Rhodes State College and Bluffton University today announced a partnership involving the nursing programs of the two schools, designed to to help meet the need for nurses in northwest Ohio.

The agreement between Bluffton and Rhodes  facilitates the transfer of students between the two institutions.

Bluffton University nursing students may earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (“BSN”) degree from Bluffton University by first earning an Associate of Applied Science (“AAS”) degree from RSC and Registered Nurse Licensure in the State of Ohio through successful completion of the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.

The goal of this cooperative effort is to increase the number of baccalaureate prepared nurses in northwest Ohio in support of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendation in the Future of Nursing Report to increase the number of baccalaureate prepared nurses to 80% by the year 2020.

Rhodes State College guarantees that up to eight Bluffton students, who have successfully completed their pre-nursing curriculum, will be admitted into the Rhodes State nursing program each semester.

More qualified Bluffton students may be admitted if space is available. The Rhodes State nursing program currently may admit up to 216 students each academic year.

Pictured, from left  Dr. Cynthia E. Spiers, Rhodes State College president, with Dr. Jane Wood, Bluffton University president.