ACU has introduced it’s new School of Nursing this semester and it is a new experience for both students and professors. Nursing majors now have a new facility located in Zona Luce and students will be able to graduate with an accredited degree.
Like the start of anything new, there are a few kinks to be worked out. With a new school of students, it is not easy to perfect the curriculum the first time around.
“We as professors are not so much frazzled, but students may feel that way because nursing school is hard,” said Becky Hammack, Dean of the School of Nursing. “In any professional school, students may have a hard time adjusting to the curriculum.”
Despite the recency of the program, there are high hopes from both faculty and students.
“I think the first year is going to go very well,” Hammack said. We are still learning how to use the new technology and simulators, but we have a great group of students and a great group of professors as well.”
“There are some parts that feel kind of unorganized but it’s just because you can tell it’s a new program,” said Madison Martin, junior Nursing major from Amarillo. There’s a little bit of chaos, but I think they are doing a good job of figuring it out.”
The School of Nursing is using higher technology to instruct students and better prepare them for a profession in healthcare.
“It’s very innovative and a lot more high tech that previous classes,” Martin said. “It’s very centered around technology; all of my textbooks are online and we have different kinds of simulation labs.”
Students will participate in labs, simulations and clinicals where they will shadow real nurses to learn and practice skills that they will be able to apply in future situations.
“I’m excited for clinicals so I can apply what I’ve been learning and see what it’s like to actually work in the field of nursing,” Martin said.
Gaining acceptance into the School of Nursing is a very competitive process. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in lower-level curriculum, obtain their Certified Nursing Assistant certificate, become CPR certified and pass the Health Education Systems, Incorporated exam in order to apply.
“When I first heard that ACU was getting a nursing school, I was extremely excited,” Martin said. “When I found out I had gotten into nursing school, I was really excited and stressed but it was confirmation that I was following the plans God has for me.”
