Illinois articulation initiative: A win-win education model for nursing, The

Chart, Jul/Aug 2003 by Davel, Ellen, Locklin, Maryanne

As the nursing shortage continues, efforts must be made to ensure that an adequate supply of nurses, at all levels of preparation, are available to meet the health care needs of the citizens of Illinois. Currently, the largest numbers of students entering nursing are enrolled in programs at the associate degree level. However, efforts must also be taken to promote and facilitate career advancement opportunities for registered nurses. Career advancement in nursing is facilitated through the development of articulation agreements between associate degree nursing (ADN) programs and baccalaureate degree nursing (BSN) programs for both pre-licensure nursing students and licensed registered nurses.

The articulation agreement developed between the College of DuPage and Aurora University for the pre-licensure student and registered nurse was developed in response to the recommendations of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) Nursing Panel. The Initiative provides for a seamless transfer of associate degree credits to baccalaureate nursing programs. The articulation goals of the IAI Nursing Panel were to:

1) expand the number of qualified practitioners,

2) assure that graduates of each level posses the requisite knowledge and skills for career advancement,

3) expedite vertical and horizontal movement within and across the health professions,

4) eliminate wasteful duplication and unnecessary expense for student/practitioners and programs (Illinois Articulation Initiative, 1997).

Linkage between schools of nursing that reside in community colleges and those in private liberal arts colleges enables the registered nurse associate degree graduate the opportunity to achieve a baccalaureate education without having to demonstrate the nursing knowledge acquired through prior learning. In this win-win scenario the AD RN will achieve the honors of post-secondary education, and their employers will benefit from having a more prepared and more educated workforce.

The transfer of credits between postsecondary institutions helps ensure the retention of students in the educational system, saving students both time and money. The IAI model provides for educational mobility in nursing education without duplication of content and competency. When an AD nurse makes the decision to apply to a four-year institution, he/ she should inquire whether the institution participates in the Initiative. Programs that participate generally agree that their parent institution will accept the general education courses recommended for nursing. However, the participating institutions set their own individualized criteria for acceptance of transfer credit.

At Aurora University, nurses who graduate within five years from an IDPR approved associate degree program may have a minimum of 30 semester hours placed in escrow. IAI guidelines establish credits held in escrow to equal (minimally) half the number of nursing credits for the receiving institution. Holding the semester hours in escrow acknowledges that prior learning has taken place, however credit will be held until certain requirements have been met. For example, the RN to BSN completion student will receive 30 semester hours for his/her previous nursing education in block credit as part of the transfer/evaluation process. Students will be issued the 30 semester hours after completing the first three nursing courses of the curriculum. The first course, NUR303 Dimensions of Professional Nursing, is AU's "bridge" course. IAI guidelines define the bridge process as a way to ensure that the applicant/transfer students are able to achieve the outcomes established for the level of nursing study undertaken upon entrance into a baccalaureate school of nursing. A designated bridge should introduce the transfer student to the philosophy and framework of the receiving school (IAI, 1997).

Pre-licensure students that are enrolled at a community college, but envision themselves on a BSN track, can consult with their academic advisor to determine what courses will transfer to the four-year college of their choice. They should be able to fulfill most of their pre-nursing general education requirements at the community college level. Registered nurses with an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree have taken 40 plus semester hours of general education classes. Consequently, they would need to take only two upper division Gen Ed classes in order to fulfill the Gen Ed requirements at AU. These classes are built into the BSN completion program. However, nurses who have obtained an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree would have to complete between 16 and 20 semester hours of general education courses in addition to the required upper division nursing courses in order to complete the BSN degree.

The Illinois Articulation Initiative provides a win-win model for the AD RN to transition to a four-year institution for a BSN degree in a relatively seamless and painless way.

Reference

Illinois Articulation Initiative. (1997). Articulation recommendations for Baccalaureate Majors.