IU nursing school welcomes largest-ever class
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As the country seeks to address a nursing shortage, the Indiana University School of Nursing has welcomed its largest new class of future RNs.
The undergraduate bachelor of science program has registered 381 students this fall across IU’s Bloomington, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne campuses. It’s the largest in the school’s 109-year history.
Of that 381, 120 are based in Bloomington, 169 in Indianapolis and 92 in Fort Wayne. About 1,335 students are returning to the program as well.
“They bring enthusiasm about the profession of nursing, a new lens to shape the future of the profession and innovative ideas to health and healthcare,” Robin Newhouse, dean of the IU School of Nursing, said in a news release. “While at IUSON, they will become critical thinkers, shaping their future as clinicians and nurse leaders who employ best practices to care for their patients and continually investigate new and better ways to provide that care.”
The school has three tracks, including traditional, accelerated and RN-to-BSN Degree Completion, which is for nurses with a two-year degree and who want to earn a BSN.
The class size is cause for excitement as the school sees the increase as an aid for the state’s shortage.
“Our data shows that 95% of IU School of Nursing graduates apply for licensure in the state of Indiana,” said Rebecca Ellis, executive associate dean for academic affairs. “These students learn in the clinical spaces that will one day become their employers. We take immense pride in educating the nurses that will make up such a large component of Indiana’s workforce.”
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing estimated the shortage will grow worse as baby boomers retire and that significantly populated generation requires care.