Sept. 4, 2020 – Collin College has been named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing (NLN). This is the third time that the college’s program has earned this distinction.
Collin College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, an LVN-to-RN bridge program and introduced a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in the spring of 2020.
The NLN’s Centers of Excellence program honors colleges and universities that demonstrate a commitment to quality nursing education. Collin College was the first in the state to win the designation when NLN awarded it to the college originally in 2011. The college’s Center of Excellence designation was renewed in 2015. It’s now one of just four in Texas and remains the only community college in the state with the designation. A list of this year’s Centers of Excellence designees is available here.
As of August, the college’s Associate Degree Nursing program graduated 2,122 nurses, many of whom work in the North Texas area. While in the program, nursing students provide hundreds of volunteer hours in local communities as a part of faculty-supported Service Learning.
Dr. Jane Leach, dean of Nursing for Collin College, said it is an honor for the National League for Nursing to recognize the college’s efforts.
“Collin College has long prided itself on being one of the leaders in nursing education in North Texas,” Leach said. “Our faculty and staff work tirelessly to ensure our graduates are ready for clinical practice, and we have access to incredible community partners that support our programs.”
Collin College responded to growing health care needs with the introduction of a BSN program in the spring of 2020. The program provides registered nurses (RNs) with a pathway to a baccalaureate degree with classes two days a week which focus on building clinical skills, as well as critical thinking, case management and leadership.
Nurses with BSNs are often paid higher salaries than those with an associate degree and are increasingly sought after by hospitals to assist in magnet accreditation.
“Collin College supports North Texas’ nurses with educational opportunities which help them progress in their careers,” said Dr. Mark Smith, McKinney Campus vice president/provost. “With programs ranging from our LVN-to-RN Bridge through the BSN, Collin College’s programs support our area’s nursing education needs.”
Collin College serves more than 59,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, including new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity degrees. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government and industry, providing customized training and workforce development. For more information, visit www.collin.edu.