LWC Nursing Program Announces Seventh Hospital Partnership
Lindsey Wilson College and Wayne County Hospital Expand Learning Opportunities to Nurses
Pictured: Sitting, left, LWC Director Nursing Emiley Button and Wayne County Hospital CEO Joe Murrell sign a partnership agreement on Oct. 1 allowing nurses working full-time to earn an accredited baccalaureate degree in three semesters in an online format, with reduced tuition rate from Lindsey Wilson College. Standing from left, LWC Regional Enrollment Coordinator Cheryl Boger, LWC Somerset Community College Site Coordinator Penny Rizenburgs, Wayne County Hospital CNO Melissa Upchurch and Assistant Vice President of Educational Outreach for Online and Graduate Programs Tommie Saragas.
COLUMBIA, KY. -- Lindsey Wilson College and Wayne County Hospital are partnering to expand learning opportunities for existing hospital employees.
The announcement was made at a Monday morning signing ceremony, Oct. 1, at Wayne County Hospital in Monticello, Ky.
The partnership allows nurses working full-time to earn an accredited baccalaureate degree in 18-months in a fully online format. Wayne County Hospital employees pursuing a RN BSN degree will benefit from a reduced tuition rate from Lindsey Wilson College. Additionally, one Wayne County Hospital employee in each entering RN BSN class will receive the a scholarship to Lindsey Wilson College.
According to LWC Nursing and Health Division Chair Emiley Button the agreement marks another milestone for the continued collaboration between the college and hospitals in the region.
“We look forward to Wayne County Hospital becoming a key partner in our RN to BSN online program," said Button. "This agreement will enhance the education and the training of Wayne County Hospital employees, and the relevance of LWC's RN to BSN online program. Ultimately, our intent is to improve patient outcomes by providing opportunities for education and growth to the hospital's nursing staff."
Wayne County Hospital Chief Executive Officer Joe Murrell says he is thrilled to partner with LWC and wants to accommodate as many students as possible.
“We want new nurses to look at us as a clinical site where there’s more than just the day-to-day nursing but there’s educational opportunities,” said Murrell during the signing ceremony. “Our swing bed and active therapy program provides learning nurses the opportunity to train with longer-term patients introducing a broad spectrum of caregiving and treatment.”
Wayne County Chief Nursing Officer Melissa Upchurch says the LWC partnership is a first for the hospital.
“I’m excited to partner with Lindsey Wilson,” said Upchurch. “LWC was the first college to reach out to us -- we haven’t done anything exactly like this before and I think it will really benefit our nurses.”
The partnership is the seventh of its kind for the college. Lindsey Wilson College also has current partnerships with Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, TJ Samson Community Hospital, Taylor Regional Hospital, Hardin Memorial Health, Med Center Health and Russell County Hospital.
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