Without question, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University have long upheld one of the finest baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States. Our curriculum is sound, our students pass the national licensure exam consistently at rates well above 90%, we maintain rigorous accreditation standards, our employers consistently praise the quality of our graduates, and our alums hold some of the top leadership positions in the Midwest and beyond.

We’re distinctive because an education at CSB/SJU is grounded in 1,500 years of Benedictine values. And, we maintain the highest expectations for upholding professional standards, starting with accepting the top high school students across the country. These students are challenged to become the best professional nurses possible. We expect nothing less. Our facilities, however, have not kept pace with the expectations for student performance at CSB/SJU. For example, learning in context through simulation is a critical component of a practice discipline. Simulations in nursing education require that you place students in real-life situations in a controlled setting that allow students to practice communication, technical, and leadership skills. Simulations are most effective if the learning space represents the actual care environment. This is not possible in the hospital ward settings that we currently house.

Furthermore, our 1600 square feet of learning space has not supported the growth of the program since its inception in 1973. Nursing is the fifth largest major at CSB/SJU. Our space has not evolved to meet the growing demands of today.

Advancing our effectiveness as the best baccalaureate nursing education will require that we transform our space in two key aspects. First, we must transform the space to allow for smaller, private, controlled simulation rooms. Second, we must install state-of-the-art technology to facilitate learning effectively. These changes are needed to remain competitive in recruiting the top students and helping them to achieve the highest standards in nursing education.

Help fill the prescription for continued success.

Contribute to the CSB/SJU Nursing Department Transformation. Give us a call at 1.800.648.3468, ext. 7.

CSB/SJU Nursing Department Transformation

WE’RE DISTINCTIVE HEREAlums At workAfter graduation, my journey to learn and

grow in knowledge, leadership and spirituality continued, and I have now completed three Masters Degrees. Additionally, I am a Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist.

My career has focused on Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing. Now, I am a senior manager in a large retail organization. My responsibilities include Ergonomics, Drug Free Workplace management, Return to Work programs that include Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and Managed Care, including Pharmacy management, for a team of 300,000 employees. As our country’s healthcare costs continue to rise, we, as nurses, need to identify cost-saving measures for organizations that do not jeopardize the quality of care that we want for our employees. The ability to look at such programs and strategi-cally identify and model programs that offer excellence of care and cost containment presents many opportunities.

CSB/SJU play an integral role helping nursing students to explore the wide array of opportunities in nursing practice. CSB also puts an emphasis on the leadership of women, not only in the workplace but also in their personal lives. Having this intellectual and spiritual balance has guided me through my life and in my career. - Ronda Weiss ’97

As an emergency room nursing director, I have found that a nursing career means more than just patient care. There are policies, regu-lations and business-orientated concepts that lead to the success of nursing that I get to be a part of.

I truly enjoy the hands-on patient care as well as opening opportunities for other nurses to join the ER field. Helping others grow in their career is extremely rewarding and one of the highlights of my job.

I believe that my degree prepared me to advance in the nursing field as quickly as I did. Continued development of my critical thinking and nursing skills elevated me as well.

- Paul Schoenberg ’93

REFLECT AND RESPOND Single-patient rooms will be adjacent to observation rooms with two-way mirrors. Observation rooms will allow faculty and other students to reflect and respond to simulations (SIMs) without interfering with the simulation experience.

These rooms also allow students who complete SIMS to meet with their faculty members immediately to review video footage of the SIM. This affords meaningful reflection on the quality of the care they provided during the SIM.

vital signs of improvement

TAILOR MADE The addition of space will allow for the creation of themed simulation rooms that closely reflect true specialized care environments of today. These include critical care, labor and delivery, mental health facility, pediatrics, long-term care, clinical-based care, and even a homeless shelter.

EQUIPPED AND CONNECTED To mirror a true health care environment, technology upgrades will allow nursing students to monitor “real-time” vitals on their patients while still giving them access to essential patient records and treatment information. This is accomplished through the addition of multiple interconnected computer portals.

LOCKED AND LOADED Secure storage space will allow the nursing department to protect its precious, costly resources. These resources include electronic equipment, high-tech mannequins, and basic supplies like gloves, gauze, and stethoscopes.

The architectural renderings shown here illustrate the renovation that will support the growth of the CSB/SJU

nursing program and best practices in teaching.

A GRAND CENTRAL STATION The fully-equipped nurses station allows students to practice delegation and supervision, to privately conference about patient needs, or to set up medications prior to administration. The area allows collaboration and critical thinking just as in real-life acute care and long-term care settings.

SMALL AND WELL SUITEDThe seminar room accomodates smaller groups of students (up to 15) for dialogue and discussion regarding clinical experiences, evidence-based research, leadership concepts, and other topics of contemporary nursing.

RIGHT AT HOMEThe home care apartment replicates a real patient home with the ability to expand nursing assessments to include the patient’s living conditions. Students are afforded the opportunity to notice that medications have or have not been taken, the stove is left on, throw rugs are placed throughout the home, the ashtray is full of cigarette butts and so forth. This is an ideal location to practice therapeutic communication, health teaching, and care of the patient in their home.

FLUID AND FLEXIBLEThe contextual learning space puts real-life learning right in the classroom. Students move smoothly from technology enhanced concept mapping or case studies to bedside care and back again in this flexible learning space. The room includes the latest in teaching technology including a SmartBoard, clickers, projection systems, video screens, laptop computers, and simulation mannequins.

COLLABORATION AND CRITICAL THINKING Movable furniture allows groups of various sizes to problem-solve the latest health care issues facing nurses today. Technology enhances group sharing and dialogue, and the faculty member moves fluidly around the space to evaluate student learning and offer guidance and challenge.