An innovative academic program that strategically brings acting and nursing students from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 together is celebrating 10 years of successful collaboration. Developed in 2013, (Health Collaborative Acting Simulation Training) combines students from the (NAWSON) and the to perform simulated healthcare scenes that allow them to sharpen their skill sets.

Over the past decade, more than 100 theatre and dance students have sharpened their acting skills portraying patients and their families while hundreds of nursing students have been able to practice patient interactions from real-life scenarios through HealthCAST.

The program recruits theatre and dance students, who are coached to perform as patients or a patient鈥檚 family member, receiving simulated care from nursing students. These simulated patients provide realistic interactions for healthcare students to practice what they have learned in the classroom and in clinicals.

At the end of each simulation, actors and healthcare students provide feedback on each other鈥檚 performances, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to grow in their respective disciplines. In the last decade, hundreds of students from both units have participated in HealthCAST.

“I regularly play someone who is 80 years old with tuberculosis. It’s just a really good exercise for me because I get to play him in different ways. Depending on the healthcare students鈥� responses, he can be really grumpy one day or he can be very sympathetic to the people who are trying to help him…it鈥檚 really stretching me as an actor,” said student actor Kal膩 M眉ller, an MFA candidate at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

Collaboration provides critical experience for students

HealthCAST supports more than two dozen simulation scenarios across the undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula, as well as several interprofessional simulations that may include students from medicine, social work, spiritual care, dietetics, athletic training, education and pharmacy. In spring 2023, HealthCAST will support the education of more than 200 nursing students and nearly 200 interprofessional students.

“The collaboration thrives and continues to innovate and deepen the relationship between the sciences and the arts in its pursuit to provide transformative educational experiences,” said Lorrie Wong, NAWSON interim associate dean for academic affairs and director of the 东精影业 Translational Health Science Simulation Center. Wong was one of the originators of HealthCAST and brought the program to fruition.

“I would say for us, just that sense of collaboration and being able to put our skills into use with a real human and not necessarily a machine all the time. It鈥檚 amazing,” said undergraduate nursing student JT Kim who is on track to graduate this spring.

Related: Real drama benefits nursing students, February 2014

These simulation scenarios take place at NAWSON鈥檚 , a state-of-the-art simulation center that mirrors equipment and practices currently used by the state鈥檚 leading medical centers. The center provides a location where students, practicing providers and the entire health care team can gain experience and skills they need to provide safe, quality patient care.

“Simulation is a transformative method of preparing students, and HealthCAST is one of our best tools to shape our students into the kind of healthcare providers that you want taking care of you when you are in need of healthcare,” Wong said.

Program expansion

In 2013, the program started with two graduate assistants who served as actors. Today, the program now has five graduate assistants who divide time between teaching and performing with HealthCAST.

Our opportunities to work with other departments within 东精影业 need to continue to be explored because the benefits we鈥檝e had through this collaboration have been priceless
—Lorrie Wong

“HealthCAST is successful because of the support we receive from both NAWSON and the Department of Theatre and Dance, and because of the gift of time and talent given by our actors,” said Alex Munro, program manager at HealthCAST. “We could not do it without them.”

The program recently supported local and international simulation events, such as the COVID-19 Pandemic Contact Tracing Training.

“Our partnership has provided excellent additional training opportunities in psychological realism for our acting students,” said Markus Wessendorf, chair and professor of theatre and dance. “They must portray the kind of emotional depths found in more traditional theatre productions but without the nightly rehearsals and three-hour long performances that are required with plays and musicals.”

Current innovations include partnering with makeup students from the theatre department to enhance the realism for old age makeup and wound moulage (art of applying mock injuries). HealthCAST also partners with scenic and props students to enhance the realism of the immersive environments.

Looking ahead

Wong and Munro are excited about the future possibilities for HealthCAST and providing more rewarding experiences for students. Their future plans include expanding support of psych-mental health education especially for adolescent mental health, and support training using telehealth.

