The 10 most preferred nursing programs 2017

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BYU College of Nursing Instilling Nursing Ethos through Advanced Simulation-based Learning

Editorial

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hanging climate, hectic work schedule, un-balanced diet, improper food habits, severe-pollution level and sedentary lifestyle are taking toll on humans’ health. Every now and then we hear of some or the other new type of diseases which is impacting human lives. While precaution is always better than cure, it is not always the case. Sometimes diseases enter your house and body without even ringing the doorbell. Diseases make people suffer and if it is an endemic, it could be fatal as well.

Nursing is an Exemplary Altruist Service that deserves Higher Remuneration and Admiration

A patient needs medicine and medical advice at the time of calamity; but above all, they need the personal care with compassion. The professionals apart from the doctors who truly care for you in those crucial times are “Nurses”.

Every year, millions of people from across the globe get treatments for varied life-threatening diseases like heart diseases, stroke, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Respiratory infections, Diarrhea and more.

Nurses not only take care of patient’s medicines and well-being but do everything that helps them to recover as quickly as possible. Many times empathy heals the wounds faster than allopathic treatment, and nurses play a pivotal role in it, since they have mastered the art of healing. They care for the patients none less than a mother while integrating one of the vital facets of human value i.e. kindness without having any personal gratification and profit associated with it.

Although it is one of the oldest and reputable professions among all, but one burning question which comes to my mind is: Are we giving back enough to the nurses? The answer might be NO. And this needs to be changed. The exemplary altruistic act of nurses at critical times deserve much higher admiration and better allowances that can match with the magnitude of their compassion, love and care which they execute at the time of need. T R

Ashwini Deshmukh

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Pooja M. Bansal SENIOR EDITOR Jason Mendes MANAGING EDITOR Ashwini Deshmukh CO-EDITORS Jacob Thomas Poonam Yadav CONTRIBUTOR Debasmita Dutta VISUALISER David King ART & DESIGN DIRECTOR Amol Kamble CO-DESIGNER Alex Noel PICTURE EDITOR Shweta Ambilwade ART EDITOR Savita Pandav BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Helen Jones MARKETING MANAGER Steve Smith BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE Mary, Akansha, John, Sandra RESEARCH ANALYST Jennifer CIRCULATION MANAGER Robert DATABASE MANAGEMENT Steve TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT Swapnil Patil

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CONTENTS

COVER STORY

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BYU College of Nursing Instilling Nursing Ethos through Advanced Simulation-based Learning

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22 Industry Forecast

The Nursing Sector: Factors behind Massive Job Creation and Simulation based learning

Landmark Technologies Technologies that has Altered the Landscape of Nursing forever

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Astute Mind

Insight from Insiders

The Study of the Philosophy of Religion in the Age of the Internet

Big Data and Analytics in Higher Education

20 BARRY UNIVERSITY A Revered and Popular Educator of South Florida

28 Columbus Technical College Transforming Dreams into Reality

34 KEISER UNIVERSITY A Premier Nursing University Shaping Future Leaders

40 POLK STATE COLLEGE Robust Curriculum and Superior Training Soar its Popularity to the Next level

42 YAVAPAI COLLEGE Transforming Future through Practical Training and Rigorous Evaluation Process

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Nursing Programs 2017 Colleges that are Fostering Exceptional Nursing Ethos and Skills for Future Success

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rudite faculty, robust industry-oriented curriculum, advanced simulation-based training environment, and excellent placements services are the fundamentals pillars of a nursing college. Colleges built on such strong pillars have the potential to transform the dreams of nursing students into reality. Such colleges not only provide plethora of lucrative career opportunities to students but also prepare them to lead in the field of nursing. Such colleges essentially play a pivotal role in nurturing superior healthcare professionals. Considering the eminence of nursing colleges in crafting a healthier society, we have come up with an exclusive issue of “The 10 Most Preferred Nursing Programs 2017”. This issue covers some of most exceptional nursing colleges in the USA that has built a strong repute of providing qualitative nursing education with a glorious history of student success.

On the cover page, we have featured BYU College of Nursing. This is one of the prominent nursing colleges whose mission is to promote healthcare for the suffering, engage in the scholarship of the discipline, invite the spirit of health and healing, and lead with faith and integrity. They provide a community of scholars and educators which engaged in the discovery and application of the Healer’s Art that promotes health and healing and enhances the discipline of nursing.

We have also featured Polk State College which is delivering the best with its half-a-century experience in teaching promoting innovation and advanced learning practices in nursing. Barry University is fostering competent, thoughtful, ethical, and compassionate healthcare professionals with an International reputation.

Keiser University’s nursing degree program is an evidence-based approach to educate a diverse student body into the practice of nursing, while reflecting the best traditions of the art and science of the nursing profession. Columbus Technical College is marching ahead with the noble vision of crafting vibrant communities by delivering hope, opportunity and economic empowerment through advanced curriculum.

Yavapai College has a glorious past of over 50 years of providing quality education at low cost in Yavapai County, Arizona.

Apart from these colleges, we are also listing some other prominent nursing colleges that are known for their excellent teaching methodology. University of Tampa, Lewis–Clark State College, Ottawa University, and Saint Xavier University are among them.

We bring you some interesting articles as well that are exclusively written by our in-house editors: “Technologies that has Altered the Landscape of Nursing forever” and “The Nursing Sector: Factors behind Massive Job Creation and Simulation based learning.”

To give meaningful insights on the education sector, we have included expert’s opinion on topics: “Big Data and Analytics in Higher Education” and “The Study of the Philosophy of Religion in the Age of the Internet” written by Dr. Marcus D. Childress and Dr. J. Brian Huffling respectively.

So flip through the pages and spread the light. T R

Cover Story

BYU

College of Nursing: Instilling Nursing Ethos through Advanced Simulation-based Learning

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ur mission is to develop professional nurses who promote healthcare for the suffering, engage in the scholarship of the discipline, invite the Spirit of health and healing, and lead with faith and integrity.

Nursing is a profession which is built on the pillars of altruism. People admire and respect this profession due to the reverence and the compassionate care nurses deliver at the time of a calamity. But to inculcate this core ethos, one needs robust curriculum and an advanced simulationbased learning environment that empowers students to uncover and fortify the humane values along with the core technical aspects associated with the profession. One such prominent University providing popular nursing courses across the globe is Brigham Young University (BYU).

BYU College of Nursing

Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private research university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated

by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and is one of the largest and prominent religious universities in the United States with 33,363 on-campus students. BYU College of Nursing is one of the 10 colleges that make up the university.

