Friday , August 5 , 2016 V V V THE GAZETTE , EMPORIA , KANSAS V V V

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P H O T O S B Y J A N B U C K M A N / S P E C I A L T O T H E G A Z E T T E

MARY ANN REDEKER / GAZETTE

Linda Adams-Wendling and Dean Hollenbeck speak about a new academic agreement which was signed Thursday morning at Newman Regional Health . The agreement would benefit nursing students from both institutions by accepting coursework from each other to award student degrees .

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other to award student degrees .

FHTC President Dean Hollenbeck said the articulation agreement was exciting and a big deal for the Emporia community .

“ We ’ re very excited about this new partnership between Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia State University ,” he said . “ It ’ s an opportunity for our students to flow right into the ESU program . It ’ s a winwin for the students and the first 2 + 2 agreement for AAS in Health care Administration and Management to BSN degree offered in Kansas .”

Linda Adams-Wendling , chair of ESU ’ s Department of Nursing , said the agreement demonstrates the types of partnerships outlined by the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report published in 2010 , which focuses on removing obstacles and preventing duplication that keeps nursing students from attaining their bachelor of science in nursing .

“ This agreement is the outcome of a 10-year vision for nursing education in Emporia , Lyon and surrounding counties ,” Adams- Wendling said . “ With this agreement , LPNs with an associate ’ s degree are able

MARY ANN REDEKER / GAZETTE

From top left : Linda Adams-Wendling , Savannah Phillips , Dean Hollenbeck and Allision Garrett sign an articulation agreement between Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia State University , which will benefit nursing students at both institutions . The event was held Thursday morning at Newman Regional Health .

to complete their BSN in a similar time to completing an associate degree in nursing and then returning to complete the BSN .”

The transfer of graduates from FHTC to ESU ’ s nursing program will begin this month with the 2016-17 academic year .

“ This partnership is a dream come true and is consistent with the recommendation of the IOM that 80 percent of the nursing workforce in the United States have a bachelor ’ s degree by 2020 ,” Adams- Wendling said . “ Everyone has been so awesome to work with . The faculty of Emporia State University has been wonderful . This is something we ’ ve wanted for a long time . My experience having been an LPN and moving through the educational system was — I always said and I shared this with Savannah , if I ever had the opportunity to help carve the path , I wanted to do that .”

ESU President Allison Garrett said earning a bachelor ’ s degree through ESU ’ s nursing program provides students with a high-quality education , designed for their success .

“ The passage rate on the NCLEX ( National Council of State Boards of Nursing ) licensing exam for Emporia State nursing graduates is 10 percent higher than the Kansas average ,” Garrett said . “ And our students pursue outside opportunities to enhance their education . Senior Zach Mandell is completing a summer nursing externship at the Mayo Clinic and senior Adam Tebben is serving as president of the National Student Nurses ’ Association . We are pleased and excited to extend our high-quality program to additional students .”

For more information about FHTC ’ s health care administration and management program on the web : www . fhtc . edu / web / site / main .

For more information about ESU ’ s nursing program , visit : www . emporia . edu / NURSING .

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Photos Courtesy of Lorie Sickler