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Dietz: Review Needed Before Allowing Comm. College Nursing Degrees

Mennonite College of Nursing
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A legislative proposal that would allow community colleges in Illinois to grant four year bachelor's degrees in nursing does not have the the support of Illinois State University President Larry Dietz.

He said a review of offerings at traditional four-year institutions should be completed first.

"There needs to be a discussion of the four-year institutions that are offering nursing programs to try to figure out if there is a need that's not being filled--what is that need. So, the right institution with the right location and the right program can meet that need," Dietz said.

He added that there are two compounding factors.

"By simply adding more nursing programs, all you're doing is putting more people in a queue that are going to get frustrated at the end of that queue because they can't find clinical sites. But before that, they won't be able to find teachers to teach in those courses," Dietz added.

Democratic State Senator Andy Manar is pushing a measure he says is fueled by a nursing shortage others say doesn't currently exist.  
 

Willis is a Bloomington, IL, native. During his senior year at Bloomington High School, he finished third in the "Radio Speaking" division of the state speech contest, the only year he competed.
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