Nursing program rumors confirmed false
Melissa Graham
Layout Editor
Grapevines say that the nursing program is losing accreditation. When asked if these rumors were true, Nursing Program Director Karen Gorton replied, “Those are all rumors,” this was echoed by Divisional Dean of Natural and Health Sciences Dr. Jane Hopp.
The Student Nursing Association (SNA) refused to comment. Sophomore nursing student Kristin Freund said, “We walk into this program hearing that its closing down. [The rumors] just keep getting bigger and bigger. I’d kind of like it it to stop.”
According to the Collegiate College of Nursing Education (CCNE) the program is still accredited. Jennifer Butlin, the Accreditation Director for CCNE said, “The program is in good standing with CCNE, according to our records.” She also stated that Carroll College will host the next on-site accreditation visit from the CCNE in 2010 and will submit a Continuous Improvement Progress Report during the 2008-09 year.
These rumors are nothing new. The young program became independently Carroll from a professional relationship with Columbia St. Marys only six years ago and has lived under a microscope ever since. “There aren’t any other programs that are under as much scrutiny both internally and externally,” said Hopp.
Indeed, there are several different critiques the nursing program must take into consideration for program accreditation: accreditation (CCNE), testing scores (NCLEX examinations), professional direction, faculty assessment and feedback from clinical sites, alumni and students. A student advisory committee (Leadership Team) was also created to support an ongoing dialogue between students and faculty. Reports from these fields go to a curriculum advisory committee, just like any health science.
In an email statement from Provost Dr. Joanne Passaro, “Nursing faculty and students have formed a unique program Leadership Team to facilitate ongoing collaboration as the nursing curriculum continues to evolve to stay aligned with changes in the profession—some of the exciting changes this year involve the purchase and use of advanced instructional technologies and simulators, which puts our students at the cutting edge of their field.”
The committee has implemented some changes in light of recent program reviews. The NCLEX examination scores could be improved. In 2006 scores had a passing rate of 92 percent, but dropped to 82 percent in 2007, according to the 2008 HLC handbook.
“We would like to be one of the higher [scores], and we would like to be better,” said Hopp. However, with the newest curriculum revisions, she sees a positive outcome. Pasarro agrees, “as we end the semester, there are indicators that this [change] has been very successful.”
Those revisions have really clamped down on the student population. Some notes are no longer available online, less extra credit is being offered (and must be approved by the curriculum committee) and cumulative tests have become harder (whereas students used to pass a test with a 70 percent, they must now pass with a 72 percent or higher).
As an effort to keep the students up-to-date, some clinical time is being replaced by simulation labs. “One of the newest approaches to nursing education has been the use of patient simulators; this is just one of the ways in which traditional models of nursing education that included lots of hours in clinical care are being replaced by complex care patient models,” Passaro said.
While these changes may sound very strict, Gorton commented, “We are holding peoples lives in our hands, and if we screw up it’s their life. How can we get them to think critically about what they’re doing, so the best outcome for the patient happens?”
It is too early to tell if these changes are positively effective but the students enrolled in the program seem responsive.
“It probably will help in long run,” said nursing sophomore Samantha Larsen. She also stated that she’s read more from the textbook because of this change.
On the other hand nursing senior Becky Schillinger said, “If the nursing program were like this when I went through it, I wouldn’t have passed.”
These changes have also challenged the faculty members to work extremely hard.
“You can really tell that the teachers care – they’re fighting for us – above and beyond,” said Larsen.
Hopp pointed to these faculty members in particular when asked about the program. “The amount of time the nursing faculty has put in to revise the program and work with the students to implement the program attests to its quality,” said Hopp.
Current Nursing Director Gorton will be resigning this year to pursue a doctoral fellowship at the University of Northern Colorado and leaves with many blessings.
“[The program] is not going anywhere, for now anyways,” added Freund.
Freund’s opinion reflects that of the faculty and administrators who hope to put students’ minds at ease.