Concordia University Texas is looking to make it easier for students to find their calling as nurses while filling a critical need for these helping professionals in Texas.
Beginning with the fall 2024 semester, every student who meets the admissions requirements of the University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program will receive a $10,000 Workforce Development Scholarship to defray the cost of funding their education.
In line with the University’s The Right Call initiative to make college more accessible, the new scholarship program further supports aspiring nurses wanting to live and work in Texas.
“The workforce development scholarship is the right call for our students, our University community, and our state,” said Dr. Kristi Kirk, Concordia University Texas provost and executive vice president.
“Earning a college degree is transformative, particularly for nursing students who want to give back to something bigger than themselves. At the same time, building a pipeline of nurses will transform the health of our communities and our state.”
Concordia University Texas launched its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) Program in 2017 in Austin and expanded the successful program to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2022. The 16-month hybrid program combines an online curriculum with practical learning in a state-of-the-art simulation lab, where students get real-world experience that helps them build their skills and confidence. Students also participate in clinical rotations in partnership with top local hospitals and healthcare facilities.
In the first quarter of this year, the program boasts a combined 98.6% student pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam, compared to the national average of 88.56%.
“This accelerated track is ideal for adult learners who want to prepare for rewarding careers in a rigorous program that fits into their schedules,” said Dr. Amber Shammas, director of the University’s ABSN Program.
“The program provides a quick, adaptable and accredited path to pursue a career that can have a life-changing impact on countless people. The workforce development scholarship is essential in opening the doors for people of all backgrounds to embark on this journey.”
The need for nurses in Texas is well-documented: The state is on track to have the second-largest nursing shortage in the nation, behind California.
Data from the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies revealed that by 2036, the supply of full-time registered nurses is expected to grow by 27% to 304,116, while demand is projected to grow by 26.9% to 360,487, leaving a deficit of 56,370 full-time registered nurses.
Despite these projections, colleges and universities have been unable to accommodate the growing number of students interested in the field, Dr. Shammas said.
In its 2022-2023 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing report, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing noted that U.S. nursing schools turned away 65,766 qualified applications from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2023 due to a lack of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space and preceptors.
Dr. Shammas said Concordia University Texas is changing this paradigm by opening the door to higher education for more nursing students.
“The idea is to create attainable, life-changing opportunities,” she said.
The ABSN program has start dates in January, May, and August. Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree in a field outside of nursing or have completed at least 60 non-nursing college credit hours.
For information about the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, visit absn.concordia.edu. Learn more about the University’s The Right Call initiative at concordia.edu/TheRightCall.
