CROWN POINT Nursing and education go hand in hand on the path to quality healthcare.
That philosophy is prevalent in a partnership formed by Fort Wayne-based University of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony Medical Center, where a renowned nursing education program that has branched to the hospital campus has taken root and is flourishing.
The university’s nursing education effort at Saint Anthony graduated its first class Dec. 10 last year. Those eight students began taking courses in 2006. About 70 nurses currently are in the program, a number expected to more than double by 2012-13.
Degree offerings include:
- Licensed Practical Nurse to Associate of Science in Nursing.
- Associate of Science in Nursing – Slated for fall 2009 (pending final approval).
- Registered Nurse to Master of Science (Nursing Transition Sequence).
- Master of Science in Healthcare Administration.
- Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner).
- Master of Science in Nursing (Community Health and Education).
“I had a vision that the university could be doing more for health facilities and hospitals, as far as education. Sister Aline had the same idea that maybe we could bring our successful program to Saint Anthony. She contacted the dean of the school of health sciences, and, after a market survey and working through details and issues, we went gung-ho,” Kriss said.
Shultz added, “What a wonderful collaboration this is between the university and health systems ministries of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.”
Kriss pointed out that only one other Northwest Indiana college offers such programs.
“There are few options for nursing students there and we thought we could help with that. We figured there would be room for us. There have been growing pains, but it has been well worth the effort. The hospital and the community have made us feel welcome.”
She added the university’s nursing numbers are strong and growing each semester.
The Saint Anthony program, which has two full-time and five part-time instructors, is overseen by Janet Weirick, site director, and Margaret Stoffregen-DeYoung, nursing program director. The administrative staff includes three full-timers and one part-timer, all of whom have been hired since 2007.
Weirick said the courses, currently offered twice weekly, have student convenience and finances in mind.
“They can work while they go to school. We gain students because of that factor. We also rely a lot on technology to succeed and are constantly trying to be creative to improve our offerings.”
Stoffregen-DeYoung, who has been a nurse since 1980, sees other advantages.
“We empower nurses. Sometimes, going back to school helps them do things smarter and better. We help them direct their practice – to make sure they are reaching conclusions based on proof. These days, more front-line nurses are involved in gathering evidence to decide on treatments.”
As the demands on nurses grow, “we need to get them trained in the proper manner with the skills needed to do proper work,” Stoffregen-DeYoung said, adding, “Every step taken in education opens the mind more and opens more doors. Once they get their master’s (degree), the sky’s the limit.”
She and Sister Kriss agree applying Franciscan values to the program provides a boost.
“It’s about learning, leadership and service. We focus on faith, reason and spirituality,” Sister Kriss said. “USF nursing students somehow stand out – we hear that from the community. That goes back to the faculty and to the values-based philosophy we integrate into the nursing program.”
Future plans call for a USF School of Nursing to be built on 10 acres south of Franciscan Point, Saint Anthony’s new outpatient health complex, also in Crown Point.
For more information on USF programs, call (219) 681-6800.
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