Limestone's Nursing Program Expected To Get Underway In Fall of 2019

Limestone College’s online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is expected to be added to its curriculum by the fall semester of 2019.

The accelerated online RN-BSN program is designed to empower students to take on professional roles in nursing in a wide variety of settings. It will allow already licensed nurses (RNs) to continue their education and complete their undergraduate degrees.

For decades, the leaders in the field of nursing have encouraged Associate's and Diploma level nurses to pursue a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Research has proven that nurses with higher education experience improved job satisfaction, improved patient outcomes, fewer medication errors, and decreased mortality rates.

Within the last few years, the push to hire Bachelor's educated registered nurses has gained momentum, and according to Dr. Amber Williams, Limestone is now poised to meet that increasing need.

Williams, hired last year as the Director of the College’s nursing program, is currently awaiting approval for the program from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and anticipates having the RN-BSN program accepted by January of 2019. The new program will provide a flexible and affordable pathway for RNs to build on previously acquired knowledge and experience to complete their undergraduate education. Once the program is approved to move forward, the College will begin marketing and recruiting for the following fall semester.

“Limestone already has a great foundation laid for its nursing program,” Williams explained. “All of the necessary general education courses are already offered online, so our next step in establishing this new program is to add the Nursing courses.”

In the Upstate of South Carolina, Williams noted that there is an urgent need for BSN degrees. She said that Nursing has long been the number one requested major in the area, and Limestone will be the only college in Cherokee County with a RN-BSN program.

With a shortage across the nation, Williams said more nurses are needed in order to comply with the influx of healthcare needs. Limestone will soon be able to produce well-educated and equipped nurses to a society in need. BSN nurses are able to meet the demands of a dynamic healthcare environment with competence in critical thinking, leadership management, professional communication, ethical decision making, health promotion, cultural sensitivity, resourcefulness, scientific reasoning, and knowledge application.

“Our students coming out of Limestone will be prepared to take care of their communities,” Williams noted. “I am very excited about the outcomes of this program and where it will lead our students.”

Beyond the upcoming RN-BSN program, future plans are for Limestone to offer a traditional pre-licensure nursing program where students will be able to complete the nursing curriculum throughout their four years at the College.

Dr. Williams has been a nurse for 18 years. Educated at the University of South Carolina, she holds two baccalaureate degrees in Biology and Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a family nurse practitioner, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Organizational Leadership. Before coming to Limestone, she served as nurse faculty influencing many students and nurses, coordinated clinical opportunities throughout the state, initiated successful distance and online programs, and led the construction of a high-fidelity simulation lab.

Following a family tragedy, she and her sister-in-law started the Jeffrey Lee Williams Foundation, which has a mission to advocate for Carbon Monoxide Awareness. She is a recognized and published expert on carbon monoxide safety.

(By Marena Camby, Limestone College Communications & Marketing Department)