CMU to open new 4-year nursing degree program
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Central Michigan University has launched a new four-year degree program to help address the growing demand for more nurses.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will accept its first students next January, accepting approximately 30 students each semester.
According to CMU, jobs for registered nurses are expected to expand by nearly 8% between 2020 and 2030 — more than 6,300 new openings. Currently, Michigan’s nursing programs only graduate about 3,650 new students each year.
A sharp rise in wages has also shown why nurses are so in demand. The average pay has risen by more than $10,000 since 2018.
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Tom Masterson, the dean of CMU’s College of Health Professions, said there is a dire need for more nurses, especially in underserved pockets across Michigan. He believes the new program and partnerships with nearby medical providers will not only fill that gap but also set up CMU students for future success.
“We are excited to contribute to the growth of Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates in the State of Michigan,” Masterson stated. “There is a real need for BSN-trained nurses in rural and underserved parts of Michigan, and we are helping to fill that need.”
CMU President Robert Davies echoed that statement, saying: “Since our founding in 1892, CMU has been committed to meeting the needs of Michigan. We are proud to continue that legacy.”
Both Covenant HealthCare and Trinity Health Grand Rapids have signed on as partners to work alongside the new program.
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“We are thrilled to partner with them as a site for students to complete their clinical requirements,” a Trinity Health spokesperson said in a statement. “With national nursing shortages, new programs such as this are vital to increasing the number of nurses and providing safe care.”
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