OHSU School of Nursing graduates inaugural Bend cohort
The Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing in September graduated the inaugural Bend cohort from its accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program, following 15 months of labs, simulations and hands-on clinical work across the region.
Launched in 2024, the program is a collaboration among OHSU, St. Charles Health System and Central Oregon Community College, or COCC, to bring OHSU’s well-established accelerated curriculum option to Bend and help the community grow more of its own nurse leaders.
Eight graduating students were joined by family and friends to celebrate the next step on their journey with a pinning ceremony in Wille Hall on the COCC campus.
The OHSU School of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science Program is geared toward people who want to change careers and become a nurse. It helps individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field to quickly earn a second bachelor’s degree in nursing. The first cohort of students began learning together in July 2024 in OHSU’s dedicated space on the campus of COCC, and built up their knowledge in the nursing skills lab, theory rooms and the state-of-the-art simulation center. The cohort also performed hands-on clinical work at St. Charles Hospital in Bend and nearby locations in the community.
Bridgette Bochner, Ph.D., RN, CNE, and her team have worked to guide the first class of graduates through the finish line.
“As the lead faculty member for this program, I could not be prouder of our inaugural cohort,” Bochner said. “From the start, our vision was not only to prepare skilled and compassionate nurses, but also to develop strong partnerships and contribute meaningfully to the health of our community. These students have embraced that mission by making important contributions through their clinical work, outreach and presence in local health care settings.
“Their graduation marks more than an academic milestone,” she continued. “It reflects the lasting value this program brings to the community. This first class has laid a strong foundation, and I'm confident they will continue to make a positive impact on the patients and families they serve.”
“OHSU School of Nursing has historically had a presence throughout the state, except for Central Oregon,” said Ann Nielsen, Ph.D., RN, a longtime OHSU faculty member who helped start the program. “Central Oregon is a growing area, and there’s a lot of important health care delivered there. OHSU graduates will bring significant contributions to that care. Launching a program in Bend is value added for the Central Oregon community.”
OHSU’s partners at COCC and St. Charles continue to support the program and are excited by the additional pathway to bolster the Central Oregon workforce.
“COCC is proud to partner with OHSU to host its Accelerated BSN program in our Health Careers Center on the COCC-Bend campus,” said Julie Downing, Ph.D., an instructional dean at COCC. “While COCC offers a strong Associate Degree in RN-Nursing, OHSU’s program provides a different pathway — one for students with a prior bachelor’s degree in a different subject to become an RN in 15 months. This COCC-OHSU collaboration enhances local access to nursing education and supports our shared goal of serving the Central Oregon community.”
“This is an exciting milestone for this partnership that is helping increase the pool of highly trained nurses in Central Oregon,” said Chief Nursing Executive Shannon Edgar, M.B.A., B.S.N., RN, for St. Charles Health System. “We are thrilled to have a bachelor’s degree option here locally to help develop exceptional nurses.”
The second cohort began its studies this summer, continuing to build on the foundation laid by the class of 2025. The Bend leadership team hopes to grow its cohort size to 16 in the next few cycles, as clinical placement opportunities become available.