Thursday, March 17, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nursing programs can start

State panel grants two private schools permission to operate

New nursing programs can begin at Touro University and the University of Southern Nevada, the Nevada State Board of Nursing ruled Wednesday.

The Henderson-based schools, which plan to start registered nursing programs in August, are the first private institutions allowed to do so in Nevada, according to Debra Scott, executive director of the nursing board.

"As everybody knows, we have a horrible nursing shortage in Nevada and this can help," Scott said.

Bill Welch, president of the Nevada Hospital Association, has said there are about 1,500 nursing vacancies in the state's hospitals.

Scott said policy requiring nursing schools to be public schools has proved to be dated.

"There was a concern earlier that someone would just open up diploma mills," Scott said. "But these schools have shown us they will meet all the requirements."

Touro and University of Southern Nevada join Nevada State College, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Community College of Southern Nevada as institutions offering prospective registered nurses routes to licensure in Southern Nevada.

Touro already offers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and studies leading to a Physician Assistant designation. Southern Nevada offers a Doctor of Pharmacy program, and a Masters of Business Administration degree.

Mable Smith, the dean of the college of nursing at Southern Nevada, said students entering the program for a bachelor of science in nursing will be juniors. "They will have already finished two years of college at a community college or other university and then transfer into our program," she said. "Then, they'll be able to complete the requirements in 18 months."

Smith said the program will handle 40 students a year.

Touro will offer three master's programs in nursing. In one program, a student who already has obtained a bachelor's degree in another discipline will be able, in four semesters, to meet all requirements for registered nursing licensure and earn a master's degree in nursing.

Those who already are registered nurses can earn master's degrees in nursing administration and education.

"We expect to have 32 students in August the first year and be up to 96 by the third year," said Susan Ullrich, director of Touro's school of nursing.

Ann Lynch, a member of the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition and a Sunrise Hospital vice president, was excited at the news Wednesday.

"If these programs turn out to be as outstanding as we think they will be, it will be a boon for Nevada," she said.