For years, prospective students interested in attending Slippery Rock University would ask if the school offered a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
For a long time, the answer was no, said Christine Karshin, dean of SRU’s College of Health Professions.
Starting in the fall, that no longer will be the case, as Slippery Rock will offer a 120-credit, four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
“Nursing is one of the most meaningful and in-demand careers,” Karshin said. “The region needs more well-prepared graduates.
“This allows us to bring more nursing students to Slippery Rock.”
Karshin projects the inaugural group to be around 40 to 45 students, and grow over the years. SRU plans to renovate existing space in its technology and science hall to accommodate the new program. The university anticipates hiring additional faculty members in future years, she said.
The new, on-campus bachelor’s in nursing program complements Slippery Rock’s RN to BSN program, where registered nurses could complete their bachelor’s degree entirely online; and a 1 2 1 nursing program it started last fall where students earned their RN during their second and third years at the Community College of Beaver County or an Allegheny Health Network schools of nursing.
Clinicals could begin in fall 2027. The university plans partnerships with AHN, Independence Health Network and UPMC, Karshin said.
“We’re excited we’ll be able to send our students to many of the large regional medical centers in Western Pennsylvania,” she said.
Upon graduation, students will be able to sit for the nursing licensure exam. The baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education through 2034; the state board of nursing approved SRU’s program in January, according to the university.
“From a college student perspective, you get the opportunity to participate in a four-year program on a university campus,” Karshin said. “That is something many high school students thinking about a career in nursing might be looking for.”
Karshin noted that nursing is an in-demand career.
According to the university, there is a deficit of more than 1,200 bachelor’s of science in nursing-prepared nurses within a 150-mile radius of Slippery Rock. Statewide shortages exceed 2,500 nurses annually.
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 189,000 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Karshin believes the program’s cost for students is affordable. Tuition per year for an in-state undergraduate at Slippery Rock is just under $8,000; annual median pay for registered nurses is $93,600.
“This program positions Slippery Rock as a regional leader for the next generation of nurses,” Karshin said. “It represents our promise to students called to serve.”