Bridges to the baccalaureate: engaging associate degree students

Institutions of higher education currently face a number of challenges including an increasing diversity of nursing students who are successful in the profession and who can care for patients using knowledge and skills that are evidence based. Transition of an industrial economy to an information-driven society affects how academic institutions teach and prepare its students to work in our globalized society. The Bridges Project, funded by the National Institute of Health, was awarded to pilot the integration of academia, research, and career development among a cadre of nursing students from a community college. This article will share findings from this 3-year project.