SIUE to begin online Master of Science nursing degrees for SSM Health in January
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing and SSM Health today announced a new arrangement to offer two online Master of Science nursing degrees to SSM Health nurses, beginning in January.
Under the agreement, online Master of Science-Nurse Educator and Master of Science-Health Care and Nursing Administration cohort programs will be available to nurses at SSM Health across its four-state region, which includes Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.
The announcement marks the first time the SIUE School of Nursing has offered its online master degrees as a cohort program to a health system. While SSM Health has nursing cohort programs with other universities, this is the first time the organization has offered a system-wide MSN program to its nurses. As part of the program, the two organizations have collaborated to offer qualified SSM Health nurses discounted tuition and a convenient payroll deduction option for tuition payments.
“I commend SSM Health leaders for their foresight and commitment toward supporting the growth and education of their employees,” said Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN, dean of the SIUE School of Nursing. “I am confident they will reap the benefits as future nursing leaders are developed.”
Both MSN programs comprise 11 courses, with the Nurse Educator degree including 270 hours of clinical experience and the Health Care and Nursing Administration program including 315 hours of clinical experience.
The MSN program builds on a collaboration established in 2015 when the SIUE School of Nursing and SSM Health combined to offer an accelerated RN to Bachelor of Science nursing degree to SSM Health nurses. To date, nearly 60 nurses across SSM Health have graduated from the bachelor’s program, with more than 170 nurses currently in the program.
The expansion of this collaboration will support nursing leaders in achieving advanced degrees at a significantly reduced cost. Qualifying SSM Health employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement. SIUE’s nursing programs allow for accelerated degree completion and provide flexible course progressions for working adults. Being an online student means nurses have flexibility on when and where coursework is completed.
“We’ve had strong master’s specialties in nursing education and health care and nursing administration for several years,” said Andrew Griffin, PhD, SIUE School of Nursing assistant dean for graduate programs. “Since 2010, these programs have been offered fully online. It is incredibly exciting to know SSM Health nurses now have an opportunity to take advantage of these educational offerings.”
For more information, visit siue.edu/corporate/ssm.
The Illinois Business Journal welcomes news of interest to the Southwestern Illinois region. Send it to Editor Dennis Grubaugh at dgrubaugh@ibjonline.com
