH will have a convenient option
to complete their bachelor’s degree in nursing.
“We will tailor the course work from the perspective of the SIH system, to meet their
needs according to their policies,” said Dr. Richelle Rennegarbe, chair of the nursing
division at McKendree University. “Partnerships such as this can assist organizations,
such as SIH, in ensuring their RNs have the opportunity to obtain a BSN degree. We
look forward to teaching their nurses in their new state-of-the-art teaching facility.”
“We are pleased to support SIH in its efforts to ensure a highly educated workforce,
and we appreciate the confidence that SIH has in McKendree’s nursing programs,” added
Dr. Christine Bahr, provost.
“SIH is thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with McKendree University
and offer this advantage to our nurses,” Jennifer Campos, SIH director of nursing
education. “Nurses with BSN degrees are well prepared with the critical thinking and
leadership skills to meet the demands placed on today’s nurse. Several research studies
over the past two decades have shown the association between BSN-prepared nurses and
an overall improvement in patient outcomes. This is evidenced by decreased mortality
rates, decreased failure to rescue rates, and an overall decrease in complications.
Providing an opportunity to increase the number of BSN-prepared nurses at SIH allows
us to offer optimal patient care for our community.”
Kelli Whittington, a McKendree University nursing instructor who will serve as the
nursing faculty liaison, said a goal of the partnership is to “providing academic
tools and research to real world scenarios in order to foster engagement.”
McKendree’s RN-to-BSN program advances the education of RNs to further enhance safe,
high quality patient care. It builds on the core competencies and knowledge the students
bring from previous academic nursing programs, and expands on professional nursing
values. The result is a deeper and broader scope of professional practice and professional
role identity. Graduates of the program are generalists with the necessary base for
graduate education and continuing professional development to be leaders in practice
and in the nursing profession.
Classes will begin on August 25. For more information, call (618) 537-6834 or visit
www.mckendree.edu/nursing.
-McK-
