Points of Excellence: CSB/SJU Nursing Program

Students

• Compassionate, hard-working
• Meets program learning outcomes and external standards:
• Pass rate on licensing exams exceeds national rate for baccalaureate graduations (86-96% last 4 graduating classes)
• Service-focused Nursing Club- examples include:
• Serve meals at homeless shelter
• Maintain a room at Anna Marie's House
• Highway Clean-up
• Blood pressure screenings

Faculty

• Committed to excellence in student learning
• Celebrate student achievements
• Forward-thinking
• Energetic
• Enthusiastically committed to the formation of accountable, high quality nursing practice in a liberal arts, Catholic, and Benedictine context.

Curriculum

• Strong curriculum to prepare students for nursing practice of the future
• Learner-focused
• Gerontology emphasis
• Careful integration of liberal arts concepts and Catholic, Benedictine values
• Semester abroad opportunity in South Africa for nursing students
• Strong emphasis on cultural competence
• Flexible, responsive to changing health care environment
• Meets curricular recommendations of national nursing organizations and the Pew Commission on the education of health professionals

Community Outreach

• HEAL project (Health Education and Assessment Link) 4 faculty provide service in multiple area clinic sites
• Student and faculty Research partnerships

External Reputation

• Fully approved by the MN Board of Nursing (1999)
• Fully accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (2002)
• Graduates fully employed within one year of graduation
• High demand program (> 100) first-year students selected nursing (fall 2003)

Current Initiatives

• Reconceptualizing and redesign of learning laboratory
• Significant increase in use of information and health care technology
• Increased faculty and student involvement in research