The BYU’s College of Nursing started in the year 1952 with the vision of providing “a community of scholars and educators which engaged in the discovery and application of the Healer’s Art that promotes health and healing and enhances the discipline of nursing.” Soon after its establishment, the College of Nursing had seen a surge in the admissions with 80 students registered in the pilot batch. That was a significant accomplishment for BYU in its very first year, since only 109 nurses had graduated the previous year in the entire state of Utah. Since then the college has grown by leaps and bounds and has seen the attainment of state and national accreditation, the implementation of graduate degree programs, and the beginning of a legacy of international cultural

understanding. At the turn of the century, technology became available for simulated learning. A nursing learning center, directed by a national simulation expert, was established. High-fidelity adult, pediatric, and birthing manikins were acquired to give exposure to students for real-life scenarios.

Instilling Real-world Skills among Students with Advanced Learning Center Exposure to practical learning is crucial in any profession for attaining success. BYU understands this need; therefore, they emphasize particularly on practical learning in all their academic programs. With the praiseworthy intention of instilling real-world knowledge in students, BYU has opened Mary Jane Rawlinson Geertsen Nursing Learning Center (NLC) with the humanitarian assistance of $4 million from Fritz B. Burns Foundation. The gigantic 11,000+ square foot learning center is well equipped with advanced learning equipment and includes six fullsimulation experience rooms with high-fidelity manikins, four debriefing rooms, five exam rooms, and a nine-bed skill

lab. The ultimate objective of opening this center is to provide students an environment where they can gain skills and practice with medical equipment which they may not encounter routinely until their actual professional career begins. BYU believes that not only advanced infrastructure but quality training and supervision are also needed for preparing students for future success. Therefore, the college provides all of these world-class learning facilities in a safe and team driven environment under the supervision of expert faculties, who also provide insightful feedback to students at the time of need.

Popular Courses Offered by the BYU College of Nursing BYU College of Nursing offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (B.S.) degree in Nursing with the goal of preparing nursing students for a promising professional future and a Christ-centered life. The baccalaureate program leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. With the intake of only 384 students per year (92% female; 8% male), it is a highlycompetitive limited enrollment program (64 students are accepted each semester with a 48% acceptance rate). Students enter the nursing program in their sophomore year, and the whole coursework takes six semesters. During the 2016-17 academic year, 57% of undergraduate students came from areas outside of Utah, representing 32 states and ďŹ ve foreign countries. An entering GPA of 3.82 and ACT score of 28 is required to take admission into this prestigious college.

The graduate program culminates into a Master of Science (M.S.) degree after 26 months of study. With 45 students (73% female; 27% male), it prepares graduates for advanced nursing practice as Family Nurse Practitioners and for a leadership role in the profession of nursing (15 students admitted each year, with 31% acceptance rate; average entering GPA is 3.76).

Accreditation and Associations of College The college has been following the utmost guiding principles laid by varied premier nursing regulatory bodies of the USA. It has been associated with National League for Nursing (NLN) in the past. And currently, the college has received accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) with a certiďŹ cate granted to operate through 2026.

Patricia K. Ravert Dean BYU College of Nursing

Brain behind the Simulation based Training Patricia K. Ravert is the Dean of the College of Nursing since August, 2012. She is a PhD in nursing with 20+ years of vast professional experience. Patricia is a pioneer in nursing simulation and is a national leader in the development of virtual learning scenarios. After being appointed as the Coordinator for Nursing Learning Center and Clinical Simulation Laboratory, Patricia focused immensely on increasing the amount of simulation training used in the College’s curriculum. Under her direction, the College has created the multimillion-dollar Mary Jane Rawlinson Geertsen Nursing Learning Center (NLC), a unique facility that combines leading-edge simulation technology with innovative teaching methods to help students bridge the gap between studying didactic theories and employing skills in clinical rotations. She is one of nine national experts for the initial NLN/Laerdal Medical Simulation Innovation Resource Center (SIRC) project.

Her profound knowledge and passion to make a distinct mark in the field of nursing earned her many prestigious awards and fellowships. In March 2015, Mometrix Test Preparation released a listing of the 30 most influential nursing deans in the nation. Patricia was at the 19th position on that list. She also holds Fellowships in the American Academy of Nursing and the Academy of Nursing Education and has served on the board of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).

Noted Alumni and Prominent Faculties Dallas L Earnshaw, one of the most notable alumni currently serving in Utah State Hospital as a Superintendent. He is recognized as one of the first administrators to bring the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) sponsored programs into the hospital setting. He is also a board-certified clinical nurse specialist in adult psychiatry and oversaw the development of one of the first electronic health records in a state psychiatric hospital.

Mary Ellen Edmunds is a prominent public speaker, author, and nurse. She is an alumnus who has also served as a faculty member in the BYU College of Nursing. She has worked as a missionary in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, and Indonesia and also directed a child health project in Nigeria, West Africa. In the recent past, she had also served as a member of the Relief Society general board for eleven years as a Director of Training at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.

Elaine Sorensen Marshall is one of the prominent faculties in the BYU College of Nursing who also served as the chairperson of the Department of Health Restoration and Care Systems Management, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing, San Antonio in the past; and a former dean of the BYU College of Nursing. She has authored four books and has published more than 50 peerreviewed journal articles, as well as 11 book chapters.

Julie Valentine is currently an assistant professor and also a certified adult sexual assault nurse. Julie focuses on multidisciplinary, collaborative research studies uniting the various disciplines in sexual assault case reform to benefit victims and case processing. Her profound knowledge about assault cases has resulted in the prosecution of many cases.

Career Opportunities ahead in the Field of Nursing A certiďŹ ed nurse can choose a wide range of services after completing graduation such as providing healthcare services, monitoring patient progress, educating patients and their families about their health condition or disease and explaining various medical care options to provide a full spectrum of care. Individuals who complete the master’s degree programs can also practice as a family nurse. The quality of education and association with many medical institutions in the area is delivering a 100% employment rate for their nursing graduates.

Apart from academics, The BYU also emphasizes on the extracurricular activities for the holistic development of their student and hence they encourage them to take part in various on-campus clubs like the rugby team, cheer squad, track team, ballroom team, and youth symphony.

A Top Ranking College with Top Class Results Robust curriculum, quality training, and dedicated supervision by faculties always resulted in student’s success in real life exams. BYU College of nursing feels proud when it sees that their teaching is helping students to qualify crucial nursing exams. Last year, in the nursing licensure examination (NCLEX-RN), more than 97.3 percent students who had appeared for the very first time cleared the examination with flying colors. This passing percentage (97.3%) is far above the national average of 84.6 percent and the state average of 82.1 percent.

Moreover, their graduate program and family nurse practitioner students enjoy a thumping 98 percent pass rate on the American Nurses Credentialing Center certifying exam.

