The article, "In Need of Nurses," by Patrick Springer on March 25, 2017, addressed a shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in our community. It is important to note that there are a variety of educational paths available in the Fargo-Moorhead area to obtain a license to practice as a registered nurse.
One might wonder why colleges don't simply increase numbers of students in their programs. The answer involves both college budget constraints and insufficient number of academically prepared faculty, clinical sites, classroom/laboratory space, and clinical instructors (AACN,
2013).
In addition to the universities mentioned in the article, Concordia College offers both a traditional baccalaureate nursing major and an innovative accelerated nursing program for those students who already have a bachelor's degree. Building on their previous knowledge, students in the
accelerated program can complete the nursing major in 16 months. NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia are all addressing the baccalaureate nursing shortage through program development and collaboration through creative partnerships with regional health care facilities and community agencies. We are proud of the contribution Concordia students are making to meet the needs of the community.
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Bokinske is chairwoman and an associate professor of nursing at Concordia College.
