The Reading Hospital and Medical Center to Host Cedar Crest College Onsite MSN Program

Thursday, August 02, 2012

The Reading Hospital and Medical Center is partnering with Cedar Crest College to deliver a two-year accredited master's degree in nursing (MSN) program onsite to TRHMC nurses.

The partnership enables TRHMC nurses with bachelor's degrees to take courses on Hospital grounds one day a week and earn an MSN with a focus in nursing administration. The program, accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), can be completed in two years.

This program is one way in which the Hospital is meeting and even exceeding the recommendations of the 2010 Institute of Medicine report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," which suggests that at least 80 percent of direct care nurses be prepared at the BSN level by 2020. By providing the Cedar Crest MSN program on site, the Hospital is making education even more accessible to its nurses.

"From the quality of the program to its onsite delivery, the Cedar Crest College master of science in nursing program meets all of our needs," said Barbara Romig, The Reading Hospital and Medical Center Acting Chief Nursing Officer. "We are very happy to be able to provide this program to our nurses and look forward to a long-lasting and valuable partnership."

This MSN is virtually identical to the program taught at Cedar Crest College, and will include instruction by the same faculty members who teach on the Allentown campus. In addition to TRHMC nurses, the 38-credit program is available to degreed nurses in the surrounding area, impacting the larger community as well.

"Reading is a huge area. The Hospital is going through a huge expansion right now and the community has a lot of needs," said Wendy Robb, Ph.D., chairperson and director of the nursing program at Cedar Crest College. "We are very excited about helping the hospital and its nurses to reach their potential and serve the community to the fullest."

Cedar Crest College's MSN program at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center will launch on Tuesday afternoons this month with a maximum of 25 students. For information call 610-437-4471 ext. 3428.