PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix has announced plans to partner with the International University of Nursing (IUON) in the Caribbean island of St. Kitts to help stem Arizona's nursing shortage, according to recent reports.

Under the agreement, students enrolled in IUON's bachelor of science in nursing program will have an opportunity to complete their final two semesters at GCU and participate in clinical training at Phoenix-area hospitals. University officials will offer the program, which is expected to launch in January 2008, to IUON enrollees who are U.S. citizens, as well as to international students, who will receive work visas through sponsorships from participating hospitals.

GCU officials say the partnership could enable GCU to graduate as many as 90 additional nurses each year and hope at least 75 percent of those graduates will continue working at Arizona hospitals.

The Vice President of GCU's College of Nursing and Health Sciences anticipates that the partnership, combined with other local efforts, will help address the local nursing shortage as hospitals further increase bed capacity to meet care demands.