Galen Clinical Student Nurses help Administer COVID Vaccine to Teachers in Louisville

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear greets Galen students with elbow bumps.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear stopped by Louisville’s COVID-19 mass-vaccination site at Broadbent Arena recently to thank a group of Galen College clinical students for their help to administer the COVID vaccine to teachers.

The students also got to meet with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio, and Kentucky Nurses Association CEO Delanor Manson, who discussed KNA’s resources for nursing students and other opportunities to serve the community in the near future.

“I felt very honored to be one of the many volunteers that took the next step in mass vaccinating the city,” said one of the Galen students. “I felt such a sense of pride knowing that there were so many other people of different shape, colors, sizes, and backgrounds that chose to come together to better the city in the name of science and humanity. Watching the staff get patients in and out with such ease was a spectacle to see. It was very apparent that we all shared a common goal and were excited for everyone to take the next step to a better Louisville.”

Added another student: “The opportunity I had doing multiple injections resulted in me gaining strength in confidence in my ability to help someone as a future nurse. This experience will stay with me for the rest of my career.”

Galen College nursing students help administer COVID vaccine around San Antonio

Clinical nursing students from Galen College of Nursing were on hand recently to help administer the COVID vaccine around San Antonio, Texas.

Galen students help administer the COVID vaccine in Texas. Photo from KSAT-TV12.

About 200 people received their first dose of the vaccine in New Braunfels, as Comal County health officials opened a mass vaccination clinic at New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center, according to an article in the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung newspaper.

“If we ran everybody through the public health department, we would have limited space, limited nurses, limited slots, but if we move into a facility like this where we can get nursing students to volunteer, we can do this on a larger scale,” Cheryl Fraser, Comal County public health director, told the newspaper.

Galen students also helped administer the vaccine at the Schertz Civic Center in nearby Guadalupe County, and they had a full house: Patrick Pinder, fire marshal and emergency management coordinator for Guadalupe County, told KSAT-TV12 News that residents filled all 975 slots quickly.

“The link went live (Wednesday) and it filled up within two minutes,” Pinder told the TV station.

Galen clinical students and clinical faculty from the campus in Louisville, Kentucky, have also been trained to help administer the vaccine around Kentucky.

Louisville chapter of the National Student Nurses’ Association hosts blood drive on February 12 at new Louisville Campus

The Louisville chapter of the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) at Galen College is continuing its ongoing commitment to supporting health awareness and making a difference in our community by partnering with the American Red Cross to hold quarterly blood drives.

This will help us do our part to address the critical shortage of blood at local hospitals: The need is serious and ongoing, but we still have an opportunity to make a positive impact on the health needs of our community.

That’s why we are planning quarterly blood drives, with the next one scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, at our new Louisville Campus (3050 Terra Crossing Blvd., off the Old Henry Road exit of the Gene Snyder Freeway).

Reservations are required and can be made by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and entering the code “GalenNSNA” (no spaces).

For more information, please send an email to Tricia Blair or NSNA Chapter President Sharon Evans with any questions.

It’s a GREAT day to Save Lives by Donating Blood! No License Required!

Galen College Expands Access to Quality Nursing Education with New Campus in South Florida

MIAMI, FL – Galen College of Nursing has opened a new state-of-the-art campus dedicated solely to quality nursing education in South Florida.

Welcome area

As the largest educator of nurses in the South, Galen strives to elevate the student experience and inspire thousands of nursing students who graduate each year with licensure pass rates consistently above the national average from its six ground campuses.

The campus will offer the following programs:

• Three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Licensed Practical Nurse to Associate Degree in Nursing Bridge (LPN to ADN Bridge)

As a college dedicated solely to excellence in nursing education, Galen delivers an unparalleled educational experience with extraordinary support to prepare students for distinction in practice. The 45,000-square-foot campus located in Pembroke Pines is designed to foster learning through a thoughtful blend of interactive classrooms and advanced simulation technology, compelling design, and collaborative and creative space. Created with students in mind, it is a symbol of the high-quality education Galen has provided for decades and an expression of ongoing commitment to its student body and healthcare in the community.

“We have been educating nurses for over 30 years. As the demand for nurses continues to grow, Galen College of Nursing is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of our students and our healthcare partners for the critical development of the nation’s nursing workforce, essential to the backbone of healthcare in our country,” said Mark Vogt, Galen’s Chief Executive Officer. “As the largest educator of nurses in the South, it is incumbent on us to consistently exceed expectations in the delivery of the best nursing education possible for our students, for the healthcare systems where they’ll practice, and for the patients for whom they will care. Our potential for impact in our communities is limitless as the need for nurses has never been greater. We couldn’t be more honored and excited to continue in this journey of growth and evolution as nurse educators.”

Clinical Learning Lab

Founded in 1989 in Louisville, Kentucky, Galen is one of the largest private nursing schools in the United States. With a sole focus on nursing education, Galen offers programs across its campuses in Tampa Bay, Florida; Louisville and Hazard, Kentucky; San Antonio, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; and online with post-nursing licensure education.

