UW-Platteville and UW-Oshkosh have agreed upon a dual program that allows UW-Platteville students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree through UW-Oshkosh.

The program was finalized on March 3, UW-Platteville students do not have to leave the campus while
earning an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree. The UW-Platteville website states, “The UW-Oshkosh ABSN program was the first accelerated nursing program of its kind in the United States.”

According to NBC15, “The program is aimed at addressing shortages of healthcare workers in Wisconsin, especially in rural areas.”

A report by legislative analyst Jessie Gibbons discussed the shortage of primary care providers in Wisconsin. Specifically, “Across the state, nearly 150 areas are currently facing shortages of primary care providers. Many of these areas are located in rural Wisconsin, where populations are aging rapidly and demand for care is expected to rise exponentially in the years ahead.”

Gibbons provided a county map of Wisconsin where Grant County is one among many that is experiencing a full shortage of primary care professionals. Multiple strategies have been put into place by Wisconsin legislators in order to address the shortage of medical professionals including “supporting increased enrollment in medical schools and residency programs.”

The UW-Platteville website provides information on how the ABSN program works. Students must complete a bachelor’s degree in any major at UW-Platteville while finishing a “preparatory curriculum for the ABSN.” Once completed, students must be approved for the accelerated program with an application before starting the 12-month course through UW-Oshkosh.

There are requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to be accepted in the ABSN program, such as having a minimum 3.25 GPA, having to repeat a course, must being a Certified Nursing Assistant with 240 hours of work experience, having 20 hours in health care service orientation and having a C or above in all courses with no pass/fail specifically in science courses.

Students who participate in the program will end with a Bachelor in a major of choice, completion in the accelerated nursing program and a Bachelor of Science at UW-Oshkosh.