Posted: 8/3/2011
133 accelerated students from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) filed into Shriver Hall on the University’s Homewood campus on July 22 to mark their transition from students to nurses.
Joining in their celebration was Lillie Shockney, RN, MAS, CBCN, CBPN-C, Administrative Director, Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center and associate professor at the Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Nursing, who delivered this year’s commencement address, “Blending a Nurse’s Passion and Purpose—How Will You Make a Difference in the Lives of Others as a Nurse?” Shockney is a published author and nationally recognized public speaker on the subject of breast cancer. She serves on the medical advisory boards of several national breast cancer organizations and is the co-founder and vice president of a national non-profit organization, Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer.
The JHUSON accelerated program, launched in 1989, was developed in response to the nationwide nursing shortage to allow students who already hold a degree to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in only 13.5 months. The program begins in June of each year and ends in July of the following year. The accelerated program’s content, classes, and clinical requirements are exactly the same as the traditional 21-month program>; and upon successful completion, the students receive a BS with a major in Nursing and are qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to obtain licensure as a registered nurse.