Effort seeks to ensure region can meet demand for nursing professionals

Due to the growing population of older Americans, as Baby Boomers age, and the ageing-out of many nurse leaders/executives, Northeast Ohio has an increasing need for highly-educated nurse managers who can help meet the needs of our community. Cleveland State University and The MetroHealth System are combining forces to ensure the region has enough nursing professionals to meet health care demand by providing enhanced educational opportunities for nurses.

Through the partnership, CSU will offer both a Master’s of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing for individuals who are already registered nurses, on-site at MetroHealth. The blended delivery approach, which will be eligible for employee reimbursement by MetroHealth, will include in-person and online coursework taught by CSU professors. The initiative is designed to allow working nurses to enhance their education affordably and conveniently, minimizing disruptions to other aspects of their lives.

“CSU and MetroHealth both recognize the importance of expanding the number of qualified nursing professionals who can meet growing demand for quality care,” notes Dr. Timothy Gaspar, dean of the School of Nursing at Cleveland State. “This partnership seeks to provide a pathway for current nurses to augment their credentials and clinical expertise as an added value to MetroHealth and the community as a whole.”

"Our nurses are compassionate caregivers and patient care is their top priority," says Melissa Kline, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice-president and chief nursing officer at MetroHealth. "Advancing their education will ultimately lead to better outcomes for our patients."

CSU and MetroHealth plan to enroll up to 20-30 nurses in the master’s program and up to 20-30 in the bachelor’s program annually and will offer some openings in each program to nurses at other health systems in the region. This is one of the first blended educational programs being offered by a university at a health care system.

“As one of the largest undergraduate nursing schools in the State of Ohio, CSU is dedicated to working with our community to address the educational and health care needs of the region,” Gaspar adds. “This effort is just one of several unique initiatives we are undertaking to work with our health care partners to provide the best nursing education possible in our community.”

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