The Roche Foundation has awarded Felician College $50,000 to support the new Accelerated Bachelor’s to BSN Program.

Felician launched the program in an effort to offset the growing nursing shortage in the area. The 18-month program is specifically designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are now seeking a career in nursing.

“The goal of the program is to address the growing nurse shortage by increasing the enrollment and graduation rates of baccalaureate nursing students and easing their transition to the nursing workforce within a compressed timeframe,” said Dr. Muriel Shore, Dean of Nursing at Felician College.

The grant, which was awarded in two installments, was used to upgrade technology, faculty development, and the recruitment of qualified students.

The Accelerated Bachelor’s to BSN Program was launched in May of 2010 with a cohort of eight students. This cohort is scheduled to complete their BSN degrees and will be ready to take their qualifying state licensing examinations in November 2011.

The second cohort, which is comprised of 14 students, will graduate and take their licensing examination in November 2012.

A third cohort is scheduled to begin in May 2012 with 20 seats available for prospective nursing students.

Felician College’s partnership with the Saint Barnabas Healthcare System provides Felician nursing students the opportunity to work in institutions such as Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ and acquire a thorough clinical experience.

All Felician nursing students are required to complete a Clinical Nursing Residency as well as a service component in order to fulfill their graduation requirement.

For more information, visit www.felician.edu.