Pennsylvania Western University is responding to the need for nurses by expanding the dual-accredited Associate of Science in Nursing program to the Edinboro campus. The two-year program is now accepting students.

“There is a demand for a two-year program in this area,” said Nicole Evanick, associate professor of nursing in PennWest’s Department of Nursing and Health Professions. “We began to consider offering the ASN program at this campus when our clinical partner, AHN Saint Vincent in Erie, approached us and wanted us to consider a program for the area.”

Evanick said that nationwide, the demand for nursing is high, and students are looking for a faster degree path to enter the field.

“There is a crisis in terms of the nursing shortage across the country,” she said. “This shortage is also well known to the rural areas of Pennsylvania, where our programs reside.”

PennWest’s nursing programs stand out for their commitment to excellence, as evidenced by their comprehensive curriculum and dual accreditation from both the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education.

“Accreditation by these bodies ensures our programs meet the highest standards in nursing education,” Evanick said. “The faculty are highly experienced, hold advanced degrees, and bring years of practical experience in diverse healthcare settings, which enhances the learning experience for students.”

The success rate of PennWest nursing graduates is a testament to the quality of education provided.

“Last year’s data indicate that 100% of our graduates find employment shortly after completing their degrees, or while they are still in school. Our students benefit from the university’s strong industry connections, career support services, and the growing demand for qualified nurses,” Evanick said.

Craig Coleman, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services, said he’s excited to offer the program to another community of students on one of the PennWest campuses.

“Our nursing programs are not only important for training future generations of nurses, they are also critical to supporting the health and wellness of our communities,” Coleman said. “Nurses are on the front lines of healthcare and are critical members of medical teams. They play a large role in supporting positive patient outcomes.”

With the addition of the ASN program at Edinboro, aspiring nurses have the same degree opportunities there and at the Clarion campus. PennWest offers the ASN as a standalone program in Somerset, Pa., as well. The California campus does not have a prelicensure program due to the saturation in the Pittsburgh area of community colleges and private universities that offer nursing programs.

The structure of PennWest’s nursing programs facilitates progression into higher-level programs, including Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice. Students can enter the ASN program and dual enroll in the RN-BSN program, which enables them to complete their BSN online within a few months of graduation from the ASN program.

“We are currently working on building RN-MSN and RN-DNP programs for an accelerated pathway to these advanced degrees,” Evanick said. “The combination of accreditation, expert faculty and strong graduate outcomes makes the nursing suite of programs at PennWest an outstanding choice for aspiring nurses.”

The ASN meets face to face and requires students to spend time in a clinical setting. To learn more about the program, visit www.pennwest.edu/asn.