Rue Education, (www.rueed.com), the country’s largest provider of independent study systems for nurses, announces the formation of the National Education Alliance (www.nationaleducationalliance.com), a partnership among colleges, universities, hospitals, businesses and healthcare associations to provide grants, scholarships and endowments that make nursing degree programs more accessible for allied health professionals, like licensed practical nurses, paramedics and respiratory therapists.
Given the ongoing nursing shortage, we needed to find more creative ways to educate the next generation of nurses,” says Michael Dykstra, CEO of Rue Education. “Many individuals lack the time and financial resources for traditional campus programs and are looking for more flexible options that are better suited to their lives. That’s why Rue has expanded its focus beyond just providing distance learning for nurses to include development of this partnership model.”
The National Education Alliance has established partnerships on behalf of Rue Education with leading institutions, nursing employers, and professional associations across the country. Partners include Saint Leo University (Florida); University of West Florida; Spencerian College (Kentucky); Dalton State College (Georgia); St. Vincent Health (Indiana); Maxim Healthcare Services, a provider of home health, medical staffing and wellness services; the National Association for Practical Nurse Education & Service Inc. (NAPNES) and the Alabama Nursing Association.
“We want to market our online bachelor of science in Health Sciences program to the widest possible audience and our partnership with the National Education Alliance will help us accomplish that,” said George Stewart, director, School of Allied Health and Life Sciences, University of West Florida. “We anticipate a strong return in student recruitment from the Alliance’s marketing and advertising efforts.”
How it works
Through its Putting Nurses First community outreach program, the National Education Alliance engages partners in a continuing nursing instruction program that elevates the educational level of LPNs, RNs, paramedics, and respiratory therapists who will serve as the next generation of healthcare leaders.
The Alliance has established grants and scholarships to be administered by healthcare employers, staffing firms, nursing associations and other partners. These funds are applied toward the Rue Education Total Learning System and address the unique challenges faced by each partner:
Hospitals and healthcare providers: The Alliance helps providers lower the costs associated with developing their own staff, while improving the quality of patient care, recruiting/retaining the best employees and differentiating themselves as preferred employers.
Nursing associations: Associations can expand their member benefits and simultaneously support their members’ professional development through grants and scholarships.
Staffing firms: Under the staffing firm’s name, the Alliance will fund grants and scholarships for firm’s consultants, making it possible for them to pursue degree programs through Alliance partners without a disruption to the full-time placement needs of their clients.
Colleges and universities: By joining the Alliance, colleges and universities gain the advantage of the Alliance’s marketing and lead acquisition programs to leverage their own brand and increase their admissions – at no additional cost to them.
“One of the core components of the Alliance partnership is leveraging Rue Education’s Total Learning System,” says Dykstra. “The system was developed to address the unique learning needs of professional, working adults with limited time to invest in their education.”
A system based on flexibility, Rue’s Total Learning System combines online and offline self-paced study with hands-on training including clinical workshops, study communities and tutor-led classes for assignment and progress accountability.
“With the Alliance everyone benefits, from those currently advancing their nursing careers to the millions of Americans who will receive better quality health care in the years to come,” adds Dykstra.
About National Education Alliance
National Education Alliance (www.nationaleducationalliance.com) is a partnership among colleges, universities, hospitals, businesses and healthcare associations throughout the United States to develop and provide nursing degree programs to alleviate the nation’s nursing shortage. Through its “Putting Nurses First” initiative, the Alliance reduces the financial burden of continued higher education, while allowing busy professionals to maintain their income stream.
About Rue Education
Established in 1989, Rue Education (www.rueed.com) is the nation’s largest provider of independent study systems for nurses and has served more than 65,000 students across the nation. The program provides nurses with blended learning systems designed by highly qualified educators, preparing nurses to succeed in challenging nationally accepted proficiency examinations and qualifying for degrees conferred through partner universities.e