The BYU college of Nursing has won several prestigious awards for its services in the field of nursing. In 2016, the Nursing school hub, a leading rating agency, had awarded no. 3 rank to BYU College of Nursing in the list of progressive nursing programs in the United States based on investment in advanced technology, experienced teaching staff, and opportunities for learning experience while in school. Recently, BYU College of Nursing has garnered the number 1 position in the 50 best College Values Report, for its bachelorette program. T R

Check should be drawn in favor of :

555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754,(302)-319-9947

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Nursing Programs 2017 Name of the Institution

URL

Barry University

barry.edu

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161, USA

Brigham Young University College of Nursing

nursing.byu.edu

500 Spencer W. Kimball Tower Provo, Utah 84602

Columbus Technical College

columbustech.edu

Attn: Cheryl Myers 928 Manchester Expressway Columbus, GA 31904

Keiser University

keiseruniversity.edu

1500 NW 49th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, USA

Lewis–Clark State College, Lewiston

lcsc.edu

500 8th Ave, Lewiston, ID 83501, USA

Ottawa University

ottawa.edu

1001 S Cedar St, Ottawa, KS 66067, USA

Polk State College

polk.edu

999 Avenue H, N.E.Winter Haven FL 33881-4299

Saint Xavier University, Chicago

sxu.edu

3700 W 103rd St, Chicago, IL 60655, USA

University of Tampa

ut.edu

401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606, USA

Yavapai College, Prescott

yc.edu

1100 E. Sheldon St. Prescott, AZ 86301

Location of the Institution

Barry University's College of Nursing and Health Sciences: A Revered and Popular Educator of South Florida

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ur mission is to provide a high-quality education to foster competent, thoughtful, ethical, and compassionate health professionals with an International reputation.

Barry University is one of the leading learning centers in the South Florida region. Founded in 1940 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, it has expanded to more than 122 acres and 17 locations throughout Florida that includes six schools and two colleges. A student population of over 7,000, student-faculty ratio of 11:1, financial aid inclusion to over 90% of the students, and student representation of more than 80 countries tells the prominence of Barry University. The University provides a wide range of academic programs within Arts & Sciences, Business, Podiatric Medicine, Law, Nursing & Health Sciences, and more. The College of Nursing and Health Sciences was established in 2014 with the aim of fulfilling the dream and aspirations of nursing students by providing them with simulation-based learning and making them ready for varied nursing job roles. The success of their countless nursing alumni in their respective professional fields tells the quality of education that Barry University provides to its students. Forbes magazine also recognized Barry University as one of “America’s Top Colleges” for three consecutive years.

The University believes that practical learning (based on real-life-scenario’s), along with the inculcation of Catholic and spiritual values in smaller composition, makes the real recipe for a student’s future success. This belief, along with a rich and glorious educational history of more than 75 years, has transformed the lives of many and helped them to

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become an agent of change and leader in their respective academic field.

Prominent Nursing Courses and Varied Accreditations The college provides a wide range of BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), and Doctoral programs in nursing. Occupational Therapy, Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Anesthetists, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology, and Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion are some of its eminent health care programs. These programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

Distinguished Facilities and Career Opportunities Ahead An advanced, well-equipped laboratory with all the vital nursing equipment makes the learning environment more productive and effective. Barry University understands this, therefore they have built The Wallace Gilroy Nursing Simulation Center that provides students an opportunity to build their skills and help them to experience real-world patient situations using low- and high-fidelity simulators.

Along with this, the student-faculty ratio of 11:1 gives more personal attention and guidance to students. Even more impressive, over 80 percent of their faculty hold a PhD or the highest degree available in their field of expertise.

Barry University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences nurtures students to achieve their dreams to become a family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology, acute care nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse educator, nurse T

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scientist and more with the help of their wide range of advanced practice and graduate degree programs, as well as excellent placements services. The result of these facilities is that more than 90% of their nursing graduates either get placed in varied nursing roles or opt for higher education in the said field.

Accomplishments that Cements its Position as the Leader of Nursing Education Top Notch Nurses: Barry University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences was recently included in the list of top 20 nursing colleges in the state of Florida.

Prosperous Alumni: The Florida Department of Education found that Barry graduates are in the top 10% of good salary earners among the state’s 28 private, notfor-profit educational institutions.

Multi-ethnic Campus: Barry University is not only famous among U.S. students but among foreign students as well. A student representation from over 80 countries defines the acceptability and “growing together culture” of Barry University. Due to its multi-ethnic and widely diverse student community, U.S. News & World Report ranked Barry among the nation’s top 25 most ethnically diverse universities in 2014.

Hackathon Winner: In a recent SimGHOSTS simulation conference in Raleigh, NC, Barry’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences team, led by nursing professor Daryl Lazaro Hawkins, won first place for their design in the hackathon competition. Apart from these achievements, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences was recognized in 2017 as one of only 50 schools to receive funding for a White Coat Ceremony from the Arnold Gold Foundation in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Institute of South Florida; “Chairman’s Award” from the Beacon Council; and many more.

Notable Alumni of Barry University Dianne Goldenberg, who earned a Master of Science in nursing from Barry University, was recently named CEO of the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. As CEO, Dianne is responsible for all hospital operations, executive planning and medical services for the 199-bed acute care hospital.

Dr. Rick Garcia, a nursing alumnus of Barry’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, was selected as a member of HOSA’s Hall of Fame.

HOSA is an international student organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all citizens globally. Rick is presently serving as a director of nursing education for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. T R

An Administrative Reformer is Leading Barry University Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD, has served as the President of Barry University since 2004. Being a highly revered alumna of Barry, she understands Barry’s culture and educational process in a much deeper and better way than others. She is an excellent administrator and leader. During her tenure, the college has seen many administrative and structural changes that have helped the institute in shaping a brighter future for its students.

Sister Linda has also won many awards for her leadership, including: “Outstanding Community Service Award” from the South Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration; “Top Women-Led Not-for-Profit Businesses” from The Commonwealth T H E

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Technologies that has Altered the Landscape of Nursing forever “

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hange is the only constant”. This particular proverb holds true meaning if we compare the current state of nursing with the past, especially with the mid 1980’s. With the rapid evolution of technology since 1990’s, many sectors have witnessed tremendous transformation. Nursing is also one of them.

There was a time when one needed to keep the record of all patient details in manual directory, pump the heart manually to revive cardiac arrest patient, pump the fluid manually to patients and monitor patients’ progress continuously by being physically present at the clinical site. But speedy advancement in IT and other sectors has made nursing task easy and that too with increased efficiency, reduced cost and better patient recovery.

Nursing Informatics System: We are living in the digital age with increased evolution of newer IT technologies with each passing year. Even nursing has not been untouched by the evolution of IT. Nursing Informatics is one such IT solution that has become a buzzword in the healthcare field due to its capability to manage bulky patient information in a smooth and secure way than ever before. Its uniqueness is that it integrates nursing science with varied information management and analytical systems to identify, define, manage and communicate knowledge and wisdom that is required in the nursing practice. Storing, retrieving and manipulating patients’ data have also becomes an easy task with increased data redundancy and safety characteristics by using Nursing Informatics.

