Officials of UALR and Baptist Health have signed an agreement to provide RN graduates from the Baptist Health Schools Little Rock (BHSLR) – School of Nursing a seamless and online way to obtain a bachelor of science in nursing.

Ann Schlumberger, chair of UALR’s Department of Nursing, and Dr. Michael Gealt, dean of UALR’s College of Science and Mathematics, said the agreement adds to UALR’s efforts to help Arkansas increase the number of bachelor degree nurses in the state who provide the core of nursing leadership and management in Arkansas hospitals.

Dr. Judy I. Pile, assistant vice president of education at Baptist Health Medical Center – Little Rock, and BHSLR Dean of Nursing Laura Hamilton expect significant participation in the program from the BHSLR graduate pool.

“They can enroll either part time or full time in the program,” Pile said. “That’s great for Baptist Health, because we want RNs to continue working while they advance their credentials in their profession.”

Gealt, whose college is spearheading UALR’s master plan goal of dramatically increasing the number of nurses in Arkansas with bachelor degrees, said the agreement will make that goal less expensive and more convenient for nurses because it is a web-based program.

“Only 25 percent of our nurses in the state hold a bachelor’s degree or more,” he said. “We are raising that number with programs like this.”