“We remain ready to support new innovations and trends coming up in healthcare,” added Wong. “Our opportunities to work with other departments within 东精影业 need to continue to be explored because the benefits we鈥檝e had through this collaboration have been priceless.”

Inaugural University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (SONDH) Director for Community Partnerships COL (Ret.) Stephanie A. Marshall, and her husband COL (Ret.) Dr. Charles F. Miller, donated $1.1 million to establish the COLs Stephanie Marshall & Charles Miller Endowed Director of Community Partnerships. This endowment will support the work of the current and future Directors of Community Partnerships, enhance student and faculty educational opportunities and fuel impactful community outreach.

“东精影业 thanks Colonels Marshall and Miller for their tremendous generosity and commitment to building and sustaining 惭腻苍辞补 nursing to ensure community partnerships,” said 东精影业 President David Lassner. “Growing our community partnerships enriches learning and prepares our nursing students for careers in a range of settings.” Lassner continued, “This is a powerful example of how donors can profoundly shape and enhance our academic programming for the benefit of all who call Hawaiʻi home.”

COLs Stephanie Marshall & Charles Miller are both 30-year veterans of the U.S. Army Medical Department. Following a distinguished military career, COL (Ret.) Stephanie Marshall, MS, RN, FAAN, retired as Deputy Commander for Nursing at Tripler Army Medical Center in 2005. An outstanding mentor to countless Army nurses, she was a key figure in shaping future leaders of the Army Nurse Corps. Following her military retirement, she joined SONDH as the first Director of Community Partnerships, where she retired in 2016 after serving 东精影业 for 10 years. In her role as the Director of Community Partnerships, Marshall engaged healthcare and community organizations to grow support for the school. She was instrumental in the development and funding of the .

COL (Ret.) Charles Miller served for more than 30 years as a medical oncologist with the U.S. Army Medical Department and was chief consultant to the Army Surgeon General. Following his military retirement, he served for 9 years as Chief, Department of Hematology/Oncology at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, where he continues to provide guidance on the implementation of the Hawaiʻi “Our Care, Our Choice Act.” Dr. Miller is a past president and current board member of the Hawaiʻi Society of Clinical Oncology. He is currently chair of the State Affiliate Council and a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“It is our pleasure to make this contribution to the School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene,” said Marshall. “As a nurse, I know how important it is to give back. This is our way of showing our commitment to educating the future nurses of Hawaiʻi. Nurses are a vital member of the healthcare team and it is important to us to ensure that the community partnerships at SONDH continue as a core element of the school and grow as needs evolve.”

Endowed Director named

Katherine Finn Davis, PhD, RN, FAAN, current Director of Community Partnerships, has been appointed as the first COLs Stephanie Marshall & Charles Miller Endowed Director of Community Partnerships. In this role, Davis will develop, manage and maintain innovative strategic educational and practice partnerships with the community.

Davis joined SONDH in 2016 and is responsible for partnerships and initiatives focusing on education and practice, evidence-based practice, interprofessional education and workforce development. She is committed to developing collaborative relationships between universities, healthcare systems, and government agencies to implement strategic responses to community and nursing workforce needs while engaging community organizations to inform program offerings and curricula in the school.

Like Marshall, Davis was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing. She holds a PhD in nursing and a master鈥檚 degree in nursing as a pediatric nurse practitioner from Emory University, and bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing from University of North Carolina.

“Stephanie and Chuck鈥檚 donation is a true testament to their generosity and leadership as healthcare providers,” said Mary G. Boland, SONDH dean and professor. “After successful careers in the U.S. Army practice and academics, their legacy in Hawaiʻi healthcare will ensure the continued success of the school and our students.”

Public invited to Virtual Endowed Professors event

In celebration of this generous private donation and in recognition of the four established endowments supporting SONDH, the school invites the public to a virtual event showcasing the appointed endowed professors.

SONDH Dean Mary G. Boland and the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene invites you to meet the Endowed Professors on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The online Zoom webinar will be held from 4—5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

for more information and to register for this free event.

This is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

After nearly 16 years of service to the University of Hawaiʻi, Mary Boland will retire as the longest-serving dean of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (SONDH) in June 2021. She has led SONDH to become a lever for local and global social change.

