Mount Mary University and Waukesha County Technical College now offer a joint 1-2-1 Nursing Program to tackle Wisconsin's nursing shortage.
The program lets students live on Mount Mary University's campus while taking classes at both schools.
The nursing student's first year will be at Mount Mary University. Their next two years are spent at WCTC. The student's final year is back at Mount Mary where they'll earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Mount Mary President Christine Pharr says the shortage is due to a few factors. One of the biggest is a large number of nurses entering retirement.
"The need is expanding at the same time that the supply is diminishing," said Pharr," After their third year they receive a registered nurse license and then in their fourth year they complete their bachelor's degree."
The Wisconsin Center for Nursing found the state will need an additional 7,500 nurses a year to meet the demand by 2020. WCTC's President Kaylen Betzig says nurses graduating from this joint program will have more possibilities.
"To get their BSN, which is desirable among hospitals and then allows them to go on and get their masters," said Betzing.
This is the second 1-2-1 nursing program Mount Mary University offers to Wisconsinites. Future nurses also have this opportunity at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
