Students can get nursing associate, bachelor's simultaneously at Athens State, Calhoun

Mar. 7—A program begun this school year allows students to enroll in both Calhoun Community College and Athens State University at the same time so they can receive their associate and bachelor's degrees in nursing simultaneously.

Called the Fast-Track Program, it accelerates opportunities for nursing students.

"Typically, a student would graduate with their associate degree and get their nursing license. Once they have their nursing license, then they're eligible to apply to an RN (registered nurse) to BSN (bachelor of science degree in nursing) program where you get your bachelor's degree; that gives you other opportunities as a nurse," said Calhoun Nursing Department Chair Lynn Hogan.

"What Athens (State) and others have done is waive the requirement to have your nursing license so then the students can simultaneously enroll."

Hogan said students attend Calhoun to earn their associate degree in nursing while at the same time attending Athens State online to receive their bachelor's in nursing.

Mark Reynolds, Athens State chief nurse administrator and assistant professor of nursing, said the Fast-Track Program started at Calhoun with 21 students in the fall of 2023. He said this spring they have 32 students enrolled. The first students will graduate in the fall.

Hogan said the program made sense because it is already a natural progression for Calhoun students to continue to Athens State to get their bachelor's degree.

Reynolds said they also started the Calhoun program at the same time with J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College, but no students have enrolled. In the fall, Athens State will start a similar program with Wallace State Community College.

Reynolds said Athens State's partnership with Calhoun and Drake State is a bit different than it will be with Wallace State, where students must start Athens State's bachelor's in nursing (BSN) program their first semester at the community college. He said this way students can earn both degrees in five semesters.

"At Calhoun they can jump into the Fast-Track BSN program at any time during their nursing program of study," he said. "They may complete their first semester of nursing school at Calhoun and decide, 'OK, I can handle this, and I can also start at Athens State.'"

While for most it is a dual enrollment program, Reynolds said, students may graduate Calhoun before Athens State.

"It is synched up and simultaneous, but that's only if they start as they're entering nursing school at Calhoun," he said.

Hogan said Athens State has been flexible in allowing Calhoun students to start their BSN when they are ready.

"It's very convenient because it's like eight-week courses," she said. "You can get your semester kicked off at Calhoun and then midpoint start a class at Athens (State)."

Reynolds said the programs are beneficial for students because they save time and money for the students.

"Our BSN program is the most affordable program in the states of Alabama and Tennessee, and so there's the cost saving factor there," he said. "It's a time savings because, especially if they're doing it simultaneously, they're completing both degrees in a very short amount of time. If they decided to only get their associate degree and come back and do their RN to BSN, which is considered a bridge program, it's going to take them ... an additional four semesters, or 15 months."

Reynolds said having a bachelor's in nursing will help nursing graduates in their field more than if they just had an associate degree.

"Lots of organizations only hire BSN-prepared registered nurses or will only allow BSN-prepared registered nurses to serve in leadership or management roles," he said. "Some organizations have clinical ladders where you actually get paid more for being a baccalaureate-prepared nurse over an associate-prepared registered nurse."

The programs put graduates in the workforce faster, Reynolds said, which helps address a shortage of nurses in the workforce.

"It's really helping to meet the nursing workforce demand," Reynolds said. "There is a huge market need for nursing in the area as health care has grown and as the population continues to age there's been a greater need for nurses in our local area. There's still a need for that and there will continue to be a need for that as the area itself continues to grow."

Graduates of the program, Reynolds said, will be in high demand and have no trouble finding a position. He said he is sure they will all have jobs before they graduate.

Reynolds said Athens State's goal is to develop similar programs with other colleges.

"We have reached out to several other schools who are considering it, who have asked for data that we may be able to provide once we graduate our first students," he said.

—erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.