Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) and Cleveland State University (CSU) are launching the RN-to-BSN Nursing Continuum, a program designed to provide a smooth transition from Tri-C’s associate degree program to earning a bachelor’s degree at CSU. The program’s launch will be celebrated at a signing ceremony featuring the presidents of both institutions at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Tri-C’s Advanced Technology Training Center, 3409 Woodland Ave. in Cleveland.

The RN-to-BSN Continuum will enable Tri-C nursing graduates with a license as a registered nurse (RN) to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in CSU’s online program while working. The program meets the needs of employers as the BSN rapidly becomes an industry standard. Most health systems now require newly hired registered nurses with an associate degree to earn the additional credential within two to five years.

“This program not only supports the regional workforce but also addresses student needs,” said Tri-C President Alex Johnson. “They can continue their studies seamlessly while earning a good wage and benefitting from unique support services.”

The Continuum will provide optional in-person seminar sessions that focus on the transition to the workforce for recent Tri-C grads. The sessions will give students a chance to connect with and support one another in their studies and their new roles as nurses.

“Both institutions are committed to working together to make our first priority the career success of our students,” said CSU President Ronald M. Berkman. “In addition, students will have the support of CSU nursing faculty members who will be available to provide personalized attention and mentoring.”

The proximity of the two institutions will facilitate in-person meetings between students and CSU faculty members for advising and mentoring, services that are often not available with other online programs.

Students will be able to enroll at CSU during their last semester at Tri-C, and a CSU representative will be at Cuyahoga Community College Metropolitan Campus at designated times to answer questions and facilitate transitions between the institutions.

The Oct. 22 signing ceremony will feature Presidents Johnson and Berkman; Jay Gershen, president of Northeast Ohio Medical University; and Catherine Koppelman, chief nursing officer and patient experience officer at University Hospitals. Koppelman is a CSU graduate and chair of the Tri-C Nursing Advisory Board.

The Nursing Continuum is one of many similar partnerships between the neighboring institutions. Continuum programs are already in place for allied health programs; others, including social work, are in development. The two schools also have articulation agreements that facilitate the transfer of credits in numerous programs.