The University of Louisville School of Nursing Owensboro Extension Campus has received recognition from the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce as the 2016 Business of the Year for Education and Workforce Development. Since 2008, 123 graduates have earned a UofL bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) through a traditional format in Owensboro, Kentucky.
“We are honored by this award, as it recognizes the contribution of our faculty, students, staff and graduates,” said Marcia J. Hern, Ed.D., C.N.S., R.N., dean of the UofL School of Nursing. “It is well documented that baccalaureate-prepared nurses have shown decreased patient deaths and have better outcomes caring for patients with complex diseases; our graduates are impacting lives in Daviess County and beyond.”
The program began eight years ago as a partnership between the University of Louisville and Owensboro Health, providing students in the Western Kentucky area the opportunity to earn a UofL BSN degree without traveling to Louisville. It is the only accredited, traditional BSN program in the Greater Owensboro area. The program boasts a 100 percent pass rate for its May 2015 graduates for first attempt of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) – the test to become a registered nurse.
Students complete general education courses and other nursing pre-requisites at a community college or other regionally accredited institution, and then begin nursing courses at the University of Louisville Owensboro campus. They then complete clinical rotations in Owensboro and surrounding areas.
Service learning is incorporated into the course curriculum, and students participate in a variety of projects that include teaching preschoolers about safety, performing health assessments at local elementary and middle schools, and educating residents of homeless shelters on topics such as child care and personal hygiene. Students and faculty also volunteer with local events such as the Buddy Walk and the Life Saver’s Walk, as well as collecting and donating supplies for the OASIS Women’s Shelter.
