VUSN’s Linda Norman, D.S.N., R.N., second from right, talks with incoming Lipscomb students Amanda Jones, Michael Jool and Meg Cashion during orientation week.
Photo by Dana Johnson
VUSN, Lipscomb partnership debuts
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing faculty and staff have welcomed the first Lipscomb University students as part of a partnership between the two schools.
Linda Norman, D.S.N., senior associate dean for Academics at VUSN, spearheaded the new program, which allows Lipscomb University and Fisk University students to take classes at VUSN.
The students must meet high performance standards during five semesters of pre-nursing courses at their home institution and will spend three semesters at VUSN. Upon completion, the students will graduate with a B.S.N. from their home institution.
“We are really excited to see where this program takes us,” said Norman.
“It allows us to give our partner universities a nursing degree program without them having the startup and growing pain issues,” said Norman.
“We also feel like it is part of our mission with the Medical Center in helping have more staff-prepared nurses available.”
The Medical Center offers a partial loan forgiveness program if students agree to work at VUMC for two years — something 28 of the Lipscomb students have agreed to do.
During their tenure at VUMC, the staff nurses can accrue additional benefits of receiving 12 credit hours per year toward their master's courses.
Jenni Anderson, a 21-year-old junior, said, “I've been here just three days, but am already impressed with the new teaching styles.”
Lipscomb senior Michael Jool plans to make the most of this experience and hopes to become a VUMC staff nurse.