Articles

E-mail RSS

Clearwater, FL - Rue Education, the country's largest provider of distance learning systems for nurses, has formed a unique relationship with the National Association for Practical Nurse Education & Service, Inc. (NAPNES) to co-develop educational courses and online learning programs for medication technicians, nurse aides and other unlicensed assistive personnel who want to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

The collaboration between Rue and NAPNES was orchestrated by the National Education Alliance, a partnership among colleges, universities, hospitals, businesses and healthcare associations whose mission is to make nursing degree programs more accessible for healthcare professionals through grants, scholarships, endowments and member-collaboration.

"Rue has always focused on nursing education and helping working nurses better their lives and careers through education," says Mike Dykstra, CEO of Rue Education. "It was only natural to work with NAPNES and broaden our suite of online learning services to help address the country's nursing shortage at all levels."

The collaboration between Rue Education and NAPNES will build upon proven distance learning strategies that enable practical nurse educators to deliver the theory portion of their programs via Rue's online learning platform. This will allow educators to enroll more students, while giving them the extra time required to mentor aspiring nurses in the clinical aspects of their profession.

Discussions between Rue and NAPNES began during the summer of 2007 at a meeting of the Council of Practical Nurse Educators held at the NAPNES convention, during which participants discussed the growing nursing shortage and lack of nurse educators.

"Nursing education at the LPN/vocational nurse level has been the NAPNES mission since 1941," says Mattie Marshall, LPN, president of NAPNES. "With the development of these new courses, Rue is again contributing significantly to the nursing industry by making nursing education even more accessible to more people."

Marshall adds that NAPNES is the oldest association involved in advocating the education and practice of practical and vocational nurses and is responsible for the legislation that provides for the licensure and education of practical nursing in the United States.

Rue Education had previously limited its educational materials to adult learners pursuing registered nurse and bachelor's degree in nursing programs. These distance learning programs offer a combination of structured tutor-led courses, self-paced asynchronous virtual tutors or traditional textbooks. Materials are designed for individuals who lack the time and financial resources for traditional campus programs and are looking for more flexible options, better suited to their lives.

"Rue's new online learning course materials will be designed to meet the stringent NAPNES standards of excellence and should be completed by the summer or fall of 2008," adds Dykstra.

SOURCE: Rue Education