NSU Horizons Spring 2012

3 HORIZONS Nova Southeastern University has two new colleges: the College of Health Care Sciences and the College of Nursing. Formerly a part of NSU’s College of Allied Health and Nursing, the new colleges were created because their programs have grown dramatically over the last ve years. The College of Health Care Sciences will continue to serve 2,500 students at NSU’s main campus in Fort Lauderdale and at student educational centers in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa. It will continue to provide degree programs in occupational therapy, anesthesiologist assistant, vascular sonography, audiology, physician assistant, physical therapy, health sciences, and cardiovascular sonography. It’s the largest provider of entry-level physician assistant (PA) education and the second-largest provider of entry-level Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) education in the United States. The college launched the rst anesthesiologist assistant (AA) program in Florida and the fth in the nation. The college is also the largest provider of entry-level AA education in the United States. The College of Nursing will continue to serve 1,200 students at NSU’s main campus and its student educational centers in Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, and Palm Beach. The College of Nursing features entry-level B.S.N., R.N. to B.S.N., and R.N. to M.S.N. programs; an online M.S.N. with Nursing Education and Health Systems Leadership tracks; an M.S.N. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track; a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.); and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Nursing Education program. The nursing program also offers its students three high- tech labs in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Miami, providing interactive educational experiences using patient simulators. The Family Nurse Practitioner program also will feature patient simulators at the Palm Beach Student Educational Center in Palm Beach Gardens. These high-tech patient simulators have voices; make heart, lung, and bowel sounds; have pulses; and have programmable vital signs that immerse the student in realistic clinical situations. “We have had astronomical success in both colleges over the last ve years,” said Richard E. Davis, PA-C, Ed.D., dean of the College of Health Care Sciences. “Many of our programs draw students from across the nation. Our graduates have a highly successful job placement rate.” NSU’s nursing program was created in 2004 with 40 students, said Marcella M. Rutherford, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.N., interim dean of the College of Nursing. “Our students’ scores on their licensing exams have consis- tently ranked much higher than the state and national average,” Rutherford said. “The College of Nursing postprofessional and graduate programs are meeting the state’s nursing needs by preparing managers, leaders, and educators.” ACADEMIC NOTES NSU Launches Two Health-Related Colleges BY KEN MA NSU physical therapy students receive a wide range of hands-on training.