UA nursing school offers students hands-on experience
Kathleen Hunt
Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: News
At the UA College of Education and Health Professions, the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing offers its students a progressive curriculum to better prepare them for the nursing profession.
After students graduate from an approved nursing program, they often receive on-the-job training, but those who graduate from the UA School of Nursing already have a strong background in hands-on experience.
Many of the courses offered by the UA nursing school incorporate experiential activities to give students a better idea of current issues in the nursing field.
The students in the UA program begin some clinical work experience as early as their sophomore year in the nursing school.
"All of our courses provide services to the individual client or community, as that is what nursing centers (are about), whether it is in the hospital, school system, community center, nursing home or other community agencies in which nursing is present," said Nancy Smith-Blair, associate professor and interim director of the UA School of Nursing.
Because of a shortage of nurses today, many student nurses see the need to be prepared to enter the workforce with a significant amount of understanding and experience in the nursing field.
According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in 2002, the nation's nursing shortage is expected to reach 29 percent in upcoming years, which equals 800,000 unfilled nursing positions by the year 2020.
"There are many science majors who cannot take advantage of the health care shortage because they do not have the proper training," said Jennifer DeMoto, a laboratory assistant at the Pat Walker Health Center.
"If you specialize in a field like nursing, the most important qualification you can have is the proper education and certifications," she said.
Also, the UA nursing school provides students a multitude of nursing volunteer opportunities, either near home or overseas.
The School of Nursing even has "a student organization that volunteers on several projects, such as blood pressure screening, health fairs, wellness programs, flu shots and much more," Smith-Blair said.
Through these nursing experiences, students aim to give back to the community while gaining a practical education.
After students graduate from an approved nursing program, they often receive on-the-job training, but those who graduate from the UA School of Nursing already have a strong background in hands-on experience.
Many of the courses offered by the UA nursing school incorporate experiential activities to give students a better idea of current issues in the nursing field.
The students in the UA program begin some clinical work experience as early as their sophomore year in the nursing school.
"All of our courses provide services to the individual client or community, as that is what nursing centers (are about), whether it is in the hospital, school system, community center, nursing home or other community agencies in which nursing is present," said Nancy Smith-Blair, associate professor and interim director of the UA School of Nursing.
Because of a shortage of nurses today, many student nurses see the need to be prepared to enter the workforce with a significant amount of understanding and experience in the nursing field.
According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in 2002, the nation's nursing shortage is expected to reach 29 percent in upcoming years, which equals 800,000 unfilled nursing positions by the year 2020.
"There are many science majors who cannot take advantage of the health care shortage because they do not have the proper training," said Jennifer DeMoto, a laboratory assistant at the Pat Walker Health Center.
"If you specialize in a field like nursing, the most important qualification you can have is the proper education and certifications," she said.
Also, the UA nursing school provides students a multitude of nursing volunteer opportunities, either near home or overseas.
The School of Nursing even has "a student organization that volunteers on several projects, such as blood pressure screening, health fairs, wellness programs, flu shots and much more," Smith-Blair said.
Through these nursing experiences, students aim to give back to the community while gaining a practical education.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
carolyn ramey
posted 4/28/09 @ 10:56 AM CST
I am excited to see how your nursing schoolo give back to the community as well as obtaing experience while in nursing. I am expected to enroll into college this fall for a masters course. (Continued…)
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