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

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.

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.

A signing ceremony between the schools took place Monday, June 17 at the Moraine Park Technical College’s West Bend campus.

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.