Galen College of Nursing Expands, Launches Registered Nursing Program

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – September 30, 2008 – Galen College of Nursing – formerly known as Galen Health Institute School of Nursing – announced today it has launched an associate degree program for licensed vocational nurses who want to become registered nurses. The program launch includes facility expansion and the hiring of a new dean.

“This comes at a time when the state of Texas faces a critical shortage of RNs,” said Dean Regina C. Aune, PhD, RN, CLNC, FAAN. “This will enable Galen to contribute to the number of qualified registered nurses in the San Antonio healthcare workforce, in addition to the licensed vocational nurses we have educated since 1990.”

According to the 2006 Texas Nursing Staffing Survey, compiled by the Texas Nursing Workforce Data Section of the Texas Department of Health, the overall average nurse vacancy rate in Texas hospitals was 10.2 percent, an increase from 8.6 percent from its 2004 survey. The Texas Hospital Association, meanwhile, says the average hospital vacancy rate for registered nurses is near 11 percent, while specialty areas face even higher rates. The National Association of Health Care Recruiters considers a vacancy rate of 8.0 percent to be a “crisis point.”

Galen received program approval from the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board earlier this year. To facilitate the expected growth in enrollment, Galen also has made a multi-million dollar investment in a new campus facility. After an extensive geographic search, Galen selected a location in the One Technology Center, which puts the college in the heart of the South Texas Medical Campus in San Antonio. The new facility is approximately 24,000 square feet, and the transition is slated for completion by early 2009. Galen also recently appointed Aune to lead the school. Dr. Aune has a PhD in Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah College of Education and spent 28 years in the United States Air Force serving as an educator, researcher, flight nurse administrator, and commander. Aune retired as a Colonel in 2006. She is also a certified legal nurse consultant and currently holds an Adjunct Associate Professor of Nursing appointment in the Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.

The new program expansion also brings with it a name change for Galen; per the approval from the board of nursing, Galen qualifies as a college under Texas guidelines and has changed its name to reflect this status.

About Galen College of Nursing

Founded over 20 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing schools in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, the College offers practical/vocational nurse (PN/VN) and associate degree nursing programs to students on its campuses in Louisville, Ky., San Antonio, Texas, Tampa Bay, Fla., and Cincinnati, Ohio. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit our website.

Galen College of Nursing Names Joan Frey Dean of Nursing

LOUISVILLE, KY. – May 19, 2008 – Galen College of Nursing today announced that accomplished nurse educator Joan L. Frey, EdD, RN, CNAA, has been named Dean of Nursing for the college’s Louisville campus.

With more than 20 years of nursing, nursing education, and administration experience, Frey joins Galen after having led Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Canton, Ohio, in a number of capacities, culminating in her service as Director of the Division of Nursing.

Frey, a current member of the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Board of Governor’s, has a long professional history of service with the NLN, having served on numerous committees and task forces. She is also an accomplished researcher and presenter, having presented nationally.

“Dr. Frey is a tremendous addition to our college,” said Tracy A. Ortelli, MS, RN, CNE, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Galen. “She is a nationally recognized leader in nursing education whose expertise and presence in Louisville will greatly contribute to our mission of providing unsurpassed quality in nursing education. We are very excited and fortunate to have her join Galen College of Nursing.”

About Galen College of Nursing

Founded over 20 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing schools in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, the College offers practical/vocational nurse (PN/VN) and associate degree nursing programs to students on its campuses in Louisville, Ky., San Antonio, Texas, Tampa Bay, Fla., and Cincinnati, Ohio. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit our website.

Galen School of Nursing Selected for Technology Scholars Program

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – January 5, 2008 – Dr. Susan Garbutt and Ms. Bobbie Martin of Galen School of Nursing have been chosen for the National League for Nursing’s Health Information Technology Scholars (HITS) program.