Originally set to retire in mid-2020, Boland quickly recognized that her assistance was needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. She postponed her retirement to provide consistent leadership and support for the school and university to traverse these new waters.

“We cannot thank Mary enough. She delayed her retirement by a year when the pandemic struck,” said 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno. “She has been indispensable to the state and the 东精影业 System in planning the COVID-19 response.”

“The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene is a key 东精影业 asset leading through education, research and service,” Boland said. “During the past 16 years, I have had the honor of serving our Hawaiʻi nei in concert with great students, engaged alumni, outstanding faculty and wonderful community partners鈥攁ll dedicated to improving health.”

SONDH flourished under Boland鈥檚 tenure, creating innovation within the school and the larger community. What has stood out has been her ability to successfully execute SONDH鈥檚 vision of a multifaceted enterprise that supports the mission of the UH through leadership, excellence and innovation. She has the ability to bring vision to life by leveraging the skills and talents of a team of individuals, while maintaining a sense of humility for those she leads by caring for them as people.

Leadership

At the helm of the school, Boland leads 105 faculty and staff, 414 students, countless alumni and several transformative initiatives, such as the and the program. She has worked to ensure the advancement of school strategic plans that promote 东精影业鈥檚 commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural values by developing a spirit of faculty collaboration, building a professional staff, and engaging with employers, alumni and community organizations.

• Related 东精影业 News story: Nursing dean named 2020 School-Based Health Care Champion, September 28, 2020

“She really looked at the entire community, private, public, federal and state partnerships,” said Stephanie Marshall (COL Ret U.S. Army), who served as the director of community partnerships at SONDH. “It was never just about the School of Nursing, but it was about how we can come together with various aspects of the state.”

Leaving a legacy of continued success

Boland leaves a legacy that has set the school up for continued success in the years to come. During her tenure, the school has added new endowments to support distinguished professorships and established multiple student scholarships and endowments.

She led three nursing and two dental hygiene national accreditations, expanded research and partnerships, and improved access to education and care. She supported the development of the to address oral health needs of young children.

Boland introduced the followed by the (DNP) degree. Since launching, these programs rose to and maintained national rankings and continue to attract students from all over the world.

Perhaps one of Boland鈥檚 most visual products of innovation is the funding, construction and operation of the nationally accredited . This center serves as a shared community resource that educates teams of students across all the 东精影业 health disciplines by providing a safe space for organizations to simulate updates to their procedures to improve patient safety.

“She has created tremendous opportunities for students at undergraduate and graduate levels. That was always near and dear to her heart, giving students as enriching experiences as they could get,” Marshall said, adding that she was able to accomplish these achievements through partnering with others. “It was always about partnerships. No person is an island. Her mantra was that we have to all work together and build those blocks for health care.”

The search for a new dean of SONDH is expected to begin in the coming months.

The (SONDH) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has appointed Lorrie C. Wong, associate professor of nursing and director of the (THSSC), as the inaugural HMSA Distinguished Professor, effective January 1, 2021.

This endowed distinguished professorship was established in November 2020 by HMSA Foundation to provide the leadership, expertise and research to implement and advance interprofessional education (IPE) at 东精影业.

Wong has been instrumental in the design and IPE strategy of health sciences education programs across 东精影业 and provides leadership for THSSC. Under her direction, THSSC was accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in 2014, and re-accredited in 2019, demonstrating the center驶s commitment to offering health care simulation training programs and services that are measurable, accountable and of the highest quality.

Wong was in the first class of 16 advanced healthcare simulation educators certified internationally, and currently assists in developing criteria for certification. As an expert in simulation learning, she has presented at numerous local, national and international conferences on the topic of simulation learning methodology and curriculum integration, and provides consultation and workshops to nursing faculty from across the globe.

