Photo courtesy of Benjamin J. Suter.

This spring Beloit College launched an innovative new nursing program in partnership with Edgewood University to provide students with a transformative educational experience that combines a foundation in the liberal arts with hands-on nursing training.

“Nursing is a critical field and there is a great need for nurses at this time around the country but especially right here in Beloit,” said Beloit College President Eric Boynton. “We know that our students will graduate from this program prepared to make an immediate impact as compassionate, skilled healthcare professionals.”

The Beloit–Edgewood nursing program is an accelerated dual-degree program that begins with a three- or four-year Bachelor of Arts or Sciences (BA or BS) degree from Beloit College in which students build a strong foundation in the humanities and sciences. Students then complete a twelve-month Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program on Beloit’s campus through the partnership with Edgewood University.

This program offers Beloit students the opportunity to earn two bachelor’s degrees in just over four years. Students with a bachelor’s degree and program prerequisites earned at Beloit, or elsewhere, may also enroll in the program to earn their BSN.

The program features a state-of-the-art Nursing Skills Lab on Beloit’s campus, equipped with the latest technology and equipment donated in partnership with the Beloit Health System. The lab allows students to practice their skills before transitioning to clinical rotations with real patients. Students’ first clinical rotations will be at the Beloit Health System, using equipment they previously encountered in the Skills Lab.

“This partnership is a game-changer,” says Dr. Rachel Bergstrom, director of the School of Health Sciences at Beloit College. “Beloit College is known for excellence and innovation in teaching biology and chemistry, and integrating that science education with the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Pairing this liberal arts foundation with Edgewood University’s decades of experience and distinction in training nurses, this nursing program will produce the next generation of exceptional nurses.”

Beloit College and Edgewood University each contribute significant portions of the program. Beloit College provides students with prerequisites, student housing, campus life community, and pre-nursing community experiences like shadowing at the Beloit Health System. Beloit also offers internships, and the opportunity to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant with Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville. Edgewood University provides their nursing faculty, the BSN curriculum, and critical clinical placement coordination.

The first cohort of the nursing program includes eight students, seven of whom are Beloit College students, and one who previously attended UW–Whitewater at Rock County. The program will welcome a new cohort each May, with plans to expand to additional cohorts throughout the year as the program grows.