KETTERING (October 16, 2002) — Registered Nurses with associate's degrees are finding the personal growth and financial rewards that come with continuing their education. This fulfillment can be found in the pursuit of a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) degree, now offered at Kettering College of Medical Arts (KCMA), 3537 Southern Blvd., Kettering.

Long regarded as a top-flight institution of higher learning in health care, KCMA is offering the BSN as a completion degree. Nurses can bring their RN associates degree from other institutions and work for their bachelor's degree. The 65-credit curriculum includes courses in nursing research, community-focused nursing, computer technology for nursing and cultural diversity in health care.

"It certainly expands their job opportunities," said Sharon Millard, Ph.D, RN, chair of the BSN program. "They have more places where they can be employed and there is potential for an increase in salary. In addition to the added job security, one can't ignore the benefit of person growth. Life-long learning is very important as we need to continue to challenge our minds and broaden our knowledge."

"We've designed this program so that it minimizes all the barriers that nurses in the past have faced as they tried to go on," Millard added. "If they bring an associates degree, we're not going to go back and worry about transferring things