Lower Columbia College’s nursing program has won state recognition, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office has announced.

LCC’s Rural Outreach Nursing Education (RONE) was one of five projects to earn a 2009 Workforce and Economic Development Best Practice award. The award, designed to honor programs that create jobs, build a skilled workforce and enhance the economy, will be presented in Spokane later this month.

RONE is LCC’s online, two-year associate degree program in which students can become registered nurses. It pairs students with rural hospitals and clinics, which can have trouble finding qualified nurses, Gregoire’s office said.

RONE “provides nursing education to areas of Washington that have limited access, helping address a critical skill shortage through classes delivered over the Web,” Gregoire’s office said.

LCC launched the program in January, pairing nursing students with hospitals in Morton, Republic, Goldendale and Port Townsend, Wash.

“At LCC, we have a nursing faculty committed to excellence, motivated students, and supportive community partners, a combination that is essential for the success of this project,” said Karen Joiner, coordinator of the eLearning Nursing program. “The RONE program is another example of LCC’s commitment to quality nursing and allied health education.”