LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – April 13, 2018
SOWELA Technical Community College’s Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN) has achieved initial accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). As SOWELA’s first class of Registered Nursing students graduate in May 2018, they complete their studies graduating from an ACEN accredited program, allowing those that wish to pursue the Bachelor degree in Nursing (BSN) to continue their studies at a four-year university.
Many schools establishing new Nursing programs do not pursue ACEN accreditation until after the first or second class graduates. Through the efforts of the leadership and staff of the School of Nursing and Allied Health, and with support from the college’s administration, SOWELA pushed forward with ACEN accreditation so that the first class of graduates could complete their studies from an accredited program.
“The achievement of ACEN accreditation for our new ASN program is a great accomplishment that was made possible by the hard work and dedication of our Nursing faculty and staff. This is just another great example of how SOWELA focuses its efforts on the needs of our students in helping them to transition into the workforce or further their higher education and training seamlessly and obstacle free,” stated Dr. Neil Aspinwall, Chancellor of SOWELA.
SOWELA introduced the ASN program into its curriculum in fall 2016 for students to begin working toward their registered nurse credential and to complement the health education opportunities already offered to students at the College. Successful completion of the two-year ASN degree prepares graduates to take the National Council of State Boards Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and enter the workforce as a Registered Nurse (RN) or continue their studies leading to a BSN.
For information about the ASN program, contact Dr. Wendi Palermo, Dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health, at wendi.palermo@sowela.edu or call 337-421-6594.
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates that empower learners in transfer, career and technical education to excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 80 years.