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Nursing Program Expands its Capacity and its Reputation

November 01, 2017 - 1 minute read


two student nurses

California’s Board of Registered Nurses (BRN) approved CUI’s request to increase the number of students in its nursing program from 40 to 64, indicating the strength of the program and its reputation in the community.

“There is a large pool of applicants and we wanted to increase our efforts to produce wonderful, smart, Christian nurses for the community,” says Cheryl Smythe-Padgham, assistant dean and director of the university’s nursing program.

'In most cases when the BRN approves programs to grow, it means the program is of high quality,' says Doug Grove.

The demand for nurses is huge, she says, and especially for Concordia-trained nurses because “they understand how to care for the patient, not only their physical needs, but also their emotional as well as spiritual needs.”

“We teach them how to listen effectively,” says Smythe- Padgham. “Therapeutic communication is huge, both verbal and non-verbal. It could be we stop and pray with the patient and the patient’s family.”

CUI’s nursing program has grown gradually since its inception, building strength over time. Its reputation now precedes it. “When a student goes into a clinical rotation for the first time and steps into that hospital, many nurses will say, ‘Oh! You’re from Concordia,’” says Smythe-Padgham. “We’re seeing that respect in hospital settings.”

In addition to more students, CUI is bringing in more faculty and staff, partnering with more hospitals—and adding about 3,000 feet of additional classrooms and office space at the program’s off-site location in Irvine near the main campus. This includes an expansion of its skills labs.

“In most cases when the BRN approves programs to grow, it means the program is of high quality,” says Doug Grove, associate provost and vice president for enrollment management and program development. “Our programs have demonstrated excellence for many years, with National Council Licensure Examination pass rates over 95 percent. This also shows the strong leadership of our nursing program and the credibility we have from outside agencies.”

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