Faculty from the University of Minnesota (U of M) School of Nursing will be in the area to give information about master’s and doctoral programs and online learning.

The session will focus on opportunities particularly for BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) individuals in the region wanting to move up to the next level of education without leaving the area.

“We are going to have faculty from the School of Nursing to discuss the new programs and how the nurses up in the Northland can tap into that opportunity and into that resource,” said Brendan Ashby, executive director of Northeast Minnesota Area Health Education Center (AHEC). “If you are an incumbent or practicing nurse or site bound, this offers another avenue for students or nurses to further explore their education.”

It is first time the U of M has offered this variety of distance education opportunities, which is great for the students because they have seven different distance learning programs they can pursue.

Ashby said this program is a way to address the nursing shortage in the region.

“This is really looking at masters and doctoral programs, just because that all goes back to the nursing shortage that we have in this region and as a nation as a whole,” said Ashby. “This is hopefully one method to address that nursing shortage.”

The program gives the students an opportunity to stay in the region while pursuing higher education, which in turn will enable them to stay in the area.

“It keeps these folks where we need them most,” said Ashby. “In rural areas we have a severe shortage of advanced practiced nurses.”

By having more masters and doctoral prepared nurses it will not only address the shortage of nurses, but also get students interested in being nursing instructors or teachers. It will also add to the level of sophistication of nurses in the area.

Any nurse wanting to increase his or her skill set and credentials, or wanting to pursue their masters or doctoral through online learning should certainly come and stop by and talk with the faculty at the University to really discuss their options.