Wilson Partners with Widener University on Nurse Practitioner Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 2, 2016

Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College is partnering with Widener University to provide advanced entry into a nurse practitioner program offered to Wilson Master of Nursing (MSN) graduates. The nurse practitioner (NP) career is among the fastest-growing areas in the field of nursing.

The Wilson-Widener partnership provides an accelerated path for registered nurses (RNs) with a diploma or a bachelor’s or associate degree who obtain their MSN at Wilson to become nurse practitioners, according to Carolyn Hart, Wilson program director for the Department of Nursing. “I don’t know of any other program like this,” Hart said. “We’re making this a seamless process so if you complete an MSN at Wilson and meet Widener’s criteria, you know you’re going to get in—you can count on it.”

Under the new partnership, students who graduate with a Wilson MSN degree and have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average will be guaranteed admission to the 18-month Widener program. Credits will be transferred between programs and institutions, Hart said.

A major goal of the partnership is to enable working RNs to complete a nurse practitioners program without having to interrupt their careers and travel to a school out of the area, said Hart, who collaborated on the partnership with Laura Dzurec, dean of the Widener University School of Nursing. “We both wanted to create opportunities for nurses outside of metropolitan areas to have a realistic method of becoming NPs,” Hart said.

Most NP programs are available only onsite at the schools that offer them because of the need for clinical practice, but through the Wilson-Widener partnership, the clinical requirement will be fulfilled through the use of local preceptors—either a nurse practitioner or doctor—who will help guide a student’s studies and oversee hands-on learning experiences.

Two of the Chambersburg area’s largest healthcare providers, Summit Health and Keystone Health, will serve as approved preceptor sites for the new program.

Initially, the Wilson-Widener partnership will offer Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification, but the institutions are considering expanding the options for students interested in other NP specialties, according to Hart.

Widener University is located in Chester, Pa., near Philadelphia. The Widener School of Nursing offers a full range of nursing programs and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Widener has offered a family nurse practitioner program at its Harrisburg campus since 1994 and its main campus since 1995.

The nursing profession has evolved significantly in recent years, with nurses serving a critical role not just in hospitals and private medical practices, but also at urgent and long-term care facilities and community health centers, among others.

NPs are trained and educated to provide physical and mental care and maintenance to patients throughout their lifespan. They perform physical examinations; diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries; provide immunizations; manage high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and other chronic health problems; order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests; prescribe medications and therapies and educate and counsel patients and their families regarding healthy lifestyles and healthcare options.

“People are increasingly comfortable with nurse practitioners’ skills,” said Dzurec. “Much of the healthcare management that needs to be done can be done by nurse practitioners today.”

Anyone interested in enrolling in any of Wilson’s nursing programs, which include a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN), the MSN, and RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN, should contact the Department of Nursing at 717-262-4853 or contact Hart directly at 717-414-6184 or carolyn.hart@wilson.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT:       
Carolyn Hart, Program Director of Nursing
Phone: 717-262-4853 or 717-414-6184
Email: carolyn.hart@wilson.edu

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Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 29 majors and master’s degrees in education, the humanities, accountancy, nursing, fine arts and healthcare management for sustainability. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation.

Located in Chambersburg, Pa., the college had a fall 2015 enrollment of 923, which includes students from 22 states and 16 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.