In a move to combat the prevailing nursing shortage, Dallas College is gearing up to offer its first bachelor's degree program in nursing. Commencing in the summer of 2024, the program is designed to create a direct pathway for students aiming to step into the in-demand healthcare sector. Dallas College, which received approval from both the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, expects to address the state's need for well-trained and educated nurses, according to WFAA.
The inaugural class will start small, with just 20 students this summer, but plans to increase its size later this year. With Texas among the states hit hardest by a nursing shortage, the introduction of such a program is timely. Citing a workforce survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, only 65.2% of registered nurses are prepared at a baccalaureate or graduate degree level.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already problematic nursing shortage across the country, with hospitals voicing their frustrations over the scarcity of qualified nursing staff. Online courses will feature predominantly in the Dallas College program, offering flexibility and accessibility to students. However, three courses demanding clinical training must be partially completed in the community, as per Dr. Tetsuya Umebayashi, vice provost for the School of Health Sciences at Dallas College, as per Dallas College.
In terms of affordability, the RN-B.S.N. program set by the college boasts a significant tuition advantage when compared to four-year universities. Nursing students are looking at total tuition with fees of about $2,800, while the same program could cost between $8,000 and $16,000 at other institutions. This pricing strategy, detailed by Dr. Umebayashi, is intended to remove financial barriers for potential nursing students and broaden career opportunities, especially in underserved communities, per Dallas College.
Dallas College Chancellor Justin Lonon stressed the importance of the new bachelor’s degree program in nursing, not just for the college but for the larger community of Dallas County, saying, "The program’s impact transcends our campuses, ensuring a stronger, more qualified health care workforce for Dallas County and beyond". This development builds on the success of Dallas College's first bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education and teaching launched in 2020, from which over 100 students have already graduated, as cited by WFAA.
