A new plaque on the walls of the Eastview Campus celebrates five years of making a difference in the community. The Austin Fire Department (AFD) presented a plaque to Austin Community College District (ACC) to recognize the partnership to improve the lives of the most vulnerable residents in Central Texas through the Red Angels Program on Saturday, February 24, at ACC Eastview Campus.
“We are very proud to be a part of this partnership and of the great work that Red Angels has done in our community, ” says John Nation, ACC professor of Professional Nursing. “Participating in AFD’s Red Angels program allows our students to gain valuable community health experience as part of their RN-to-BSN coursework while serving our community, and we look forward to continuing to offer this great opportunity to our students.”
ACC Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) faculty and students with ACC’s RN-to-BSN program accepted from Austin Fire Department, represented by Assistant Chief Richard Davis, Lt. Kevin Glover, and Theresa Sifuentes. Mackenzie Kelly, Austin City Council Member District 6 also presented a proclamation from the City of Austin for the program’s commitment to the city.
Students in ACC’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program work side-by-side with the AFD for the Red Angels program. Together, they provide free in-home safety and health screenings. In the five years of ACC’s RN-to-BSN program supporting the Red Angels program, over 75 ACC students have assisted.
“I had a great experience with the APD Red Angles as I had the opportunity to reach out and help people in the community. I felt that we were making a real difference in the community as we were actively reaching out to help out community members. The APD Red Angels program enabled us to interact with and leave a positive impact on the community,” says Jacob Hudson, ACC RN-to-BSN student.
The RN-to-BSN program addresses a critical nursing shortage in Central Texas and creates a new advancement pathway for local registered nurses (RN). Registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma can complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Benefits of a BSN:
- Career Advancement: Many healthcare institutions prefer or require nurses to have a BSN for managerial, administrative, or specialized roles.
- Increased Earning Potential: BSN-educated nurses often earn higher salaries than those with an associate degree or diploma in nursing.
- Critical Thinking and Leadership Skills: The BSN program focuses on developing critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills. These skills are crucial for effective patient care, collaboration, and decision-making.
- Patient Outcomes: Studies show hospitals with a higher number of BSN-credentialed nurses have better patient outcomes.
For more information about the program and to apply, visit austincc.edu/bsn.
The presentation happened during the annual Health Science Open House. Check out a gallery of the event below.
