Goshen College nursing department receives state recognition award

GOSHEN, Ind. -- Goshen College's Department of Nursing was one of three nursing education programs in Indiana to receive the Nursing Education Program Recognition Award from the Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA).

The award was presented during the 100th anniversary convention of ISNA in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Oct. 17.

The purpose of the award is to recognize nursing education programs that support the ISNA and to promote and foster participation in professional organizations. The criteria include that the director or dean of the program and 75 percent of the nursing faculty are ISNA members. There must be evidence of faculty participation in ISNA and the American Nurses Association. The nursing program must also demonstrate faculty encouragement and mentoring of students to participate in professional organizations.

Goshen College's annual Mock Convention, which is a simulated learning experience for all nursing students, is the activity that is unique to the college and significantly contributes to student participation in professional nursing organizations. Goshen College nursing alumni have a 41 percent membership in their professional organizations compared to the national rate of 20 percent.

In 1953, Goshen College graduated its first class of nurses, after starting the first bachelor's of science in nursing program in Indiana in 1949. In the 50 years since, more than 1,600 graduates have responded to the call to nursing by earning a bachelor's degree at Goshen College.

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values -- passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership -- prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, Kaplan's "Most Interesting Colleges" guide and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.

Editors: For more information, contact Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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