SAN DIEGO, CA (May 4, 2022) — National University and Palomar College have partnered to create a new path for nursing students and professional nurses to more quickly earn advanced nursing degrees, save money on their education costs, and position themselves for better career opportunities after graduation.
“At National University, our mission is to provide workforce-relevant education to working adults, who can then go on to meet their goals and make meaningful contributions to society,” National University Interim President Randy C. Frisch said. “Working with Palomar College, we are able to create a clear and quick pathway for students and working nurses toward better opportunities and greater contributions.”
The nursing program at National University (NU), a non-profit with a 50-year history of serving adult learners, includes a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program which is one of the largest in California. The program serves students in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Fresno. Other programs include the registered nurse (RN) to BSN, RN to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and MSN with specializations as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Students also have opportunities to pursue post-graduate certifications as FNPs or MHNPs.
“We are excited to partner with National University on this groundbreaking effort to provide our frontline healthcare workers with the training and certification they need in less time and at a lower cost,” said Palomar College Superintendent/President Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey. “This will give our nursing students a direct pathway to a bachelor’s degree, leading to better prospects and more options after graduation.”
The partnership creates a pipeline for students seeking their associate’s level Registered Nurse degrees and working RNs to quickly and easily transition to the NU Bachelor’s program, saving time by allowing them to take classes that simultaneously apply to both programs, saving money through 25 percent and 50 percent scholarship opportunities, and making themselves more competitive in the job market.
A nurse with a BSN has an advantage with increased qualifications and career advancement options. Nurses who earn a BSN are also able to pursue other nursing career paths, including advanced education, administration, and teaching, that are not available to nurses without a bachelor’s degree.
Palomar College graduates an average of 40 RN students every semester, all of whom could benefit from this new RN to BSN program. Starting in June of 2022, there will be an exclusively online RN-BSN cohort for RN Palomar College students and alumni. Once accreditation agencies approve the program for onsite instruction, it will be offered at Palomar College’s Rancho Bernardo location.
Working through the RN to BSN program, nursing students with associate’s degrees can complete their bachelor’s degrees in as few as eight to 11 months, take one-subject-per-month classes designed to allow them to continue working full time, enroll at any time in order to fit their schedules, gain hands-on experience working with leaders and community partners, and become eligible for the California Public Health Nurse (PHN) certificate upon graduation.
About National University: National University, a veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of hard-working adults by providing accessible, affordable, achievable higher education opportunities since 1971. As San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university, NU offers over 75 online and on-campus programs and flexible four-week classes designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to over 30,000 students and 185,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. Learn more at NU.edu.
About Palomar College: Palomar College is a public two-year community college. Palomar College has four campus locations in San Diego County (Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Fallbrook, and the main campus in San Marcos). A National University office is located on the second floor at the Palomar College, Rancho Bernardo location. Palomar enrolls approximately 25,000 full-time and part-time students. Residents of California are charged only $46 per unit. At Palomar, students may choose from more than 200 associate degree and certificate programs, complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, train for a career, or enjoy personal enrichment classes for lifelong learning.