“Lorrie is an innovator and visionary leader in interprofessional education and technology supported learning,” said Mary G. Boland, SONDH dean and professor. “She fosters team based interprofessional practice across 东精影业 campuses, the major health organizations throughout the State of Hawaiʻi, and universities in Asia. With the recognition and sustained support from HMSA, interprofessional education and industry partnerships will contribute to improved health care delivery in Hawaiʻi.”

A 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty member since 1989, Wong earned a PhD in nursing and an adult nurse practitioner post-master鈥檚 certificate from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, a master鈥檚 degree from Columbia University, and bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

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Students in the 鈥檚 College of Education (COE) and (KRS) recently teamed up with students from in a simulated interprofessional educational (IPE) experience to collaborate on a student-athlete鈥檚 “return to learn” plan.

The goal of this Sports Concussion Injury Management IPE experience was to provide students with an opportunity to work together, learn each other鈥檚 roles and responsibilities, and collaborate to achieve a common goal. The activity focused on students from each program working together on a concussion case study in order to gain experience with the core principles of IPE using Response to Intervention.

“Communication and collaboration amongst different professions is essential for our students, patients and community member鈥檚 health, well-being and education needs,” according to the Hawaiʻi IPE planning team, which includes COE faculty members Stephanie Furuta, Kaori Tamura, Bret Freemyer, Troy Furutani, Yukiya Oba, as well as 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Nursing鈥檚 Lorrie Wong, Sarah Pirani, Kal Peterman and Kimm Teruya.

Athletic training, nursing and (MEdT) students worked together to devise a plan for a student-athlete with a head concussion. The plan entailed considerations of returning to the school environment, as well as athletics with a focus on the medical condition. The students applied their collaborative skills and their discipline-specific knowledge in a simulated telehealth setting with a live actor from the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 via the 东精影业 HealthCAST program housed within the (THSSC).

“IPE is a hot topic within the healthcare profession, and Lorrie Wong really is the pioneer within the state of Hawaiʻi for not only IPE, but also simulation education which provides real-life clinical experience,” said Tamura, director of the KRS Professional Athletic Training Program. “We are so grateful that she kindly responded to our request to collaborate and led the team to develop our first IPE event.”

Faculty members from MEdT, KRS and Nursing planned the collaborative simulation activity with the following core IPE goals in mind: the values and ethics for IPE, roles and responsibilities of each profession, interprofessional communication and teamwork.

“Interprofessional team collaboration is essential to providing safe quality care for the people of Hawaiʻi,” said Wong, an associate professor and director of THSSC. “This IPE simulation session expanded interprofessional education to include professions outside of the traditional groups of health professionals. This opens a new arena for our 东精影业 students to learn to work in teams with the goal to improve health outcomes for our patients.”

Health care leaders here at home and around the world recognize that teamwork is critical to the delivery of safe patient care while recognizing that such efforts do not come naturally to health sciences students or practitioners who are trained with distinctly different philosophical worldviews to meet specific roles. Anchored by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 东精影业 Translational Health Science Simulation Center (THSSC), the Hawaiʻi Interprofessional Education (HIPE) program prepares 东精影业 health sciences students for team-based practice to improve health care quality and value in Hawaiʻi.

Team-based learning will translate into safe, quality care for our community.
—Mary G. Boland, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Nursing Dean

has committed $1 million to support the statewide expansion of Interprofessional Education (IPE) at 东精影业 and to establish the endowed HMSA Distinguished Professorship in IPE to provide the leadership, expertise and research needed to implement and advance the HIPE program. This gift will create an infrastructure that supports and coordinates innovative experiential team-based learning experiences, while supporting the expansion of the IPE program and building on the past successes of HIPE.

“This initiative is aligned with HMSA鈥檚 mission to create a healthier Hawaiʻi,“ said HMSA President and CEO Mark Mugiishi. “The transition to focus on team-based care will lead to improved patient safety and care, which will ultimately transform our health care system.”

“We are grateful for HMSA Foundation鈥檚 commitment to enhancing interprofessional education for 东精影业 students. Team-based learning will translate into safe, quality care for our community,” said Mary G. Boland, dean and professor of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. “Our 东精影业 students will be better practitioners with the skills needed to work together in the constantly changing and dynamic healthcare landscape.”

