Rasmussen College to Open State-of-the-Art School of Nursing Facility in Ocala in Summer 2016

OCALA, Fla., Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college and Public Benefit Corporation, today announced it will open a new state-of-the-art School of Nursing facility in Ocala in summer 2016. The new nursing campus, located at 1227 Southwest 17th Ave., in the former Ocala Entertainment Complex building, will include classrooms, computer labs, large student learning spaces and updated simulation equipment, such as real-life manikins and nursing beds. Construction on the multimillion dollar, 21,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin later this month.

"We are extremely excited to bring this state-of-the-art nursing education facility to Ocala and its surrounding communities – areas seeing an increased demand for quality nurses as the population ages and the healthcare industry continues to evolve," said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of the School of Nursing at Rasmussen College. "Rasmussen College is committed to providing an enhanced learning experience for our students – one that trains students for complex medical environments they will be called to work in. The new facility gives the College an opportunity to help more students realize their dream of becoming a nurse and fill the open positions in the region."

Nurses in High Demand in Ocala and Surrounding Communities
According to labor analytics firm Burning Glass, there have been more than 1,400 job postings for registered nurses (RNs) over the past year in Ocala alone. That's up 366 percent from roughly 300 job postings for RNs just five years ago. The Rasmussen College Ocala School of Nursing currently serves students from seven different counties in central Florida, including Marion, Alachua, Putnam, Lake, Sumter, Citrus and Levy. The new nursing campus will be twice as big as the current Ocala School of Nursing building.    

"Here in Ocala, we are ready to update our nursing learning environment with state-of-the-art technology as well as expanded classrooms, skill labs and simulation equipment," said Dr. Karen Guty, dean of nursing at the Rasmussen College Ocala campus. "These new and expanded resources will enhance faculty and learning experiences as students develop nursing skills and critical-thinking skills that are essential requirements for today's healthcare employers."

About the Rasmussen College Ocala School of Nursing
The Rasmussen College Ocala School of Nursing campus is currently located at 2100 Southwest 22nd Place — about a mile from the site planned for the new facility. The campus will remain open until the new facility is ready to serve students. Rasmussen College also has a main campus located at 4755 Southwest 46th Court that serves students from the Schools of Business, Justice Studies, Technology, Design, Health Sciences and Education. The Ocala School of Nursing continues to enroll students for the following programs:

Practical Nursing Diploma
The Practical Nursing Diploma program at Rasmussen College is designed to help students launch a career as an LPN and can be completed in as few as 12 months.*

Professional Nursing Associate's Degree
The Associate Degree in Nursing program in Ocala is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is the path to a career as a registered nurse. It can be completed in as few as 18 months.*

Professional Nursing Associate's Degree, Mobility Bridge Entrance Option
Developed for the current licensed practical nurse (LPN), the Professional Nursing Associate's degree Mobility Bridge Entrance Option provides a pathway to obtaining an RN associate's degree in as few as 12 to 18 months.*

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, RN to BSN Entrance Option
Rasmussen College also offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program in a fully online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Entrance Option. This option is designed for registered nurses who have obtained their RN degree through an associate's degree program (or diploma and/or certificate) and are looking to advance their nursing careers through a BSN degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Rasmussen College RN to BSN Entrance Option can be completed in as few as 12 months.* 

All School of Nursing courses are taught by an experienced faculty of nurses in small class sizes. Programs also offer built-in simulation experiences in nursing labs and a variety of clinical opportunities as well as a focus on preparing for the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN exam. The Professional Nursing and Practical Nursing programs as well as the RN to BSN Entrance Option are also available with Flex Choice^®. The learning option allows students to take some of their general education courses in a self-paced format and at no additional cost. Depending on which nursing program they enroll in and how many self-paced courses they choose to take, students could save anywhere from 19 to 29 percent on tuition costs compared to taking all faculty-led courses.  

To learn more about the Rasmussen College School of Nursing, please visit http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/.

*Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term.

The Rasmussen College Associate's degree in Nursing program in Ocala, Florida, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.:
3343 Peachtree Road NE | Suite 850 | Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000 | www.acenursing.org/

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Rasmussen College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE):
One Dupont Circle NW | Suite 530 | Washington, DC 20036 
202-887-6791 | www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation

ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE:
Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college and Public Benefit Corporation that is dedicated to changing lives through high-demand educational programs and public service. Rasmussen College offers Certificate and Diploma programs through Associate's and Bachelor's degrees online and across its 23 Midwest and Florida campuses in a supportive, student-centered and career-focused environment. Since 1900, Rasmussen College has been dedicated to being a primary contributor to the growth and development of the communities it serves. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Rasmussen College is committed to helping change lives through education and making a positive impact on society through public service and a variety of community-based initiatives. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit www.rasmussen.edu.

Contact: Molly Andersen
Phone: 952-844-5647
Mobile: 903-920-4366
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Rasmussen College

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