Remote Patient Monitoring & RFID: Remote Patient Monitoring technology enables monitoring of patients outside of the conventional clinical surroundings with flexible and increased access to care and that too with reduced healthcare delivery costs.

RFID is another technology that is getting used in large scale in the healthcare sector. RFID enabled devices make monitoring of hospitals’ assets easier with enhanced safety and security at low long-term-cost.

The Portable Defibrillator: Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of deaths in adults over the age of 40. Unfortunately only 10% of the people survive this trauma. The portable defibrillator allows immediate resuscitative action, even few minutes after the heart failure. It is a lifesaving medical equipment that is used in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. It is one of the must have devices in any medical institution that promises quality health treatments to their patients.

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Landmark Technologies

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nfusion Pumps: There was a time when nurses needed to continuously monitor the infusion of fluids, medications and nutrients into patient’s circulatory system to ensure a steady flow. Sometimes, based upon the patient’s condition, fluid movement slowed to a crawl and nurses were left with no option but to administer the whole tiresome process all around the clock. But with the advent of Electronic IV Monitors and Infusion Pumps, nurses are now free to initiate an IV and allow machines to regulate and monitor the process. Even if some errors occurs on the process, the systems have been programmed in such a way that it either autonomously try to fix it or connects it to the aligned nurse via remote monitoring.

The Sphygmomanometer: Gone are those days when nurses needed to manually check the blood pressure of the patients.

The arrival of Sphygmomanometer has altered the scene of how blood pressure gets recorded. Sphygmomanometer is a fancy term which also gets used to monitor heart rate as well in less time and with more accuracy. Depending upon the accuracy and convenience parameter, nurses always have the option to choose either between a manual or digital Sphygmomanometer.

Ultrasound and Sonogram Ultra sound is one of the most revolutionary developments in the field of Women’s health and pregnancy. It allows nurses and doctors the ability to see inside the womb and identify the health and overall development of baby throughout the pregnancy period. Now, with the advent of 4-D ultrasound technique, an unprecedented detail also gets captured for diagnosing fetal well-being. Apart from Ultrasound, sonogram technique is also considered as a vital milestone in the field of healthcare due to its capability to easily identify cancer tumors in the bladder, and to tell whether the liver is enlarged or not.

All these revolutionary advancements in Science and technology have brought enough relief and great convenience as far as patient treatment is concerned. Along with these, it has also opened new opportunities in nursing as well. Genetic nursing, Stem cell nursing and holistic nursing are some of the emerging trends in nursing. Genetics and genomics are essential to healthcare because they provide information in the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of diseases and illness.

Nurses with specialization in genetics will be in great demand as sequencing technology becomes more prevalent and it provides information in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and illness. As we are moving forward, we are learning more about rare illnesses and devastating conditions through genome sequencing than from any other current area of research. Therefore, this transformational research will need backing from a growing number of clinicians with a specialty in genetics.

With all these positive developments, anyone can rightly assume that the technology has altered the landscape of nursing forever, and that too for a good reason. And will continue to make strides for the betterment of patients in the coming future as well. T R T H E

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Big Data & Analytics in Higher Education “Big data is BIG!”

Dr. Marcus D. Childress

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Insight from Insiders

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he interest in big data and learning analytics revealed itself in the responses I received to the tweet “Big Data is BIG!” that I sent earlier this year. On my way to a smart education conference in China and in an attempt at humor, I hit send on this tweet, and almost immediately, the likes and retweets started pouring in. This exchange illustrated the popularity of big data—and learning analytics—among my few and newly found followers.

A quick Google search for images related to big data and learning analytics also illustrates the currency of these terms; the results page is a colorful myriad of infographic after infographic. The use of big data and learning analytics has the opportunity to transform the field of education. The same has been said about blackboards, filmstrips, overhead projectors, radio, television, and, yes, even computers.

Education researchers have been conducting media studies for decades, comparing television instruction to teachers, teachers to computers, and most recently online instruction to face-to-face instruction. For the most part, the conclusion has been the same: When it comes to media impact on learning, there is no significant difference. In the ever-evolving world of technology, it’s imperative that education professionals stay conversant on the current trends.

There’s a lot of data out there. Forbes magazine states that more data has been created in the past two years than in the entire history of the human race. Virtually everything we do in our modern society generates some form of data. We produce data on social media and networks. Scientific instruments collect all sorts of data. Mobile devices ubiquitously track all information, all the time. Sensor technologies and networks constantly measure an assortment of data.

Data are collected through the Web through searches, game consoles, entertainment networks, e-commerce, purchases at department and grocery stores, bank and credit card transactions, social networks, and yes, even colleges and universities.

Data in Education Student data generated through the education system can be sorted into two broad categories: institutional data and instructional data.

Institutional data include admissions statistics (high school class rank, admissions test scores), instructional records (past grades, program information), and accessed support services (library, help desk, counseling). Instructional data, on the other hand, consists of information related to grading (quizzes, assignments, participation and attendance) and learning management system and engagement (online discussions, content viewed, interaction with students and instructors, time spent online). Both categories of student-generated data can be processed via analytics. To harness this data and properly use it in teaching and learning, educators must understand learning analytics.

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About the Author Dr. Marcus D. Childress is dean of the School of Education at Baker University (Kansas, USA). He earned his Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from Virginia Tech. Dr. Childress’ research interests include instructional design, online learning, using virtual worlds for training and education, and the future of learning technologies.

His research has been documented in publications such as Distance Education, Journal of Research on Computers in Education, International Journal of Educational Telecommunications, EDUCAUSE Quarterly, and Academic Leadership Journal.

He is co-editor of the AECT/Springer online major reference work Learning, Design, and Technology: An International Compendium of Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, with J. Michael Spector and Barbara J. Lockee.

In addition to his higher education experience, Dr. Childress’ training involvement includes consulting with the Intel Corporation (senior trainer, Intel Teach to the Future); the People’s Bank of China Training Center; Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center; and the United States Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center. He is a past-president (2012-2013) of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) and has served on the AECT executive committee and board of directors.

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Learning analytics focuses on students and their behaviors, with the primary audience being learners and instructors. Learning analytics support learning goals by targeting instructional, curricular, and support resources. EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association dedicated to advancing higher education through information technology, defines learning analytics as “the use of data and models to predict student progress and performance, and the ability to act on that information.”

Learning analytics has the potential to help answer the following questions: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

What assessments (quizzes, tests) in a course are the most important predictors of a student's success?

When is a student at risk of failing a course?

What prerequisite courses are most critical to a student’s success in a course?

When should a student receive tutoring or counseling?

How many times should a student access an online course during the week?

