Dean of Murray's School of Nursing, Dr. Marcie Hobbs says its an exciting time for nursing at Murray State. She visits Sounds Good with an update on MSU's School of Nursing celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the accelerated bachelor's of nursing program with Madisonville Community College, White Coat initiative, "80 by '20" and more.
50 Years of Nursing at Murray State
This year, Murray State's School of Nursing is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the admittance of the first Baccalaureate nursing class envisioned by Dr. Ruth Cole in 1964. Previously, nursing students would come to Murray State for one year before continuing their education in Hopkinsville or Owensboro.
The department is hosting a decade showcase on the evening before Homecoming for Nursing alumni at Mason Hall. Each decade will have a room dedicated to the years they were students at Murray State. It's a free, fun event celebrating and recognizing alumni.
'White Coat' and 80% by '20
It's an exciting time for nursing, says Dr. Marcie Hobbs, Dean of Murray's School of Nursing. The School of Nursing was recently reorganized to exist within the School of Nursing and Health Professions: including Nursing, Applied Health Sciences and AHEC (Area Health Education Center). Last May, the school graduated five Doctors of Nursing. This fall, they have admitted 33 doctoral students, including the first Nurse Anesthesia doctoral student.
Murray State University has been selected as one of three Kentucky universities to participate in the White Coat program. Traditionally in medical schools, now professional nursing programs are being chosen to signify new students who have the opportunity to make a commitment to making giving composite care a primary focus in their education and practice.
The Institute of Medicine Reports announced that 80% of the registered nurse workforce should be properly prepared with specific skills by 2020 to adapt to the changing world of medical practice post implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the retiring Baby Boomer workforce. The Kentucky Nurse Capacity Consortium is working with issues regarding nursing practice and how schools can help registered nurses and licensed practicing nurses go through educational tracks more easily.
One of the ways Murray State is enacting 80% by '20 is by partnering with Madisonville Community College, to allow their associate degree nursing students get provisional admission into Murray State's Baccalaureate BSM program so that students can complete coursework in four years through a blended degree.
