706 - Successful Implementation of a Joint Enrollment Pathway

University and Community College leaders collaborated to develop an innovative pathway that allows students to complete an ADN and BSN degree concurrently. Key components of a successful concurrent degree program include coordinated efforts and communication between schools to support students in this pathway. Both colleges benefit by increasing enrollment and recruiting highly qualified students. Students benefit by completing two degrees in less time and in a more cost-effective method. Challenges identified were financial aid, scholarship support and retention. The JE pathway has proven its effectiveness in providing cost-effective and excellent nursing education to increase the number of bachelor's prepared nurses.

In 2017, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing collaborated with Wallace State Community College and Jefferson State Community College to develop a joint enrollment pathway with common goals of reducing the barriers to completing the BSN degree and of increasing the number of bachelors’ prepared nurses. This innovative pathway allows students to enroll in an associate degree nursing program and an RN-BSN program concurrently.

The community college curriculum focuses on nursing care and clinical while the university’s curriculum emphasizes leadership, quality/safety, and population health. Key components of a successful concurrent degree program include coordinated efforts and communication between schools to support students in this pathway. Program students benefit greatly by completing two degrees concurrently in less time than the traditional pathway and using a more cost-efficient way to earn two degrees. Both colleges benefit from the ability to recruit highly qualified students, share resources, and increase enrollment in the RN-BSN pathway. Challenges identified for this pathway include applying for financial aid, scholarship support, and retention. The interest in this pathway has increased over the past two years including students in Alabama and across the U.S. The JE pathway has proven its effectiveness in providing cost-effective and excellent nursing education to increase the number of bachelor's prepared nurses.