UNMC College of Nursing and University of Nebraska at Kearney representatives celebrated a “momentous” step toward supporting rural health care this month.
Juliann Sebastian, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, announced that twice-a-year admissions for the traditional BSN program would be available at the Kearney division beginning in January 2024. During a Kearney campus event on April 10, Dr. Sebastian said the addition of the admission period would help increase students in the BSN program and that the January admission cycle will grow from 24 to 44 by January 2026.
The additional admission date will help regional employers, because students now will graduate twice a year, in May and December.
“We’re doing this as part of UNMC’s initiatives and commitment to continue to expand our presence in the Kearney area and our strong support at UNMC for building the health care workforce for the future of rural health in the State of Nebraska,” she said.
Cathrin Carithers, DNP, assistant dean for the Kearney Division, said the twice-a-year enrollment period supports existing measures and collaborations to address the rural health care workforce.
“This will promote student success and employer needs in central Nebraska and beyond,” she said. “Twice-a-year admission directly aligns with the critical need to address Nebraska’s workforce and, more broadly, UNMC’s expanded presence on the Kearney campus.”
Drs. Sebastian and Carithers additionally highlighted the expansion of the accelerated BSN program with partnerships at Great Plains Health and Mary Lanning Healthcare, the Rural Pathways initiative at UNK and the Nebraska Neighbors scholarship. Each initiative, as well as the expansion of the UNMC Health Sciences Education Complex at UNK, will provide a needed boost to rural health care in Nebraska.
“Our message to applicants and future nurses is that the world needs nurses. We will help you learn how to promote resilience and well-being,” Dr. Sebastian said, “and we will also help you learn the leadership skills to continue making innovations in care delivery models and healthy working environments.”
Charles Bicak, PhD, immediate past vice-chancellor for academic and student affairs at UNK, expressed gratitude for the UNMC College of Nursing’s ambitions to grow its presence on campus and promote flexibility for its students. He said these measures will encourage more students to both pursue and remain in health care careers.
“I can think of no higher cause, no greater cause than taking care of the citizens we as a state institution and the University of Nebraska system serve, and that’s what we have with the health and care of the people who live in our State of Nebraska,” he said. “I’m very proud of the collaboration, the partnership that characterizes UNMC and UNK, and I look forward to the ever-increasing opportunities along these lines.
“This is a momentous day.”
Electronic application for admission to the first January cohort at the UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division will open soon. More information on the BSN admission requirements can be found here or by emailing the UNMC College of Nursing Student Services Office.