By Chase Estep
Anyone paying attention to the headlines in recent years knows that the United States is facing a shortage of nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nursing will be one of the occupations with the most significant job growth through the 2020s.
To help fill these positions and prepare the next generation of nurses, Linfield has created another pathway for those interested in beginning nursing careers. The Master’s Entry into Professional Nursing (MEPN) program, announced in November, allows students that already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field to fast-track the process of getting their Master of Science in Nursing.
Previously, students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field would have to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing entering the field. Linfield’s MEPN program – the first of its kind in Oregon – allows a student to earn their master’s degree and enter the workforce in just 18 months, without needing to go back for a BSN.
The MEPN curriculum focuses on complex care and systems-level thinking, so graduates will be prepared to transition into management and leadership positions within the healthcare system.
The first MEPN cohort starts classes in January 2023.
