January 30, 2012

CONTACT: Robin Hutchinson Bell
Director of College Relations
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
614-234-1372/cell: 886-1825

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New MCCN Graduates Achieve a BSN in Innovative 13-Month Program

Columbus, Ohio…Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN) recently held a graduation ceremony for the 61 members of the fifth class to complete the College’s innovative Second Degree Accelerated Program (SDAP). SDAP offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in an accelerated 13-month program. The graduation ceremony was held on Friday, January 27, 2012.

The MCCN SDAP enrolls qualified individuals who have completed a baccalaureate degree or higher with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, meet the admission criteria for prerequisite courses, and now want to pursue a fulfilling career in nursing. The SDAP is designed for those can attend full-time – 40 hours per week/five days per week.

“Many men and women dream of an exciting, rewarding career in nursing, but are unable to take several years to make the career change to follow their dream,” says Barbara Barta, PhD, RN, Associate Dean, Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN). “That’s why MCCN offers the Second Degree Accelerated Program. In just over a year, individuals can become professional nurses, doing the kind of work they always knew they were meant to do,” she adds.

“Since its inception, MCCN’s SDAP has helped more than 225 students realize their dreams of working as nursing professionals and has maintained excellence in nursing education with a student retention rate of 96%-100%, NCLEX-RN first time pass rate of 92-100%, and employment rate of 100% for all SDAP graduates.” says SDAP Co-coordinator Joey Beck, BS, MHA, MSN, RN.

“Men and women are interested in enrolling in the MCCN SDAP program because of the reputation the program and MCCN have in the community. The SDAP program allows nursing students to become totally immersed in nursing education and nursing culture for 13 months, then emerge as competent entry level practitioners,” adds Tanika Cherry, MSN/ED, RN-BC, SDAP Co-coordinator.

According to Ann Schiele, PhD, RN, President and Dean of the more than 100-year-old educational institution, “Mount Carmel College of Nursing wanted to be proactive in helping to meet the need for nursing professionals, as we also help qualified individuals gain entry into one of the fastest-growing, highest-opportunity career fields available today.”

As MCCN celebrates these newest nursing professionals, members of the College’s current SDAP class are more than one month into their 13-month odyssey to the BSN. Those interested in information about MCCN’s next SDAP class, set to begin in January 2013 and end in January 2014, are invited to visit www.mccn.edu or call 614-234-5800.

MCCN Second Degree Accelerated Program Class of 2012

About Mount Carmel College Of Nursing (MCCN)

Mount Carmel is a specialized institution of higher education, offering the following programs: Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Online RN-BSN Completion Program; Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Health, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, and (new in 2012) Adult Gerontology Acute Nurse Practitioner (trauma focus); as well as an Online RN Refresher Course. Mount Carmel has one of the largest baccalaureate nursing programs in the state of Ohio and is affiliated with the Mount Carmel Health System. Founded in 1903 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the College is located at 127 South Davis Avenue in Columbus, on the campus of Mount Carmel West Hospital.