What are the not-to-be-missed activities in a course that predict student success or failure?

Being able to answer these questions drives me to make my bold statement: Learning analytics is a true gamechanger. Online learning and improved processing power have provided an opportunity to gather and analyze student data like never before.

Ethical Concerns There are, however, some ethical concerns, because using student data for learning analytics raises important issues about student data privacy and how colleges and universities use and share that data. In addition, how a college or university acts on these findings may come under scrutiny. What happens when learning algorithms go awry and unintentionally steer students in the wrong direction? What about students who do not “fit” into the algorithm? Will their academic future be jeopardized? As promising as learning analytics appears to be, it would be smart for colleges and universities to think deeper and create policies and procedures that prioritize students’ best interests. Numerous other concerns will surely arise as we make our learning analytics journey.

Conclusion Will learning analytics transform education or will it find itself relegated to the dusty shelf with the audienceresponse systems—both underused and oversold? Time will tell. If I were a betting man, however, I would go all-in on learning analytics because I believe it truly is a game-changer in the world of teaching and learning.

And here is one final bold prediction: The ease with which we can gather data and analytics through online instruction and our ability to take action to support student learning may soon make online instruction superior to face-to-face instruction, at least until we discover how to collect such data in a face-to-face instructional environment. Alas, that is a debate for another time and place. T R

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Columbus Technical College: Transforming Dreams into Reality

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olumbus Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a two year public college which offers programs and services that support student and community success through the attainment of associate degrees, diplomas, technical certificates of credit, customized training, continuing, and adult education. The College supports the economic empowerment of its six county region by focusing on teaching and learning and developing a globally competitive workforce. We provide traditional, distance learning, and training experiences for career development and transfer. (TCSG SB 2-14) Columbus Technical College was established in the year 1961 and is a prominent name in the field of education. At the time of inception, the college had only seven instructors, 39 students, and eight academic programs. But it has steadily grown and today boasts an annual student enrollment of approximately 5,200 and offers 100+ distinguished academic programs in six West Georgia counties: Muscogee, Harris, Talbot, Stewart, Quitman, and Chattahoochee.

The college had started as a unit of Muscogee County School District and was named the Columbus Area Vocational Technical School in its inception year. In 2000, the name changed, and since then it has been known as the Columbus Technical College. In its 50+ years of a rewarding journey, the college has seen many expansions, recognitions and accreditations. On December 12, 1972, the college received formal accreditation from the Southern

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Association of Colleges and Schools. Later, Columbus Technical College was recognized by the state for their excellent educational services to the community and the college was selected as one of the only three technical schools in Georgia to pilot engineering technology programs by offering an Associate Degree in Applied Technology.

With the noble vision of crafting vibrant communities by delivering hope, opportunity and economic empowerment, Columbus Technical College offers associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates to their students in variety of streams including Nursing. The objective of their nursing program is to prepare highly educated, competent, and caring individuals to practice professional nursing within the service area and in a variety of settings.

Eminent Programs and Accreditations Associate degree in nursing, Surgical Technology, Practical nursing, Radiologic Technology, Medical Assisting and Dental Hygiene are some of the prominent medical courses that Columbus Technical College offers to its students.

Apart from these medical courses, the college also provides a wide range of business, trade and industry, and IT-related programs.

Columbus Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Associate Degree, Diploma, and Technical Certificates of Credit. Their nursing program is accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Education T

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Distinguished offerings that are shaping Students’ Future The Robert L. Wright, Jr. Health Sciences Center is especially made to instill the advanced technological needs that are required to become a better nurse. This center is the epicenter of all nursing related activities, where students learn the fundamentals and inculcate the practical learning that is required for getting a good job in the market and further studies. The college offers SMART boards, Elmo document camera, projectors, and desktop computers in each class of the college.

Columbus Technical College also provides many types of financial aid to its students. The College reports that 80 percent of its students receive some kind of educational funding. Federal Pell grants, HOPE scholarship, HOPE grants, GA Bill/VA, and Vocational Rehab funds are just a few in the long list of financial assistance available for students.

President of the Columbus Technical College Lorette M. Hoover is the current President of this prestigious institution. She has a Masters in Science from Troy University and has almost three decades of experience with the Technical College System of Georgia. With her expertise in technical education, adult education and economics, she is successfully driving Columbus Technical College toward fulfilling its mission of providing quality education to all while assisting students with their career and education goals.

Notable Alumni Tracy Degracia is one of the most notable alumni of Columbus Technical College. She earned her nursing degree in 2012, and just after that she got placed as a medical nurse at the West Georgia Medical Center. Today with her profound knowledge obtained at Columbus Technical College, she was often promoted. Today, she is a nurse manager- overseeing the Outpatient Infusion Center at the John B. Amos Cancer Center in Columbus.

Career Opportunities and Columbus Road ahead Nurses are in huge demand all across the world in a variety of spheres like Labor & Delivery, Pediatrics, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Oncology, Hospitals, Physician’s Office, Psychiatric facilities and many more with varied job responsibilities. Graduate nurses also have an option to continue their education to become clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and nurse researchers.

Columbus Technical College always believes that a student’s success in his or her career is the ultimate achievement. Therefore, they are always ready and go an extra mile to fulfill students’ career goals. One has to look no further than at the college’s job placement rate of 95 percent to see how effective this institution really is.

Columbus Technical College will continue to anticipate and respond to the community’s educational and workforce-training needs in order to guarantee that the region’s businesses and its citizens prosper. T R

Accomplishments in the Recent Times Thanks to their quality teaching, the college has won many prestigious honors. WalletHub has ranked Columbus Technical College at the fourth position amongst community colleges. Community College Review placed it in the list of Top 100 USA College that is providing excellent educational outcomes and job placement services at an affordable cost. It has also been named as a military friendly school for four years in a row.

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Industry Forecast

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here is a genuine reason to cheer for the aspiring nursing graduates all across the USA. According to The American Nurses Association (ANA) more than 1.1 million new nurses would be needed in the healthcare sector by 2022. This is a staggering number that will give hope to many who want to pursue their career in Nursing.

Growing health awareness, increased government spending, big investments in the healthcare industry, a sizable chunk of retiring nursing professionals are the prime reasons behind this astounding number.

Fresh Space Created by Retiring Nursing Professionals America is home to nearly 320 million people and the number of nurses that take care of this gigantic population is approx. 3.9 million. According to American Nurses Association by 2024 more than 7 lakh nurses will get retired. A bulk of existing nurses is going through their peak career time and will reach the age of 65 in coming years. This will lead to the creation of half-a-million fresh nursing jobs in the US healthcare market in coming decade.

Huge Growth Potential in Home Healthcare Services According to Zion Research report, the global market of home healthcare services was about $228.90 billion in 2015 and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.40% between 2016 and 2021. According to the report, it is estimated that by 2021 the home healthcare market will become a $391.41 billion industry and will help in creating massive jobs for nursing graduates.

