2014-2015 Innovations Magazine

i nnovations • 7 Dr. Linda McCash (center), NSU-CON’s first Ph.D. graduate. NSU’s College of Nursing— NSU’s College of Nursing has made tremen- dous strides over the past 10 years. It all began in 2001 when Dr. Frederick Lippman, chancellor of the Health Professions Division, and Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., former NSU presi- dent, first met with then Florida Governor Jeb Bush to determine why NSU did not have a nursing program. The successful meeting resulted in Dr. Lipp- man convening a committee to write a pro forma (proposal) for a new nursing program, providing the opportunity for licensed regis- tered nurses to earn a Bachelor of Science de- gree in Nursing at NSU. The committee, which was chaired by the recently deceased Rose- bud Foster Ed.D., completed its work in ap- proximately nine months—and Dr. Foster remained a supporter and consultant for the program until her death. “Dr. Foster was instru- mental in helping NSU obtain state funding from then Governor Bush,” said Richard Davis, Ed.D., founding dean of NSU’s College of Health Care Sciences.” At the time, Barry University was one of the few local institutions of higher education offer- ing this program. According to Dr. Lippman, the initial plan for NSU’s R.N. to B.S.N. pro- gram was to offer two evening classes and a Saturday course to accommodate those work- ing R.N.s who wanted to further their educa- tion and career. However, the program soon became a hybrid with one evening per week, and in 2005, the totally online format became available to students. Once the R.N. to B.S.N. program was ap- proved by NSU’s New Program Committee, Dr. Lippman reached out to two Broward County leaders in nursing education to develop the curriculum: Sally Weiss Ed.D., R.N., CNE, ANEF, and Diane Whitehead, Ed.D., R.N., ANEF. Dr. Whitehead became the first depart- ment chair of the new nursing program, while Dr. Weiss became the first R.N. to B.S.N. pro- gram director. “This was an exciting time,” said Dr. Whitehead. “We developed a full R.N. to B.S.N. program curriculum in two months and were ready for January 2003 with 45 students.” In 2003, the Board of Trustees approved the Master of Science in Nursing with specializa- tions in public health, nursing education, and health systems leadership. “I remember the ex- citement when we developed the curriculum for this program, attended the Florida Board of Nursing meeting, and received approval,” Dr. Weiss recalled. About 18 months after starting the R.N. to B.S.N. program, the nursing department ex- panded, adding the Entry-Level Nursing pro- gram. To assist in this effort, Dr. Whitehead reached out to longtime colleague Gale Wool- ley Ed.D., A.R.N.P., CNE. “It was so exciting to be part of a new program from its inception,” said Dr. Woolley. “We—Dr. Whitehead, Dr. Weiss, and I—quickly became known as the Three W’s and were empowered to create and fine-tune the curriculum, hire more faculty members, recruit and select entry-level stu- dents, and design a skills laboratory for our Continued on the next page... from Humble Beginnings to Cutting Edge By Marcella Rutherford, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.N., Dean; Matthew DeBruin, Director of Student Outreach; Gale Woolley, Ed.D., A.R.N.P., CNE, Associate Dean of Entry Level, and Linda Strommen, Ed.D., M.S.N., R.N., Associate Dean of Operations