Preparing students for team-based practice

The World Health Organization defines interprofessional education as when students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes. Students from the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, of Medicine, , , 东精影业 Hilo , and other 东精影业 health professions participate in HIPE learning experiences. The mission of the HIPE program is to prepare all health profession students to collaborate in teams to provide a safe, effective and sustainable patient/consumer-centered and community/population oriented health care system.

“Interprofessional education has taught me that while I will have a specific role as a pharmacist, I will be able to partner with my colleagues in other professions so we can build on the strengths of each other to provide patient care,” said Josephine K.S. McDonald, a 东精影业 Hilo College of Pharmacy student pharmacist. “By working together, we can provide our patients with optimal care.”

The demand for effective teamwork and collaboration is growing very rapidly and there is a sense of urgency, beyond national accreditation requirements, to prepare students for team-based practice to improve healthcare quality and value. Building capacity in teamwork and collaboration is a key to transforming the delivery of healthcare.

Since 2016, the HIPE program has delivered year-round technology supporting simulated learning experiences to prepare students for team-based practice. The IPE curriculum is built on the Interprofessional Collaboration Core Competency model and provides a clear path for the involvement of nursing, pharmacy and medicine, with social work and public health to focus on the overall improvement of health for the people of Hawaiʻi.

“As a practicing nurse, the interprofessional education I received from 东精影业 reinforced the idea that I have resources available to me and alleviates the pressure of feeling like I have to know everything,” said Dennis Ho, a 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Nursing master鈥檚 degree student. “The interprofessional learning opportunities at 东精影业 gave me the experience and tools to effectively operate within a patient-centered care team.”

With the expansion of the HIPE program, 东精影业 plans to create a statewide advisory committee comprised of the 东精影业 health care professional schools and allied health programs, community representatives and local health care agencies.

Interprofessional education at 东精影业 is anchored at the . .

For inquiries about giving to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Nursing, please contact Karla Zarate-Ramirez, associate VP, Major Gifts at (808) 956-2906 or email Karla.Zarate-Ramirez@uhfoundation.org.

For the first time, the Hawaiʻi Interprofessional Team Collaboration Simulation was held online to simulate interprofessional discharge planning. The one-day session held on Thursday, April 2, provided 118 University of Hawaiʻi health science students the opportunity to work as a team, planning care for a simulated geriatric client.

Typically, the event is conducted at the (东精影业 THSSC) located at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Nursing. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 东精影业 THSSC staff quickly converted the event to an online format.

The students come from various health science units at 东精影业, including the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 , , Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, and UH Hilo .

The School of Social Work was instrumental in the implementation of Zoom breakout rooms. Using Zoom, students broke out into small groups of interprofessional teams to create discharge plans for a geriatric patient with multiple medical problems. Working as a team and relying on each profession鈥檚 specialized focus, groups developed discharge plans for the patient to ensure a successful transition home.

Following the planning, student teams conducted a live discharge meeting with a family member of the geriatric client. The actor playing the role of the family member was a graduate student from the HealthCAST program, a collaboration of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 nursing and the and Dance. The simulation activity allowed students to develop their teamwork and communication skills.

“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact that we are starting to see emerge in Hawaiʻi, the Hawaii Interprofessional Education (HIPE) committee and I firmly believed in the importance of moving this simulation online to provide our students with this valuable learning experience,” said Lorrie Wong, director of 东精影业 Translational Health Science Simulation Center and member of the HIPE committee. “Now more than ever, effective and efficient interprofessional team approaches are necessary to ensure the delivery of quality and safe patient-centered care.”

The HIPE committee was created by the 东精影业 Council of Health Sciences. HIPE expands cross-school collaboration in education, strengthens areas of common interest and provides an open forum to address health and social welfare-related issues in education.

When Kiki Thurston was a kid, her little brother spent a lot of time in the hospital with pneumonia because of his asthma. Thurston recalls being scared sometimes but fondly remembered the nurses who were so caring and kind. It made a lasting impression on her.

