By Amanda Dyslin, The Mankato Free Press

MANKATO — Bethany Lutheran College has taken the first step toward beginning a bachelor of science nursing program by launching a search for a full-time director of nursing.

Eric Woller, vice president of academic affairs, said the college has been discussing adding a nursing program for more than a decade, since Bethany became a four-year institution.

But certain roadblocks, such as finding clinical space for students, kept the program on the back burner.

The demand in recent years for nursing has increased, leading Bethany to move forward, Woller said.

“It’s definitely a combination of a couple of things, including the demand for nurses. But also, anecdotally, perspective students ask about nursing quite a bit,” Woller said.

The process of developing a nursing program includes acquiring a state license, developing curriculum and gaining accreditation, Woller said.

A director of nursing will hopefully be in place by August to design, develop and implement an accredited and board-certified program, he said.

Bethany plans to use space at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato for clinicals.

“We’re a couple of years away from being able to say we have a nursing program,” he said.

While the planning is still in the early stages, Woller expects the program to have about three or four full-time faculty, as well as adjuncts, to teach classes and clinicals.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that, by the year 2020, 80 percent of the nursing workforce holds a minimum of a bachelor’s.

Woller said most health care facilities desire baccalaureate nursing candidates. Bethany’s nursing program will be among several other nursing programs in southern Minnesota.