Alaska Pacific is proud to announce the establishment of new degree programs in healthcare, designed to meet the growing demand for a culturally competent and sustainable healthcare workforce in our state. The ‘AK Bridge’ Program provides an educational pathway for Registered Nurses to attain a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and undergraduate certificate in Community Health prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver primary and emergency health care as Community Health Aides in rural Alaskan Villages.
Robert Onders, MD, Interim President of Alaska Pacific University highlights the ways in which healthcare programs support mission fulfilment at APU: “The addition of these programs is part APU’s focus on delivering programs that are relevant to Alaska’s workforce needs, allow for education at a distance or with shorter periods of time in Anchorage, and are culturally relevant to the communities the students will be serving. “
The ‘AK Bridge’ RN to BSN program is a degree which gives registered nurses the opportunity to advance their nursing competencies and career opportunities with a program grounded in cultural competence and safety.
Academic Dean, Dr. Esther Beth Sullivan discusses the distinctive character of the AK Bridge Program at APU: “The AK Bridge RN to BSN program recognizes that nurses returning to complete a baccalaureate degree bring rich personal histories, diverse educational backgrounds, broad practice experiences, and unique professional nursing goals. As such, the AK Bridge Program combines high-quality, relevant coursework with a culminating senior project, ensuring that students can tailor learning outcomes to their individual interests, and enhancing their nursing practice within their concurrent professional environments.”
Admission to the ‘AK Bridge’ program is selective. Applications are due by March 15, 2018. Applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license and be in compliance with state Nurse Practice Acts at all times during the program.
The Community Health Aide program has provided essential primary and emergency healthcare services across Rural Alaska since 1968. CHAP has expanded to a network of 550 practitioners fulfilling healthcare needs across 170 Rural Alaskan villages, and this unique program has contributed significantly to improved health care access and outcomes in rural Alaska. With the undergraduate certificate and AAS in Community Health, APU will partner with Tribal Health Organizations to create rewarding career pathways for Community Health professionals.
The certificate program offers transferable academic credit for Community Health Aide training, and the AAS degree combines these credits with APUS’s Foundational Studies coursework in communication, critical thinking, cultural and historical perspectives, scientific inquiry, and ethical engagement to prepare students for career advancement or continuing education. Community Health students participate in training sessions at a regional Training Centers and provide onsite care in their local village clinic. Foundational Studies courses in the AAS degree are offered in a variety of formats, including all-online offerings for students in rural communities.
Students must be employed by a Tribal Health Organization as a community health aide or have previous Community Health Aide certification to earn credits for the undergraduate certificate in Community Health. Applications for the program are accepted on a rolling basis. A limited amount of housing is available on the APU campus for students during CHA training sessions at ANTHC.
More information about these programs is available on the APU website.
For information about program admissions, contact an APU Admissions Counselor at 1-907-564-8248 or admissions@alaskapacific.edu.