The home healthcare market is largely driven by the geriatric population and it includes activities like daily bathing, dressing, eating, occupational & physical therapy, speech therapy, and skilled nursing. The population of elderly people is growing all around the world and they are extremely vulnerable to chronic diseases like diabetes, respiratory problems, blood pressure etc. The self-awareness among the patients about the problems associated with these chronic diseases is leading to a surge in the demand of home health care professional all around the world.

Huge Spending by the US Government in Healthcare service The USA is one of the biggest spenders in healthcare services around the world. The US government had spent more than $3.2 trillion dollar in 2015 to provide quality healthcare service to their citizens and this amount was 17.8% of the GDP. In the ďŹ nancial year of 2016, the amount had increased to $3.9 trillion, which accounted for 21 percent of the GDP. Future spending in health services is likely to be followed as per the past trend and will continue to grow further, which ultimately would result into more jobs creations.

Growing Health Awareness Apart from the developed countries, many parts of the world are going through massive

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economic transition. Millions of people are now getting quality education than ever before and moving out of poverty with more self-awareness about various diseases. Due to dangers of various life-threatening diseases, more and more citizens are now pulling towards clinics for precautionary health checkup. This trend has triggered the need of large number of nurses in pathology lab and clinics as well.

To exploit this opportunity from the shortfall of well-qualified healthcare assistants, nursing graduates must have the desired skillset and rigorous training under the stringent real-life based environment. And this is where “Simulation Based Training” comes into picture.

Simulation Based Learning for Better Nursing Career The novel idea of Simulation Based Learning was incepted to provide nursing students an opportunity to practice the concepts taught in theory even before starting real-world nursing practice. Simulation based learning instill practical knowledge that is based upon real-life situations to help students develop critical problem solving skills. Due to the advancements in patient safety issues and ethical concerns associated with nursing practice, student’s direct exposure to patient treatment is no longer permissible in most of the colleges. Simulation based nursing education is a pedagogical approach that provides nursing students an opportunity to practice different critical medical scenario’s based on real-life –situation without compromising patient’s well-being. This whole practice is conducted in a safe and controlled environment and Mannequins are used instead of human body to conduct test. This practice not only reduce the medical errors, which is considered as the third leading cause of death but also assist the nursing graduates to imbibe the core practical knowledge of nursing.

Simulation-based learning benefits nursing students to effectively develop non-technical skills, practice rare emergency situations, and gives exposure to varied range of life threatening situations. This advanced training practice can be adopted by using low fidelity simulation to high fidelity simulation according to specific learning outcomes and educational levels. In many research reports it is proven that simulation based learning has a positive impact on student learning and therefore many colleges are providing this facility to their students.

The consequences of sedentary lifestyle, climate change, food habits, and hectic work hours have already taken huge toll on human health. With increasing globalization, growing income and more self-health-awareness among people than ever along with growing numbers of hospitals, medical institutions, and lucrative medical tourism, the healthcare sector will only move in the upward direction in the future and thus will create plethora of job opportunities for nursing graduates. T R

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Keiser University: A Premier Nursing University Shaping Future Leaders he mission of Keiser University’s nursing degree program is to utilize an evidence-based approach to educate a diverse student body into the practice of nursing, while reflecting the best traditions of the art and science of the nursing profession.

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Carrying out his founding vision, KU acquired its first Florida residential campus—the Flagship—on over 100 acres in the heart of West Palm Beach. Under his leadership, KU has grown to 19 Florida campuses, a graduate school, and international and online divisions.

Beginning with one student in 1977, Keiser University (KU) is today Florida's second largest, not-for-profit, Level VI SACS accredited university. The University has 20,000 students, 3,800 employees, and 66,000 alumni, and an annual economic impact of $3 billion. For 40 years, KU has been a talent development leader by offering over 100 academic degrees in many of Florida’s targeted industries.

To meet society’s evolving healthcare needs, KU’s nursing degree programs are committed to providing an advanced patient-centered learning environment utilizing integrated technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sound clinical judgment within a safe and effective setting.

Distinguished Courses that are Shaping Future Leaders

Leadership behind its Colossal Success Dr. Arthur Keiser, Chancellor and Co-founder of Keiser University, is a renowned academician. He earned his doctorate from the Union Institute and University and has 40 years of higher education experience. During his tenure, Arthur has held various eminent statewide and national positions and currently is the Chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI).

As a tireless advocate for students, he has given numerous presentations, and published many articles and reports on a diverse range of student-centered concepts and subjects.

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The University provides various associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree courses in the fields of management, IT, healthcare, legal studies, and many more. Nursing, Physician Assistant, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychology, Health Science, Health Services Administration, Medical Assisting, and Physical Therapist Assistant are some of KU’s distinguished healthcare degree programs. KU is also home to South Florida's only College of Chiropractic Medicine.

Keiser University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates and degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels. The nursing degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Nurturing Future Healthcare Professionals with Advanced Curriculum and Simulation Based Learning At KU, the professional nursing curriculum is a robust combination of observation, assessment, nursing diagnosis, and evaluation of care. The faculty assists students in gaining specialized knowledge and advanced nursing skills T

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Nursing Programs 2017 to meet the biological, physical, and psychological needs of the patient. The University partners with well-known medical institutions and industry leaders to provide students an advanced practical learning environment, rigorous academics, and foundational soft skills necessary for their future success.

Nursing graduates are nurtured to provide compassionate, patient-centered nursing care in a variety of settings. They use evidence-based knowledge and skills related to wellness, health promotion, illness, and disease management to improve healthcare outcomes.

Nursing students receive practical training by utilizing the most recent healthcare technologies in an advanced simulation based environment. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree develops leaders who contribute in making a healthier society for all.

Notable Accomplishments in Recent Times • U.S News & World Report ranked KU 23rd for the Best Colleges 2016-2017 in the Regional Colleges South category. In 2014, KU was ranked 13th in the Best for Veterans category in the South Region of Regional Colleges.

• Community College Week magazine ranked KU’s associate in nursing program 2nd best in the state and 6th best in the entire country for its production of graduates in the Associate in Health Professions and Related Clinical Science field in 2016-2017.

Shining Stars of Keiser University Diane Johnson, MSN, RN: Recently appointed to the Florida Board of Nursing by Governor Rick Scott, Ms. Johnson is the University Department Chair of Nursing.

Terry Avitable, MSN, RN, CNOR: Ms. Avitable is KU’s very first student and graduate. She has served as a practicing nurse and educator for 30 years. She is the former South Florida Chapter President of the Association of Operating Room Nurses and an account executive with a prominent company that supplies curriculum and training to healthcare professionals.