“Galen’s mission is to expand access to quality nursing education and prepare diverse learners to demonstrate excellence and compassion in nursing,” said Audria Denker, DNP, RN, Galen’s Executive Vice President of Nursing. “Through our ‘Pure Nursing’ philosophy, we offer our students the same care, compassion, and excellence in nursing education that is expected of them in practice. The heart of our culture revolves around it as we honor and elevate potential to help thousands of people every year change their life and enter a profession that will help make a difference in the lives of countless others.”

With four quarterly term starts per year at the campus at 1200 SW 145^th Ave. in Pembroke Pines, admission for the April 1 term start is now in progress. Virtual admissions appointments can be scheduled by calling (877) 223-7040 or clicking here.

For more information, please contact Michael Rabkin, Galen College of Nursing Communications Manager.

Galen College Opens Louisville Region’s Largest Nursing Education Facility

State-of-the-art 130,000-square-foot campus located off Old Henry Road

LOUISVILLE, KY – Galen College of Nursing has built the area’s largest, most advanced facility dedicated solely to quality nursing education, continuing its critical role in serving the community for over 30 years.

The 130,000-square-foot Louisville campus and college administrative headquarters, located on Terra Crossing Boulevard off the Old Henry Road exit of the Gene Snyder Freeway, features high-level clinical-learning labs, active-learning classrooms, an advanced simulation hospital, a café, and more to offer students the best nursing education possible.

To see a video of the campus, please click here. For photos, please click here.

The state-of-the-art facility is designed to foster learning and support its educational community through a thoughtful blend of advanced classroom and simulation technology, compelling design, and collaborative and creative space. Created with students in mind, it is a symbol of the high-quality education Galen has provided for decades, and an expression of ongoing commitment to its student body and healthcare in the community.

“We now have the area’s most advanced and unique educational facility dedicated solely to nursing,” said Mark Vogt, Galen’s Chief Executive Officer.  “As the largest educator of nurses in the South and the largest educator of nurses in Kentucky for the past nine years, it is incumbent on us to consistently exceed expectations in the delivery of the best nursing education possible for our students, for the healthcare systems where they’ll practice, and the patients for whom they will care. Our potential for impact in our communities is limitless as the need for nurses has never been greater. We couldn’t be more honored and excited to continue in this journey of growth and evolution as nurse educators.”

As one of the largest educators of nurses in the country, Galen strives to elevate the student experience and inspire students and employees alike. More than 700 nursing students graduate from Galen’s Louisville campus each year, with excellence in licensure pass rates.

“Galen’s mission is to expand access to quality nursing education and prepare diverse learners to demonstrate excellence and compassion in nursing,” said Audria Denker, DNP, RN, Galen’s Executive Vice President of Nursing. “Through our ‘Pure Nursing’ philosophy, we offer our students the same care and excellence in nursing education, expected of them in practice. Our new campus honors that philosophy and provides our students with a supportive environment that promotes learning and success. We are committed to supporting our students and the communities we serve for the critical development of the nation’s nursing workforce, essential to the backbone of healthcare in our country now more than ever.”

The new campus is also home to more than 150 administrative employees who work across Galen’s national footprint, providing service to students, faculty, and staff on additional campuses in Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Texas, and online.

“Our faculty and staff are the most dedicated with whom I’ve ever had the honor to work,” said Vogt. “We are proud to be able to offer this amazing environment for them as well. We have an incredible team in place who puts our students first. This makes a huge difference in our ability to help thousands of people, seeking a rewarding career in nursing, fulfill their potential. Our new campus, along with the people in it, creates a supportive synergy to benefit our students and the learning taking place, on a daily basis.”

Prioritizing safety during the evolving pandemic, the campus will be open only to a small number of essential services as Galen College continues the modified delivery of education that has been in place since March 2020.

“Early in the pandemic, we worked with our architects and builders to determine if there were additional safety measures we could take with the physical structure of the building, given where we were in construction,” said Vogt. “Bipolar ionization was integrated into the HVAC system which takes oxygen molecules from the air and converts them into charged ions that break down harmful pathogens in the air, as well as making them more easily caught in filters; the air filters continuously exchange the internal environment with up to 50% clean outside air; and all of the furniture and finishes were selected to be easily cleaned, wipeable surfaces. For additional long-term safety, leading-edge technology turnstiles at the main entrance will not only serve to scan visitor badges, they read temperatures.”

The campus, which will be home to about 1,500 students, sits on 11 acres of land owned and developed by Jefferson Development Group (JDG), which will retain ownership and management of the facility

For more information, please contact Michael Rabkin, Galen College of Nursing Communications Manager.

Galen College Prepares Every Clinical Student and Clinical Faculty in Kentucky to Administer COVID Vaccines

Galen College of Nursing is the only school of nursing in Kentucky that has prepared every clinical student and clinical faculty member to help administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

Galen leadership connected with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) and facilitated a plan for clinical students and clinical faculty to become fully prepared, trained, and registered to assist with vaccine administration throughout the Commonwealth. This will ultimately help Kentucky move quickly through the phased approach of vaccine distribution.

