Chamberlain College of Nursing announces opening of Miramar campus in Florida

Chamberlain College of Nursing is opening a new campus in Miramar, Fla. with classes beginning in July 2011. This expansion reinforces Chamberlain's commitment to prepare additional nurses in the southern portion of the state in response to the growing demand for nurses. The Miramar campus is Chamberlain's second location in Florida; Chamberlain's Jacksonville campus opened in 2009.

“We are excited to see the opening of the Miramar campus of Chamberlain College of Nursing”

"We are excited to see the opening of the Miramar campus of Chamberlain College of Nursing," stated Senator Anitere Flores, R-Miami. "South Florida needs more well-trained nurses in our system, and we look forward to Chamberlain helping to meet our growing need. This opening is another example of how public and private educational institutions can work together to help resolve the nursing shortage in Florida."

In less than 10 years, the United States is projected to have a shortage of one million nurses, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration¹. While the Florida Center for Nursing predicts that Florida alone will face a nursing shortage of 20,600 by 2025², they also estimate that 60 percent of qualified applicants to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree programs in south Florida were turned away in 2010 due to lack of space at current nursing schools³.

"If the U.S. is going to prevent the anticipated nursing shortage, we must work to address the issue now," said Susan Groenwald, president of Chamberlain College of Nursing. "The current reports on the projected nurse shortage do not account for the increased demand for nurses that will result from recent healthcare reforms. By opening a second campus in Florida, we are increasing access to high quality nursing education to prepare nurses that the state will need in the coming years."

The Miramar campus will offer an on-site BSN degree program which includes a broad educational foundation and extensive clinical practice that can be completed in as few as three years of year-round study instead of the typical four years with summers off. The Miramar BSN degree program was approved by the Florida Board of Nursing at its February 2, 2011 meeting, and the campus location was approved by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools at its May 16, 2011 meeting.

Chamberlain's Miramar campus will be led by recently appointed campus dean Harriet Myers, PhD, MSN, RN. Dr. Myers joins Chamberlain with 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including practice, instruction, higher education administration and research. Previously, Dr. Myers served as associate dean of student affairs, associate professor of Behavioral Sciences and director of the Academic Success Program for Ross University School of Medicine.

"Chamberlain has a history of providing students with quality nursing education," said Dr. Myers. "I look forward to preparing competent, compassionate and highly skilled nurses during this critical time of need."

Chamberlain's Miramar campus is the 122-year-old college's ninth location in the U.S. The campus is located at 2300 Southwest 145^th Avenue and will be co-located with DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management, Becker Professional Education and a clinical location for Ross University School of Medicine, all part of DeVry Inc.

The new Chamberlain facilities feature nursing skills laboratories, including a simulation lab composed of an intensive care unit, a coronary care unit, an obstetrics area and pediatric beds, as well as two general skills labs and a health assessment lab. Chamberlain students will benefit from a student-centric learning environment enhanced by small class sizes, personalized attention from faculty, diversified clinical learning opportunities and a singular focus on preparing nurses for successful careers.

Chamberlain is currently accepting applications for the three-year BSN degree program for its summer class semester, which will begin July 5, 2011. Open houses for prospective students will be held on campus on Thursday, June 2 from 3-7 p.m., Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesday, June 7 from 3-7 p.m.