By TAYLOR MORRIS
Student Reporter
Northwestern is known for its prestigious nursing program. According to the school website, the nursing division is ranked at number 18 as one of the best nursing divisions in the nation based on academic quality, affordability, accessibility, and its high passing percentage.
Leslie Collins, assistant chair of the division of nursing, junior and senior students will be starting clinical experiences in various areas. Those involve students spending time with a specified nurse and patient. This experience will give students hands-on understanding and content.
The juniors are now in the Nursing Care and Family course and their second Medical Surgical course, so they be performing clinicals in these areas. Seniors they are in a Community course in which they study community health care in communities in Northwest Oklahoma. They are also doing their leadership capstone, when the students spend 120 hours in a 12-week period, two times a week with a specific nurse in a specific area of their choosing.
Senior nursing students also attend an annual event known as Nurse Day. Nurse Day is when seniors get the opportunity to learn about legislation and other events that will impact nurses and healthcare. It will be held Feb. 24 at the Capitol in Oklahoma City.
Nurse Day was begun by the Oklahoma Nurses Association. The event also gives upcoming nursing students the opportunity to discuss state questions that will effect nursing at large and also covers the topic of how to be a leader in health policy. Collins said, “Northwestern Nursing strives for our students to not only have a bachelor’s degree but also to be leaders and professional leaders.”