Chamberlain College of Nursing to Open Columbus Campus.

Nursing school to help alleviate Ohio nursing shortage

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Chamberlain College of Nursing announced today that it has received approval from the Ohio Board of Regents to establish a new campus in Columbus and will begin offering classes in March 2007. The Board of Regents approved Chamberlain's application at its meeting on January 18, 2007 at the Board offices in Columbus. Chamberlain received approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing in November, 2006. This is the first step in Chamberlain's plan to expand its footprint nationwide.

The St. Louis-based Chamberlain College of Nursing will offer associate and bachelor of science in nursing degree programs in Columbus. Both onsite and online coursework is available in the associate degree program. The college is currently accepting applications for its first class session starting March 5. Chamberlain is co-located with DeVry University at 1350 Alum Creek Dr. The brand new Chamberlain facilities feature 3000 square feet of state-of-the-art nursing skills labs.

In addition to the classes beginning in Columbus in March, Chamberlain offers an online fast-track degree completion program for registered nurses to support their professional growth by providing the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing in as few as three semesters. This flexible program enables students nationwide to complete their coursework online while fulfilling clinical practice requirements at local healthcare institutions.

The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis of the Health Resources Services Administration predicts that the U.S. will have almost one million fewer registered nurses than it needs by the year 2020. The shortage in Ohio is predicted to reach over 3000 nurses by 2020 yet the state's capacity to educate and train new nurses is not keeping up with this growing need. More than 3,000 qualified applicants are denied entrance to the state's nursing schools each year due to a lack of capacity.

"Ohio needs increased access to high-quality nursing education and we look forward to serving the Columbus community and the State of Ohio," said Susan Groenwald, president of Chamberlain College of Nursing. "The expansion of Chamberlain programs will allow us to help communities throughout the State of Ohio respond to the critical and growing shortage of nurses that will intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for healthcare grows."

Chamberlain College of Nursing has also announced the appointment of Middletown resident Robyn Havens as campus dean for the College's new Columbus location. As campus dean, Havens will oversee ongoing curriculum development and student services, help grow and develop clinical partnerships, and manage day-to-day operations at the College.

Havens joins Chamberlain with more than 30 years experience in the healthcare industry. She earned her master's degree in nursing from Wright State University, and bachelor's and associate degrees in nursing from Miami University (Ohio). After almost 10 years of working as a registered nurse, Havens began a second career as a nursing school instructor. She has spent more than two decades helping develop and teach nursing curricula at various nursing schools across Ohio and Georgia.

"We're thrilled to welcome Robyn to Chamberlain," said Groenwald. "Her higher education experience and nursing background will aid her management of Chamberlain programs and services. Ultimately, she will lead this campus in helping with our mission of developing compassionate and clinically proficient nurses, while fostering personal growth, career mobility, community service and leadership among healthcare professionals."

Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. The Associate Degree in Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is accredited by NLNAC and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Chamberlain College of Nursing, formerly Deaconess College of Nursing, was established in St. Louis in 1889. DeVry Inc. purchased the school in March 2005. The Columbus campus marks the first expansion of Chamberlain into another state, and the school continues to explore opportunities to expand its footprint nationwide.

For more information about Chamberlain College of Nursing or to enroll in classes, call 614.252.8890 or visit www.chamberlain.edu. Open Houses will be held for prospective students at the Chamberlain College of Nursing campus at 1350 Alum Creek Dr., Columbus, Ohio, from 3-8 p.m. on Jan 30, Feb 6, 15, 20 and 22.

Chamberlain College of Nursing (formerly Deaconess College of Nursing) offers associate and bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs at its St. Louis, Mo., and Columbus, Ohio, campuses. The associate program has both a campus-based option and a Web-based option. The BSN generic program is an on-campus program, and the BSN completion program for RNs is offered online. These nursing programs have a strong historical foundation, broad general education background and extensive clinical practice that culminate in compassionate and clinically proficient graduates. Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. The associate program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). The BSN program is accredited by the NLNAC and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Chamberlain College of Nursing is a division of DeVry Inc. (NYSE:DV), an international higher education company. For more information about Chamberlain College of Nursing, visit www.chamberlain.edu.