University of Haifa program cuts time for degree-holders to become RNs

The University of Haifa is launching a program that allows those with a bachelor’s degree to receive a bachelor of arts degree in nursing in two-and-a-half years instead of four. The university is hoping to meet the growing demand for nurses with advanced training, said program head Prof. Efrat Shadmi.

There is a significant shortage of nurses in Israel. While there are 9.1 nurses per 1,000 people in the average OECD countries, in Israel the average is 5.1 per 1,000. In the North, the rate is even lower – 4.4 nurses per 1,000 people. The new program attempts to respond to that demand and the needs of the health care system. It will also allow bachelor’s degree graduates to enter into the health system and obtain a challenging career with many jobs available.

Tel Aviv University’s nursing school also has a two-year program for BA graduates to become registered nurses.

According to Dagan, who has been named head of the university’s nursing department, this program trains students to cope with the challenges of the health system and meet the complex needs of patients. This includes complex management of situations, economic management, integration in the treatment of patients with multiple diseases and more.

The new program – designed for all BA graduates in all fields – is unique not only in terms of its suitability to the changes and challenges expected in coming decades but also because it incorporates unique learning approaches developed by the department, including computerized simulations and courses.

“Thanks tools we to the unique have developed over the years, the program offers a high academic level alongside the understanding that students are sometimes family members who need flexibility during their study hours,” said Dagan.