Jefferson Phases Out ASN-BSN program at Philadelphia Campus

Jefferson School of Nursing is phasing out the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) portion of the ASN-BSN program on its Philadelphia campus. Students will no longer be accepted to the program. Currently enrolled students will continue in the program, earning their degrees in May 2010 and 2011. The decision to end the program with the Class of 2011 was made in response to low numbers of student applications, recognition of the trend of Philadelphia-area hospitals to hire nurses with a bachelor’s or higher degree and the University’s Strategic Plan. Jefferson will maintain the ASN-BSN program at its campus at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.

The ASN-BSN program opened in 2004 in an effort to decrease the national and local shortage of nurses. Over the years, graduates have done well on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) which is the licensure examination for registered nurses. Class of 2009 ASN graduates of the Philadelphia campus scored a 97.5% pass rate on NCLEX-RN and Geisinger 2009 graduates scored 100%.

Jefferson School of Nursing continues to offer several pathways to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the Philadelphia campus. Designed for individuals with no prior nursing education and no bachelor’s degree, the Traditional Prelicensure BSN program enrolls students who have completed their first two years of prerequisite courses (59 credits) at another institution. Two options exist for students with a bachelor’s degree in another field: FACT, a 12-month program and Accelerated Pathway to the MSN, which follows a traditional academic calendar for two years. Jefferson also offers master’s degrees in a variety of specialties and a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Published: 02-01-10

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