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In response to the federal government’s estimate that registered nursing will be the fastest growing profession in the U.S. through 2020, Chamberlain College of Nursing announced today that it will begin offering an accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Option for students looking to switch careers and become nursing professionals. With baby boomers moving into retirement and the U.S.’s changing healthcare system, the Health Resources and Services Administration predicts that the U.S. will have a shortage of one million nurses by 2020. Chamberlain College of Nursing is addressing this critical shortage of nurses by enabling college graduates to be retrained for nursing careers.

The second degree BSN Option is available for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, and will be offered through Chamberlain’s Jacksonville, Fla. and Houston, Texas campuses. The BSN program can be completed in as few as 13 months of rigorous coursework, once a prospective student completes prerequisite courses. While the majority of the coursework will be completed online, students will need to be on campus for approximately four weeks, one week at a time, and will complete clinical requirements at a local healthcare organization.

“Healthcare is one of the nation’s few growing industries, and nursing, in particular, is projected to continue to grow at a rapid pace as a result of the enactment of healthcare reform legislation and the physician shortage, which is placing extra demands on nurses,” said Susan Groenwald, president of Chamberlain College of Nursing.

“Nursing offers a great opportunity for individuals pursuing a career change to make a difference in the lives of others. Chamberlain’s Second Degree BSN Option provides a quality education and prepares graduates to be nursing professionals who can hit the ground running upon entering the workforce,” continued Groenwald.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) annual survey of nursing colleges, graduates of accelerated baccalaureate degree programs in nursing are highly regarded by nurse employers who value the skills and education these graduates bring to the workplace. These accelerated programs are rapidly growing in popularity. A 2008 survey by the AACN showed that 11,018 students were enrolled in accelerated baccalaureate programs of nursing, up from 6,090 students four years earlier.

Enrollment in the Chamberlain College of Nursing Second Degree BSN Option is now available through the Jacksonville, Fla. and Houston, Texas campus locations, with the first class scheduled to begin classes in July. To qualify for the program, the applicant must already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and have earned a 3.0 grade point average.

To learn more about Chamberlain College of Nursing’s Second Degree BSN Option,please visit www.chamberlain.edu/seconddegreebsn.