Pedro Pena, RN, ASN: Mr. Pena is working at a Level 1 trauma center as a trauma intensive care unit nurse. Level 1 trauma centers provide total care for every aspect of injury – prevention through rehabilitation.

Daniel Hargrove, RN, BSN: Mr. Hargrove is an US Army veteran and currently working in Florida Hospital’s Cardiovascular ICU, which specializes in the care of cardiac patients requiring continuous monitoring and treatment.

Services crafted for a better tomorrow From day one, the faculty works with students for their professional skill development for career readiness. This approach includes improving communication skills, accountability, and cultivating the knowledge and compassion to become better nursing professionals and leaders in their communities. Resume writing, business attire workshops, mock interviews, leadership distinction programs, professional seminars, and many more measures prepare students and graduates for career success. The student services team actively provides employment opportunities, training partnerships, clinical affiliations, and residency programs to students. T R

Jeremy Purvis, RN, Associate of Science in Nursing: After graduating in April 2016, Mr. Purvis began his nursing career at Jacksonville’s St. Vincent’s Riverside hospital. Mr. Purvis recently accepted a position with the Mayo Clinic in their neuroscience unit. He cited his KU education, instructors, and clinical experience for his preparedness and advancement.

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tudying reality is important. Studying ultimate reality is ultimately important. Many philosophers and theologians argue that God exists as the cause for everything else that exists. The issue of God’s existence and nature falls under the philosophy of religion, as do the issues of evil, miracles, and religious experience. These areas require years of study in metaphysics (what is real), epistemology (what is knowledge), and the history of philosophy. To be qualified to hold the title ‘Philosopher of Religion’, or any such title, one must pay his/her academic dues, such as getting a masters and doctoral degree. This certainly does not mean that one cannot study the field of philosophy of religion unless he/she is in a formal academic program. What it does mean, is that to be considered an authority, one must possess a certain level of peer-reviewed training.

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Once upon a time, the research required to attain such credentials had to be done through laborious hours in a library utilizing databases, looking through books on shelves, and acquiring sources through the mail. While much of this is still required, the Internet has drastically changed the way research is performed. It has allowed philosophers of religion around the world to collaborate faster and with greater ease, use centralized databases, and experience lightning fast communication. It has also provided the ability to acquire sources from anywhere in the world at the touch of a button. In addition, philosophers of religion have been able to post papers (Academia.edu) and articles online, subscribe to journals online, and keep abreast of the latest scholarship via search engines or databases. Such databases are invaluable for dissertation research, such as ProQuest.

Other sites allow for general research for students and teachers. One such site is the Stanford Encyclopedia of

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Astute Mind

Dr. Brian Hufing Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Theology Southern Evangelical Seminary

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Philosophy (SEP, plato.stanford.edu). There are well over 1000 articles written by accomplished and well-known philosophers, which are peer reviewed for the site. The SEP boasts of many ways that it is distinct from traditional journals. For example, unlike traditional journals, the SEP can continually update articles as the authors see fit. Also, they can write on a more comprehensive list of topics that are not covered in traditional journals. The SEP allows for digital cross-referencing between articles.

Further, the SEP can have a broader audience than academic journals, as the latter tend to focus on specialists in the field of study. Many of the articles in the SEP are in the area of philosophy of religion, or relate to it. Such a digital database of topics is a great resource for students and teachers.

Many philosophers of religion have their own websites, blogs, etc., such as Richard Howe (richardghowe.com), William Lane Craig (reasonablefaith.com) and Edward Feser (edwardfeser.com).

This is a great way to allow students and the public to access their papers, thoughts, and to some extent the ability to converse. Such sites, as well as sites like YouTube, allow for these philosophers to host debates, lectures, and interviews so that students and interested persons can avail themselves of such a treasury of information and knowledge.

With the advent and popularity of the Internet, however, there have been some negative consequences as well. As most people know, anyone can create a website, blog, or whatever online. Professors and students alike know of the convenience and potential dangerous effects of sites like Wikipedia.com.

Because of such sites, schools in general have imposed a rule that no more than about 10% of students’ resources can come from the Internet. (Oftentimes this does not limit the use of sites such as the SEP, online access to academic journals, or eBooks.) The reason for such limits is because educators do not want students pulling from just any website. Many online have no formal training in the area in which they write or discuss. This is the case with printed and published books as well; however, the ability to be able to write online is much easier than having to go through a publisher. Just buy a domain name, and one can be in business. While sites can be good for specialists to help promote and study research, as well as teach the general public or students, the uninitiated can also make sites with no peer evaluation or formal training—much to the detriment of the field, and to the chagrin of legitimate philosophers of religion.

Possibly the Internet’s most profound effect for philosophers of religion is online education. No longer does one have to move to get certain degrees (especially BA and MA degrees). Now, one can study the philosophy of religion from home. The merits (convenience) and demerits (alleged lowering of educational quality) of such education are debated almost endlessly. What is not debated is that the Internet has changed and is changing education in drastic ways.

For those interested in studying the most profound questions and issues of ultimate reality, the philosophy of religion is an intriguing and fascinating area to devote one’s time and efforts. The Internet has made it much easier to explore the issues. It has also tended to blur the lines between scholarship and ignorance. If you are reading this and are interested in the philosophy of religion, be thankful for the advent of the Internet. But also beware. Choose sites and schools wisely, and enjoy one of the most important and rewarding fields of study. T R

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Polk State College:

Robust Curriculum and Superior Training Soar its Popularity to the Next level

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ur mission is to transform students’ lives through the power of education by providing access to affordable associate and baccalaureate degree programs, career certificates and workforce employment programs.

Serving Polk County for more than Half a Century Polk State College is a public state college located in Polk County, Florida. Established in 1964, the College continues to promote excellent teaching practices for students and their future success through innovation, community impact, and engagement. In its more-than-half-a-century history, the College has seen great success through transforming the lives of thousands of graduates by providing robust industry-oriented curriculum delivered by knowledgeable faculty in an advanced learning infrastructure for its students.

Polk State College holds the distinction of being the first public higher education institution in Polk County. During its first semester of operation, the College served nearly 1,200 students —twice the number expected — and has continued to grow ever since. Today, the College serves more than 15,000 students at its six locations: Polk State Winter Haven, Polk State Lakeland, Polk State JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales, Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center in Bartow, Polk State Airside Center in Lakeland, and Polk State Center for Public Safety

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in Winter Haven. Polk State offers various associate and baccalaureate degree programs and workforce certificates and prepares students for future success.

Leadership of Polk State College Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti is the fifth President of Polk State College. She brings over 18 years of experience in higher education to the institution. Falconetti is an advocate for Polk State and its mission to provide access to affordable, quality higher education to Polk County’s residents. By fostering relationships with community and industry leaders, Falconetti ensures that Polk State stays at the forefront of providing the most relevant education and workforce training for its students and local employers. By thinking strategically, evaluating data, and working with the Polk State team and the community, Falconetti plans to achieve the goal of making Polk State the first choice in higher education for Polk County residents.

