What clinical experience do students receive?
Why is clinical experience important to the program?
Where do students complete clinical experiences?
What labs do students use in their courses?
What other practical experiences do Nursing students receive?
Do students and faculty work on research projects?
Why is working on research projects important to the program?
Do students present their research at professional conferences across the nation?
What clinical experience do students receive?
Western is the only Bachelor of Science in Nursing program leading to RN licensure in northwest Missouri, and partners with Heartland Regional Medical Center, which provides clinical learning experiences for students from ambulatory settings to obstetrics, acute care, long-term care and hospice. Additional clinical experiences are provided throughout Northwest Missouri and the Kansas City area.
Why is clinical experience an important part of the program?
A critical component of a quality program is the clinical experience – real-life learning opportunities in state-of-the-art health care settings. Every nursing student works with experienced nursing faculty members and clinical nursing staff in multiple clinical rotations.
Where do students complete clinical experiences?
Each student completes multiple clinical experiences. The department has agreements with more than 30 clinical agencies located in St. Joseph, northwest Missouri, and the greater Kansas City area. Some examples of where students complete their clinical experiences are Heartland Regional Medical Center, Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Liberty Hospital, the St. Joseph School District, Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center,and over 20 community health agencies.
What labs do students use in their courses?
The Department boasts an excellent Nursing Skills Learning Resource Center which contains medical simulation equipment and technical equipment used in hospitals. This allows students opportunity to practice simulated patient care under the supervision of nursing faculty. Students also participate in standardized web-based testing over nursing content each semester. This testing provides feedback on student strengths and weaknesses based on comparisons with nursing students from across the country.
What other practical experiences do Nursing students receive?
In addition to an extensive clinical experience program, students also gain experience by volunteering at a variety of service projects such as blood drives and the student health fair each year.
Do students and faculty work on research projects?
Yes, all students in the BSN Program take a senior research course and participate in the Western Multidisciplinary Research Day. Opportunities are also available for students to conduct research with faculty members through the Summer Research Institute.
Why is working on research projects important to the program?
Research projects teach students the investigative process to research problems and find solutions in their careers. It also prepares students for the level of course work found in graduate programs.
Do students present their research at professional conferences across the nation?
Yes, last year students attended conferences and presented research at local state and national conferences. Nursing students traveled to San Francisco to present research findings at the 131st Annual American Public Health Association Meeting.