Registered nurses in Illinois now have a more flexible option to meet the growing demand for nurses with bachelor’s degrees. The University of Wisconsin Flexible Option has begun to admit registered nurses licensed in Illinois to its competency-based education program. The format enables busy registered nurses to save time and money by applying the knowledge and experience they already have.
Illinois nursing students can earn a bachelor’s degree online from the nationally respected University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing in as little as a year. Lori Kenyon, an emergency room nurse at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the UW Flexible Option in just 11 months, all while juggling rotating shifts, parenting two small children, and traveling extensively.
“For men and women who must often balance a complex work schedule with other responsibilities, going back to school can be challenging,” says Barbara J. Daley, interim associate dean of academic affairs, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing. “Illinois RNs will be pleased to know that the UW Flexible Option addresses these challenges by offering a compelling alternative to traditional semester-based campus or online programs.”
“Most nursing students will find the competency-based format a welcome change from the traditional models of higher education,” says David Schejbal, dean of University of Wisconsin-Extension Division of Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning. “By focusing on what you know versus how much time you spend learning, the UW Flexible Option truly puts you in charge of your education.”
To apply to the UW Flexible Option, please visit the admissions page at flex.wisconsin.edu.