“We are honored that the Commonwealth of Kentucky would look to our clinical students and clinical faculty to help during this historic time,” said Audria Denker, DNP, RN, Galen’s Executive Vice President of Nursing. “Galen is proud to support the backbone of healthcare in our communities, educating nurses who are needed now more than ever. To be able to impact the lives of so many more during this health crisis speaks to the foundation of what nursing is all about, and what is at the core of Galen’s vision and mission. I have never been more proud to be part of this incredible college.”

All clinical students and clinical faculty on both the Louisville and Hazard campuses have completed training and will be registered by mid-January to assist with vaccination efforts around Kentucky.

Galen clinical students and clinical faculty are currently scheduled to assist with vaccinations in Jefferson County, and are actively working with Bullitt County to assist with vaccinations there, as well. As additional counties reach out and notify the CHFS of a staffing need, Galen officials expect more requests for assistance to come in.

For more information, please contact Michael Rabkin, Communications Manager for Galen College of Nursing.

Emily Selch named BSN Program Director for Galen’s Louisville Campus

We are pleased to announce that Emily Selch, MSN, RN, CNE has been named Program Director for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program on the Louisville campus, effective January 4, 2021.

Ms. Selch joined Galen in 2017 as faculty before being promoted to Associate Program Director of the BSN program in 2020.

She earned her MSN from Aurora University in Illinois and her BSN from the University of Louisville. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Northern Kentucky University with an anticipated completion date of May 2021.

Prior to joining Galen, Ms. Selch worked as an RN at Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Kentuckiana Cancer Institute, and Norton Hospital, all in Louisville.

Nursing profession is once again the most trusted, annual poll says

Nurses are still the most-trusted professionals in the U.S., according to Gallup’s annual poll of Americans’ views on the honesty and ethics of occupational groups.

During a year in which medical workers have been even more in the spotlight because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trust that Americans have with nurses has only gotten stronger. In fact, nurses set a new record in 2020 with 89% of respondents reporting high or very high trust, up from a previous record of 85% in 2019.

Medical doctors’ rating also improved in the past year, rising 12 points to 77%, while pharmacists’ honesty and ethics rating is up seven points to 71%.

The latest results are based on a Dec. 1-17 Gallup poll in which Americans were asked to rate the honesty and ethics of 15 different occupational groups as very high, high, average, low or very low. Gallup first conducted its Honesty and Ethics poll in 1976 and has updated it annually since 1990. A handful of professions have been on the list every year, while Gallup asks about others periodically.

Nurses have topped the list in all but one year since they were added in 1999. The exception is 2001, when firefighters were measured on a one-time basis shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and received a 90% mark, the highest score to date for any profession.

Grade-school teachers (the only category of teachers measured) are the next-highest-rated profession, with 75% rating their ethics very high or high.

Members of Congress and car salespeople tie for last, with just 8% rating them highly.

For more information about the Gallup poll, please click here.

Lisa Peak named Dean of Galen’s Louisville Campus

We are pleased to announce that Lisa Peak, MSN, RN, CNE has accepted the position of Dean for the Louisville campus, effective January 4, 2021.

Lisa joined Galen in August 2008 as clinical faculty and has taught theory and clinical in both the PN (Practical Nursing) and ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) programs. Lisa assumed the role of the PN Program Director for the Louisville campus in October 2011. Under her leadership, the Louisville PN program has achieved notable success, including consistent NCLEX® pass rates at or above the national average. In February 2018, Lisa assumed the role of ADN & PN Program Director and, in October 2020, had a successful ACEN site visit.

Lisa is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Leadership at Bellarmine University and has held the distinguished credential of Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) since 2011.

Galen College of Nursing students have a unique learning opportunity while helping in the fight against COVID-19

As part of a joint effort with Louisville Metro Council, Galen College of Nursing students will be administering COVID-19 tests with Pearl Medical Care Center at free drive-thru testing services.

Galen faculty and students first got trained to administer COVID-19 tests when the students went back to their clinical training and the different locations required everyone to be tested. Galen reached out to Pearl Medical to help, and after testing the Galen students, Pearl then trained the students to administer tests, as well.

“Galen is proud to help in the efforts to keep our community safe and healthy, while providing a unique opportunity for our students to learn and grow,” said Audria Denker, DNP, RN, Galen College of Nursing’s Executive Vice President of Nursing. “The crisis has shone a light on the demand for nurses and the critical role they play as the backbone of healthcare. The valuable skills our students have learned and continue to learn, for their future roles in the prevention, response, and management of disease, is imperative to quality care across the country.”

For the testing, Pearl Medical provides the technology, the tests, and the supplies, while Galen College provides the people to administer the tests and collect the specimens. Pearl then runs the tests for the results.

Testing will be available:

• From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at St. Stephen Church, 1018 S. 15th St., hosted by Metro Councilman David James
• From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Waggener High School, 330 South Hubbards Lane, hosted by Metro Councilwoman Paula McCraney
• Additional testing services are being planned for future dates and other locations

People are asked to wear a mask and bring a photo ID with them. People with insurance are asked to bring an insurance card. CARES Act funding is available for those who do not have health insurance.