Nursing agreement connects Monroe to China

An agreement between schools in Monroe and China aims to provide more registered nurses to America and more college students to Louisiana.

A memorandum of understanding between University of Louisiana at Monroe and Chinese company Southern News Group approved Dec. 1 would help Chinese nursing students train for the national licensure exam required to practice in the U.S.

One ULM nursing faculty member will go to China next month to teach the 90-day program in English. The program begins with 50 students. Those who pass the NCLEX will come to America and work in a hospital setting.

"As the population ages and the nursing profession evolves ... it is so important we produce quality nursing graduates and provide that level of care," University of Louisiana System President and CEO Jim Henderson said.

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Southern News Group would pay for all associated costs, such as travel, lodging and salary. Funding will be evaluated after the first year of implementation, according to documents submitted to the UL System Board of Supervisors.

"Anytime we can expand to international markets it's healthy for the university," Henderson. "It's good experience for our faculty and develops their skill sets."

Although it would start with face-to-face training, the intention is to transition into an online program to reduce travel, according to the proposal.

If they qualify, the Chinese nurses can enroll in ULM's RN-to-BSN program and later its master's program once in the U.S.

Both are online programs, so students could complete them while working from anywhere, said Eric Pani, vice president of academic affairs at ULM.

"Nurses are not valued very highly in China," Pani said. "Often it is a low-paying job. ... Here it is a much better job situation."

Plus, he said, the need is here.

"There has never been an overabundance of nurses," Henderson said. "We've been talking about this (shortage) for decades."

And although the nursing candidates won't be required to come to northeast Louisiana, officials expect this agreement to positively impact Monroe as well as the university.

"Universities do bring new people into the communities they serve," Henderson said. "That increases buying ... and stirs economic growth."

ULM has a similar agreement with a school in Hong Kong regarding its Master of Business Administration program, Pani said.

The same is true for the Chinese company, which works with Lamar University in Texas, according to the proposal.