Lucrative Courses Offered by Polk State College Polk State College offers a variety of degree programs and workforce certificates. Polk State offers the Associate of Science degree for those who seek to enter the workforce immediately after completing their education, and the Associate in Arts degree for those seeking to continue their studies at a four-year institution. In addition, the College offers six bachelor’s degree programs, which allow students to gain advanced training in Polk County itself. The T

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Nursing Programs 2017 Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education offer opportunities for students to continue their education close to home. All of Polk State’s degree programs are designed to meet the needs of its community, positioning students to be hired when they graduate or to succeed at the next level of education.

The College also provides workforce certificates to those who want to gain new skills and desire to acquire a competitive edge in the workforce.

Distinctiveness of Polk State College’s Nursing Program The Polk State College Department of Nursing associate degree program was established in 1965 with a purpose of participating as an active partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the community by educating and preparing entry-level professional nurses to practice in a variety of settings.

In 2011, Polk State College added the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program with the purpose of providing registered nurses who have an associate degree or diploma in nursing the opportunity to advance in their educational and career goals. Polk State’s Nursing graduates are highly respected for their training and workforce readiness across the healthcare community.

Accreditations and Associations Polk State College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and bachelor’s degrees. The associate degree program in Nursing is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The associate degree program received initial accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission in 1967 and the most recent accreditation visit by ACEN was in 2017. As a postlicensure program, the baccalaureate program does not require Board of Nursing approval. The program is accredited by the ACEN with initial accreditation in 2012.

regional hospitals. The advisory board regularly reviews the academic curriculum and provides input based on changing healthcare standards and requirements.Talented educators and advanced infrastructure, along with robust curriculum, have made the Polk State Nursing program an excellent career opportunity for graduates.

Triumph of students in the workforce is the true hallmark of any institute’s success. Polk State Nursing graduates have a distinctive pass rate of 95.74 percent on the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

This is well over the average NCLEX-RN pass rates for state university graduates and exceeds the average state and national pass rates as well. In addition, 99 percent of Polk State’s Bachelor in Science in Nursing graduates are employed or are continuing their education one year after graduation. T R

Achievements Polk State College’s Nursing Program is supported by a knowledgeable advisory board that consists of representatives from the healthcare industry and local and T H E

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avapai College aims to incorporate different learning styles and facilitates better educational, cultural, social and economic opportunities to the student through real-life based robust nursing curriculum and training.

Yavapai College is a leading community college in Yavapai County, Arizona. For 50 years, the college has witnessed tremendous growth and has expanded to multiple learning centers at different locations that have built the repute of providing quality education at low cost. Their main campus is situated in Prescott, with others are in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Sedona. The college provides a wide range (more than 73 different types) of academic programs that include degrees and certificates. Yavapai is famous for fulfilling students’ aspirations and dreams by providing them job training, hands-on occupational training, business training and more to make them ready for any challenges and economic empowerment.

Brief Journey since Inception Yavapai College was established in 1965 when the local voters approved the formation of a junior college in November. The following year, voters approved a $2.5 million bond to fund the creation of the college. After the approval of lease by the Bureau of Land Management, ground was allocated for the Prescott campus in September, 1968. Since then, the college has transformed the lives of thousands of their students through various academic

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programs and has produced 18,351 graduates and awarded 21,665 degrees since 1970.

Robust and Popular Academic Programs & their Accreditations Associate Degree in Nursing, Arts, Science, Business, Elementary Education, Fine Arts and General Studies are some of their notable degree programs. Apart from these, the institute also provides academic programs in variety of domains which include fire science, gunsmithing, visual arts, computer systems, winemaking, film and media arts, agribusiness, education, and culinary arts. Their Gunsmithing School is among the one of the top three schools in the USA. Excellent pass rates, top-notch instructors, CEP options, clinical learning settings, and high graduate success rate in the job market make their academic programs lucrative and desirable.

Yavapai College has been associated and accredited with numerous educational regulatory bodies of the USA. Their nursing program has been recognized and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN).

Distinctiveness of Yavapai College The college gives special emphasis to practical training and evaluates the growth of the students while pursuing their academic programs. To fulfill this need, they have built up an advanced nursing lab that is well equipped with T

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interactive mannequins and medication dispensing systems, which create a hospital-like experience for nursing students. A dosage calculation exam is administered in each semester whereby students are required to score a 95% or better to continue in the program. During the final semester of the program, students are encouraged to participate in a capstone clinical course where they are paired with one registered nurse for a total of 132 clinical hours. This particular facility helps the students boost their practical learning to remove any apprehension they might have about the nursing practice even before the actual beginning of their nursing career. Students are also required to take a standardized exam after the completion of each course.

Based on the results, personalized remedy classes are also provided by the college to help students improve in the concepts where they may be lacking.

Notable Recognitions and Accomplishments Prominent college ranking portal, OnlineCollege.com, has ranked Yavapai College at the 10th position among the online community colleges across the U.S. for their excellent academic program in 2017. Their winemaking students have won several medals as well at various wine competitions that include Best of Class Award at 2017 Sunset International Wine Competition, Arizona Grand Wine Festival and the Jefferson Cup. Renowned and Experienced Academician Mentoring Yavapai Dr. Penelope Will has been the President of Yavapai College since 2011. She has served as the president of Northeast Iowa Community College as well in the past, prior to the current appointment. With her noble mission to provide high quality learning environment and rich cultural resources to the diverse population of Yavapai County, she is leading the institute with great courage and vision. She holds a Ph.D. in higher education from Michigan State University, an M.S. in Counseling from Miami University, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati.

Penelope has a vast experience in economic development, assessment, planning, student development, and quality improvement. In her career to date, Dr. Wills has served in many leadership positions in higher education at the state, regional, and national levels and has formed an effective and positive partnerships with industry, K-12, and state agencies.

service providers in the Yavapai county area that assist their students at the time of job placements.

Their nursing graduates are always in demand and are working in a wide array of nursing domain include hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, long term care, physician’s offices, treatment centers and many more. After the final semester students becomes eligible to apply for the job placement process.

Noteworthy Alumni that made Huge Mark in Real Life Ken Bennett: He is an American politician and businessman who have served as the President of Arizona Senate, and also as the 19th Secretary of State of Arizona, from 2009 to 2015.

Curt Schilling: He is a former ace baseball pitcher that has earned immense respect and accomplishment in his long successful career as a baseball player. He is famous for being an excellent color analyst and video game developer as well. T R

Future Prospective in Nursing Domain Yavapai College is associated with many healthcare T H E

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