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PENN STATE SCHUYLKILL LAUNCHES
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN NURSING PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY TO OFFER THE ONLY FOUR-YEAR NURSING DEGREE IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
As the nation experiences a prolonged shortage of
nurses, prospective college students will have a new
opportunity to earn a bachelor of science in nursing
(BSN) degree. The new degree at Penn State Schuylkill
through the College of Nursing will begin enrolling for
recognized as a responsive program that graduates
registered nurses who are prepared to meet the
demands of an ever-changing health care industry.
Penn State BSN graduates are future nursing leaders
positioned to impact practice, education and research.
the pre-licensure program in fall 2020. The program
extension was approved by the Pennsylvania State
Board of Nursing and Penn State leadership.
“We are excited to offer the only four-year nursing
degree in Schuylkill County. Our county and
region are known for excellent health care, our
“Offering the BSN at Penn State Schuylkill will
future graduates will support the missions of these
ensure Penn State is helping meet the nursing
organizations to promote the health and wellness
shortage across the entire commonwealth,” said
Penn State Schuylkill Chancellor Patrick Jones. “We
are happy that Penn State Schuylkill will have the
opportunity to bring this greatly needed program to
our region of the state.”
As part of President Eric Barron’s vision for "one
university, geographically dispersed," the program
will maintain the high-quality education, standards
and policies in place at the Commission on Collegiate
Nursing Education-accredited University Park
campus and other Penn State campuses (Altoona,
Behrend, Fayette, Mont Alto and Scranton) offering
the program. Penn State’s Nursing program is widely
of the community,” said Marianne Adam, associate
teaching professor and Penn State Schuylkill’s
nursing program coordinator.
In addition to offering the only BSN program
throughout the county, Penn State Schuylkill
has a RN to BSN (registered nurse to bachelor of
science in nursing) program that enables students
to effectively “level-up” their nursing credentials.
The health care industry, while enduring the
long-standing nurse shortage, has also required
higher education levels of its nurses. In an effort
to meet demands of industry and provide quality
education, accessible throughout the state, Penn
State Schuylkill, the College of Nursing, and the
University will continue to identify opportunities
to carry out these invaluable opportunities.
“Penn State Schuylkill has a long history of
providing quality nursing education in our RN to
BSN program, and the addition of the BSN degree
will allow us to continue this tradition while meeting
a significant need in Schuylkill County,” said Darcy
Medica, director of academic affairs at Penn State
Schuylkill. “We are grateful for the support of the
College of Nursing and the Office of the Vice President
for Commonwealth Campuses in the implementation
of the BSN at Schuylkill.”
After the BSN program, students will be eligible to sit
for the National Council Licensure Examination for
Registered Nurses. The College of Nursing’s overall
pass rate for this exam is 95% based on first-time test
takers in 2018. Students from the program also will
be positioned to enroll in a master’s level program.
For more information on the BSN program at
Schuylkill, contact Marianne Adam, associate
teaching professor and Schuylkill’s nursing program
coordinator, at 570-385-6061 or mta133@psu.edu, or
learn more about the Schuylkill campus nursing
program at https://schuylkill.psu.edu/nursing.
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