ELKIN, N.C. — Hugh Chatham Health (HCH) has partnered with Appalachian State University’s Nursing program to provide the health care network’s registered nurses a tuition-free pathway to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. The Hugh Chatham Health Foundation is covering the entire cost of tuition for employed nurses who apply, meet health system criteria, and are accepted into App State’s RN to BSN online program; in addition, the foundation is also covering the cost of any prerequisite courses needed.
App State’s RN to BSN is a flexible, asynchronous online program taught by experienced App State Nursing faculty and is designed for working registered nurses who have earned an associate degree in Nursing and want to finish their bachelor’s degree. Through this partnership, nursing students will have access to resources and support from both institutions, as well as opportunities for clinical experiences at Hugh Chatham Health.
"We are thrilled to welcome the first Hugh Chatham nurses into our fall 2024 RN to BSN cohort,” said Dr. Marie Huff, dean of the Beaver College of Health Sciences at App State. “By providing free tuition and eliminating the barrier of cost, Hugh Chatham is making an incredible investment in the future of its nursing care and encouraging its nursing staff to continue their education and advance their careers.”
Katee Hettleman, executive director of the Hugh Chatham Health Foundation stated, “We are proud to support this impactful initiative that advances the education of our dedicated nurses, and enhances healthcare services for our community. Through this partnership, our health system is investing in the future of nursing and ensuring that our patients receive the highest standard of care."
Two Hugh Chatham nurses started the bachelor’s degree program in August, and a group of 18 nurses from the health system worked with App State’s RN to BSN coordinator to determine the prerequisites needed to begin the program in fall 2025. Cohorts who begin in 2025 and beyond will be required to work full-time at Hugh Chatham for two years post-graduation. For more information, contact Hugh Chatham Human Resources.
About Hugh Chatham Health (www.hughchatham.org)
Hugh Chatham Health is an independent, not-for-profit community health care network of physician clinics and an 81-bed acute care hospital that delivers high-quality, convenient healthcare to residents of the Yadkin Valley region of North Carolina. Employing more than 1,000 team members, Hugh Chatham Health includes a medical group with more than 70 providers across 24 locations. Headquartered in Elkin, North Carolina, Hugh Chatham has been nationally recognized for patient satisfaction, patient safety and clinical quality.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Nursing
The Department of Nursing in Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences provides an evidence-based nursing education in an intellectually stimulating and challenging environment that is designed to prepare the beginning nursing professional with the knowledge and skills to practice in diverse settings in a highly complex health care system. The department offers two accredited Bachelor of Science programs: the nursing pre-licensure program and the online RN to BSN program, designed for current registered nurses seeking the bachelor’s degree. The department also offers a Master of Science in nursing program that prepares registered nurses for leadership roles as educators, and will begin offering a hybrid Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in fall 2026. Learn more at https://nursing.appstate.edu.
Group of people wearing App State scrubs stand together
Hugh Chatham Health has partnered with App State’s Nursing program to provide the health care network’s registered nurses a tuition-free pathway to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. Photo by Chase Reynolds