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Thurston graduated from Kalani High School and enrolled at the as a student. Although she knew she liked science, it wasn鈥檛 until part way through her first semester after seeing a video about the did she realize she wanted to become a nurse. To become like the nurses who made a positive impact on her as a child. She wanted to care for people, like those nurses did for her brother.

Thurston has excelled as a student in the nursing program in the . In her senior year, she was elected president of the (SNA) at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and served as a . She was awarded numerous scholarships and received the 2018 American Organization of Nurse Executives Hawaiʻi Chapter Leadership Award and the 2019 National Student Nurses Association Ambassador Award.

Leadership opportunities build experience

As president of SNA, she demonstrated commitment and service to nursing students, the school, the people of Hawaiʻi and the nursing profession.

SNA events have promoted interdisciplinary activities and brought students from other health related majors together. Thurston built strong partnerships with the school, the nursing honor society and the . She credits an amazing executive board for the success of SNA and feels that they have all grown through their shared experience.

Gary Glauberman, Advanced Population Health Nursing Program director and SNA advisor, served as a mentor and role model for Thurston during her presidency. He believed in her abilities and pushed her professionally to build confidence and realize her full potential.

Preparing to enter the workforce

Following graduation, Thurston, along with her classmates will sit for the National Council Licensure Examination, a standardized test that certifies candidates to become registered nurses. Thurston believes the education she received during her 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 nursing program has prepared her for a future career in nursing.

Nursing students take lecture courses and go into hospitals and community agencies for clinical experience. Thurston鈥檚 clinical experiences built her confidence and gave her a peek into her future profession. Thurston says instructor Bill Siegman is one of her most inspirational teachers.

“He鈥檚 a great nurse and really cares about his students and his patients. He does a great job instilling the warm fuzzy side of nursing,” she said. “He teaches you the ‘why’ behind nursing. It鈥檚 easy to get caught up in the tasks, but Bill always focuses on caring for the whole person. He doesn鈥檛 lecture this, he teaches us by example.”

Caring for people in their time of need

Thurston鈥檚 career goal is to work in critical care. She did a cooperative education internship through at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children in their pediatric intensive care unit. Thurston felt that she had a big impact on her pediatric patients and their families, just as nurses did for her brother and her family many years ago.

When asked about what she looks forward to most as a nurse, Thurston said “I want to get good at my job. I鈥檓 excited to do nursing work all the time and I know I can develop my skills more.” She鈥檚 also excited to work alongside the many inspiring nurses she鈥檚 met during her academic journey.

Thurston will graduate with her bachelor of science degree on May 11, 2019.

—By Desiree Uyeda

More than 40 students interested in pursuing nursing as a career toured the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on April 29. The Farrington Health Academy is a three-year program aimed at preparing students for post-secondary studies in a career in health services.

The highlight of the visit is when 东精影业 nursing students took the Farrington students on a walking tour of the school’s 8,000-square-foot state-of-the-art 东精影业 Translational Health Science Simulation Center. The center mimics Hawaiʻi’s leading healthcare agencies in design and equipment and features seven simulation rooms with high fidelity manikins— emergency/trauma, labor and delivery, two adult intensive care, pediatric intensive care, neonatal intensive care and home/community setting. An eight bed unit with mid-fidelity manikins and an adjacent two bed unit with static manikins have bedside electronic health records and computerized medication dispensing units.

Health Academy students participated in three hands-on, interactive activities including learning how to correctly wash their hands, testing their ability to read vital signs on mid-fidelity manikins and watching an airway management simulation and then learning to use a bag valve mask on a high-fidelity manikin.

东精影业 Mānoa Nursing has a long-standing partnership with the Department of Education and is committed to providing opportunities for high school students to learn about career path planning and college preparedness. The is designed for high school graduates who are dedicated to completing their Bachelor of Science in nursing degree in four years. With direct entry into our nursing program, a student’s academic path is secure. Students can have confidence that they have been admitted to the nursing program while they complete their prerequisite classes in a cohort based learning model.

Go to the for more information.

—By Desiree Uyeda