Mount Mary, Moraine Park Technical College announce “Nursing 1-2-1” program to address regional need for bachelor’s prepared nurses

MILWAUKEE (May 30, 2019) – In an effort to proactively meet the regional demand for additional bachelor’s prepared nurses, Mount Mary University and Moraine Park Technical College have joined forces to establish a unique “Nursing 1-2-1” program. A signing event will take place on June 17 at the Moraine Park Technical College’s campus in West Bend.

This program gives high school graduates and transfer students an opportunity to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing, licensure as a Registered Nurse and then seamlessly move to completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree within four years. By leveraging the skills and expertise of both institutions, the Nursing 1-2-1 program offers lower cost per credit than regional competitors offering similar degrees.

Students take prerequisite and general studies courses in Year 1 of the program at Mount Mary; 2 years of study take place at Moraine Park Technical College to complete an Associate Degree in Nursing and licensure as a Registered Nurse; and 1 final year takes place at Mount Mary to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The final year of the program is offered fully online to allow students to enter the workforce and still be on-track for bachelor degree completion in four years. The program is open to high school graduates (women only) and students can begin the program starting in fall 2019.

Students entering the Nursing 1-2-1 program can enjoy the full range of benefits associated with both Mount Mary and Moraine Park, including the option of living on the Mount Mary campus. A seamless curriculum and course schedule have been created across both institutions to ensure the completion of both an associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree in four years.

“This unique program combines the expertise and resources of Mount Mary University and Moraine Park, including highly experienced and recognized faculty, advanced technology and a creative and collaborative learning environment, with opportunities for firsthand leadership experience while in the program,” said Mount Mary President Christine Pharr, Ph.D.

The Wisconsin Center for Nursing projects that by 2040, the workforce shortage of RNs will reach nearly 43 percent if no changes are made to program capacities and infrastructure today. The WCN recommends expanding nursing program capacity to meet the projected demand for 7,500 additional graduates annually by 2020.

Nationwide, there are about three million nurses, but the American Nurses Association contends the country will need to produce more than one million new registered nurses by 2022 to meet health-care needs.

As the health care industry reforms, particularly for underserved populations, nurses are increasingly required to advance in leadership positions for this redesign of care. Earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing will advance nurses who will work together as part of interdisciplinary teams of medical professionals.

Moraine Park is the third partner institution for Mount Mary’s Nursing 1-2-1 program. Other partners include the Milwaukee Area Technical College and Waukesha County Technical College. Mount Mary’s Nursing 1-2-1 partnership model has been featured in Inside Higher Ed and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and on WUWM’s Lake Effect. For more information about this program, visit www.mtmary.edu/nursing121.

About Mount Mary University

Mount Mary University is an urban Catholic university committed to social justice and the development of the whole person. Founded in 1913 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, it is the first four-year, degree-granting Catholic institution for women in Wisconsin. Today it serves a minority-majority population and offers more than 30 undergraduate majors for women and nine graduate programs for women and men in four schools: Arts & Design, Humanities, Social Sciences & Education, Natural & Health Sciences and Business. Mount Mary creates bold women who transform the world. #HerestotheBold

About Moraine Park
Moraine Park Technical College was established in 1912 and is one of 16 technical college districts that make up the Wisconsin Technical College System. With campuses in Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam, and West Bend, and regional centers in Jackson and Ripon, Moraine Park serves over 18,000 students annually. More than 100 associate of applied science degrees, technical diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates are offered in a variety of formats — classroom, online and blended.

With community in mind, Moraine Park offers programs, such as manufacturing boot camps, and training and technical assistance for businesses, that work to fill local industry needs. To find out more about Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.