Johnson & Wales launches accelerated BS in Nursing

Johnson & Wales University will launch an accelerated second degree Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program after receiving approval from the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration & Nursing Education. 

“Rhode Island, like the rest of the country, is experiencing a critical shortage of nursing professionals,” said Sandra G. Affenito, Ph.D., vice chancellor of academic administration. “Between the COVID-19 pandemic and retirements, our health care system has been pushed to its limit. We are proud to offer this program to make nursing more accessible to those interested in a career change.” 

The accelerated, four-semester program is intended to be a secondary degree program for students who already completed an undergraduate program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. To be considered for the highly competitive program, students will have to have completed required prerequisite courses including human anatomy and physiology and chemistry. Otherwise qualified students who do not meet these requirements will have the opportunity to complete the needed classes with a grade of B- or higher at JWU before beginning the nursing program. 

Once fully accepted into the program, students will be required to complete in-class instruction, as well as faculty supervised clinical hours through agreements with health care providers across the state.

“Our graduates will be ready to hit the ground running on day one of their career, with real-world experience already under their belt,” said Suzan Menihan, DNP, CNM, JWU’s chief nursing officer and director of the nursing program. “The accelerated timeline will allow us to help meet the needs of Rhode Island’s changing health care landscape.” 

As is the case in all health and wellness degree programs offered at JWU, nursing students will be required to complete nutrition coursework, leveraging the university’s culinary strength and history to provide a full-body approach to wellness. 

The proposed program was approved by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration & Nursing Education in September. 

The new degree program further solidifies Johnson & Wales strong commitment to health care education. In 2014, the university became the first in the state to offer a Physician Assistant Studies Master’s Degree program, and in May graduated the first class of the pioneering entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, also the first of its kind in the state. Both programs were awarded accreditation, proving their quality in in health and wellness education. The university’s decades of hospitality and culinary excellence provide the foundation for JWU’s patient-centered, empathetic, and holistic approach to health care education.

JWU anticipates welcoming the first class of students in fall 2023, with the first graduates concluding their studies by December 2024. Read more about the program here.

About JWU

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU’s unique model provide students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide. For more information, visit jwu.edu.