The Adams State Nursing Department welcomed their ninth cohort in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. Pictured, the new recruits participate in an ice breaker during orientation on January 11.
The Adams State University Nursing Department continues to achieve goals and graduate well-prepared nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Jessica Goebel received her BSN last May and now works as an RN BSN at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colo.
"The program provided the necessary resources for the 2017 cohort to pass on the first try," Goebel said. "They gave us several Kaplan tools and really pushed us so that at the end of the day we were prepared for the NCLEX (the national nursing exam)."
Dr. Melissa Milner, chair of the Nursing Department, said they doubled the number of nursing graduates passing the NCLEX on their first try from last year. "We had twenty graduates pass the NCLEX on first try and three more on their second try." She was unsure if the other two have taken the test again.
"Melissa made the necessary changes to improve our NCLEX pass rate and to make us better nurses overall," Goebel said. "Melissa turned the program around and I don’t think I’d be the nurse I am today without her help and changes made along the way."
As the interim chair during the 2016/2017 academic year, Milner implemented new strategies to ensure successful NCLEX testing and improve the program overall. "I am so proud of our students and faculty. We all put in extra effort."
According to Milner, those who have passed the NCLEX were all offered positions in the profession. Members of the 2017 graduating class now work in Utah, the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Denver, and Colorado Springs, with several remaining in the San Luis Valley.
Goebel currently works with a paramedic, CNA and virtual nurse on the acute care innovation unit. "Our ratio is 9:1 and even though that sounds overwhelming, this unit has taught me great collaboration and communication skills. It’s a very team nursing-oriented unit and I highly enjoy the day to day challenges and learning experiences in my current position."
Milner said the Nursing Department faculty has a good combination of professional background. A new cohort consisting of 22 students started this spring.
"I believe this program gave me the skills to deal with just about any situation," Goebel said. "It taught me how to work through hard times that challenge your beliefs and thoughts. It also gave me the experience and confidence to be where I am today."
This past summer the Adams State Nursing Program was reaccredited for the next ten years by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
