(AP) — Registered nurses can now earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing in as little as nine months.

UNMC says its revised program, which is geared toward registered nurses with an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing, better reflects the changing environment in health care.

The change is part of an initiative launched in 2010 to solve Nebraska’s nursing shortage, projected to grow to nearly 4,000 nurses by 2020. The goal is to boost enrollment and graduation rates and accelerate programs.

The new curriculum reduces the required credit hours from 24 to 20, which also decreases the cost. The college is accepting applications through April 1 for its fall semester, which begins in August.