23 Nursing students will complete their Bachelor’s degree in nursing this week at ACC

Austin Community College (ACC) celebrates graduates of its first bachelor’s degree program with a completion ceremony 5 p.m., Friday, August 9, at Eastview Campus, Room 8500 (3401 Webberville Rd.). 23 graduates will be recognized.

“Coming to class once a month makes this program manageable. The support team and resources at the school helped me stay on track to finish,” says Fasson Saumaro, ACC RN-to-BSN graduate. “This program is for anyone. It is really affordable, which is the reason I started at ACC. The school here is a big advocate for working on students personally to help you grow as a patient advocate.”

The program launched in fall 2018 to meet the growing need for higher-credentialed nurses in Central Texas. ACC’s RN-to-BSN program provides registered nurses (RNs) an affordable route to earn their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). According to research, nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level contribute to better health outcomes for the patients.

Graduates of ACC’s BSN program are prepared to advance their careers and assume nursing leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings. 

“Interest continues to grow for the RN-to-BSN program. We are committed to meeting the community need for more qualified healthcare professionals,” says Pat Recek, ACC Health Sciences dean. “Our program has the ability to attract underserved students who might not otherwise have access to a BSN program.”

The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies projects that demand for registered nurses (RNs) could exceed supply by almost 60,000 by 2030. Through legislation passed in 2017, ACC and its coalition partners expect to provide about 500 additional BSN-trained nurses annually.

The college’s second cohort of RN-to-BSN students will begin fall 2019 with up to 60 students. The program offers full-time and part-time options. 

For more information about the program and to apply, visit austincc.edu/bsn or contact Karen Cooper, Interim Baccalaureate Specialist, at 512-223-5937 or email karen.cooper@austincc.edu.