UNA to offer accelerated degree for nursing field

University of North Alabama - Ray Roberson, of Florence, has traveled the world, first as a pilot in the Air Force and then on a part-time basis, jetting celebrities such as Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Angelina Jolie to their various destinations.

In that time, he took in the sights and sounds of the planet, but he also noticed something else.

"I saw what the needs were and one of these needs is for nurses," Roberson said.

Roberson hopes to be part of the first group of eight students admitted to the University of North Alabama's accelerated bachelor of science nursing degree, a program that will graduate students in just 15 months instead of the traditional two years.

"It's going to be a new career for me, and I know it's going to be tough," Roberson said. "But I'm excited, too, because I'll be able to be home with my family more, and with two kids, that means a lot to me."

Roberson won't know until early 2010 if he makes the cut for the program, said Marilyn Lee, interim chairwoman of the traditional nursing department.

"The program is meant to run from May of one year to June or July of the next year," she said. "Our first group will only include eight students, so there's already quite a bit of competition. By the second time we run the program, we'll take 16 students, and that will be the max."

Lee said the time in the accelerated program is pared down by eliminating breaks. The first course, for example, which is usually completed during a semester, will be taught in two weeks.

"They will be in class for four days a week for five hours at a time, plus all the homework that goes into that and the clinicals," she said. "I recommend they not work because they'll be working 40 hours on class and clinicals."

Students who enter the program must have completed a bachelor's degree, and by having that, Lee said they are more likely to complete the coursework and any advanced degrees to teach or attain a nursing speciality.

Getting students out of the classroom and into the clinical area to help alleviate a nationwide nursing shortage is a goal of the accelerated program, she said.

"Nursing is also a fairly stable profession, even in a bad economy," Lee said. "Many of our students have jobs even before they graduate and take their board exams."

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@TimesDaily.com.