Wholly
Bethel’s fast-growing nursing program teaches students to care for patients physically, socially, and spiritually—both here and abroad.
In sixth grade, Rachel Matz’s classmate was diagnosed with cancer. Matz spent a lot of time with her friend during the treatments and quickly learned that a “good” or “bad” nurse could make or break her friend’s day. This relational aspect of providing care—and its impact on patients—is one of the main reasons Matz decided to pursue nursing. “As a nurse, you can do so much,” she explains. “Not just physically, but socially and spiritually. It’s holistic care. It’s the whole package.” Now a senior wanting to go into missionary nursing, Matz is one of the 160 students learning how to blend healthcare and ministry in Bethel’s fast-growing pre-licensure undergraduate nursing program.
Nursing
Expanding Space
Changing Curriculum
With 2.5 million jobs, registered nurses constitute the largest healthcare occupation in the United States. And 587,000 new jobs are projected over the 2006-16 period, one of the largest numbers among all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Perhaps this is one reason why more than one-seventh of Bethel’s undergrad population is in the nursing program. Accommodating the growth in student enrollment, 39 percent over the past five years, the undergraduate nursing program at Bethel looks much different now than it did just two semesters ago, when it borrowed computer space from the library and tore down a wall between two faculty offices for a simulation lab. This fall, you’ll find nursing students taking blood pressure and other vital signs in what used to be the Dining Center (below). During the summer, the recently vacated dining area was reconstructed and now includes a classroom for up to 45 students; a computer lab; two general purpose labs that can be used for teaching, practicing, and testing; rooms for videorecording student performance; and three high-tech simulation labs. One of these labs is set up as an acute care environment, while the others simulate community, pediatric, obstetric, or psychiatric care settings. “We’re also purchasing new patient simulators,” says Sandy Peterson, chair of the nursing department. “‘Noel’ and ‘Baby Hal’ will allow us to simulate maternal-child clinical experiences.” Peterson was hired in 1981 to help develop the pre-licensure program, now accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. She oversees the department’s faculty members—now more than 20 full-time and 18 part-time.
But more than facilities are changing. In a major curriculum shift, nursing majors will begin specific nursing classes during the spring of their sophomore year, rather than fall of their junior year, as in the past. This affords nursing students five semesters in which to complete their necessary course work, instead of just four. In addition to increasing the length of the program, the number of students admitted has been intentionally and incrementally expanded from a maximum of 63 to 90 per year. “Interest has been ever-increasing, and we got to the point where we were unable to admit qualified Bethel students,” explains Peterson. Senior Chris Luedeman started in the program last fall. Previously a construction worker, the healthcare field never crossed his mind until freshman biology class. “I knew I liked science, and I really wanted to do something to help people,” he explains. So, he gave nursing a try and hasn’t looked back. “My love for nursing has increased exponentially,” he says. “The profession’s values, beliefs, and actions align so completely with what I’m called to do as a Christ follower.” As a male nurse, he is an anomaly. Less than 10 percent of Bethel’s nursing students are male, but Peterson says the
by Heather Johnson photos by Scott Streble 16
Fall 2009
Bethel University
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