The purpose of this highly competitive program is to support faculty in their endeavor to implement a technology integrated project into the curriculum. Dr. Garbutt, Tampa Bay RN Program Director and Ms. Martin, Tampa Bay PN Program Director were selected based on their proposal to develop a virtual electronic medical record program to augment simulation in the clinical learning lab. As a result of this project, Galen students will be able to reference data and manage documentation before, during, and after various patient simulations.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of Dr. Gabutt and Ms. Martin; this was a highly competitive process,” Tracy A. Ortelli, MS, RN, CNE, Galen’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, said. “Their success demonstrates their commitment to providing our students with an exceptional educational experience.”

The scholars project a collaborative faculty development initiative to produce a cadre of faculty scholars with the knowledge and skills in applied informatics and technology-supported education will better prepare nurses for clinical practice by helping them develop the competencies required in an information- and technology-driven complex health care system. The NLN will disseminate project processes, products, and outcomes so that the learning models are sustainable and replicable in other academic settings.

About Galen College of Nursing

Founded over 20 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing schools in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, the College offers practical/vocational nurse (PN/VN) and associate degree nursing programs to students on its campuses in Louisville, Ky., San Antonio, Texas, Tampa Bay, Fla., and Cincinnati, Ohio. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit our website.

Galen College of Nursing Opens Cincinnati Campus

(Cincinnati, OH) – June 5, 2007 – Galen College of Nursing is proud to announce its new campus in the greater Cincinnati area, located at 100 EBusiness Way, Suite 200, right off I-275 near Sharonville. Galen offers a nationally-accredited post-secondary education focused solely on excellence in nursing education.

“We’re very excited about the new Cincinnati campus,” said Mark Vogt, CEO of Galen College of Nursing. “With the nation-wide nursing shortage, a school like Galen that focuses only on nursing is very important. Our resources are completely dedicated to the nursing program, so there’s no competition for resources like at other schools. Galen nursing students really benefit from that. They also benefit from our excellent job placement rates. Nurses are in high demand and will continue to be for at least the next 20 years, so it’s easy to jump right into their new careers once they graduate.”

Galen College of Nursing, which offers both an LPN and RN program, has graduated more than 4,000 students at its campuses in Louisville, Kentucky, St. Petersburg, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas. Galen nurse graduates have consistently maintained above-average pass rates on licensure exams.

“Our students can receive an Associate’s degree of Science in Nursing in only 21 months, and LPN certification much sooner,” said Vogt. “We offer an intensive program, very focused on hands-on clinical training. And no prerequisites are needed to get started—students just need to pass the entrance exam to enroll.”

Galen College of Nursing’s new 16,000-square-foot-facility will feature three classrooms, a clinical simulation lab, and a science lab, with plans for more to be added in the near future. The cutting-edge facility will also include several state-of-the-art training models on which students can hone their techniques on “patients” with a myriad of clinical conditions, from minor flesh wounds to heart conditions to tracheotomies, and much more.

There is currently no waiting list for enrollment; however classes at Galen College of Nursing typically fill very quickly so those interested in furthering their nursing education should contact the admissions office soon at 877-GALEN-53. Student Orientation will be held on October 10th and classes will begin on October 22nd. There will also be an Open House in November.

For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit our website or call Wendy Cappelano at 513-475-3603.

Galen College of Nursing & Galen Health Institute Welcomes Dr. Ruth D. Corcoran, Ed. RN, to Board of Directors

Louisville, KY – Dr. Ruth D. Corcoran, EdD, RN, has joined the board of directors for Galen College of Nursing, one of the nation’s largest institutions focused solely on nursing education. Dr. Corcoran, who recently retired as CEO of the National League for Nursing, is a longtime champion for the nursing profession and is widely considered a venerable figure in nursing.

“Dr. Corcoran is one of the most influential figures in modern nursing, and we proudly welcome her to our board of directors,” said Mark Vogt, president and chief executive officer of Galen. “She is a leader, an innovator and a legend in the nursing profession. We could not be happier that she will be helping guide us into the future.”

“I’m very pleased to join the board of directors at Galen, a school perfectly aligned with my own philosophy of excellence, integrity, and accountability,” Dr. Corcoran said. “I have experience serving as both chief executive officer and chair of a board for large coalitions and associations, and I pledge to use that experience to help Galen grow and progress. At this time in the school’s development, every decision is a very important one, and I’m honored and excited to be a part of that process.”

Dr. Corcoran’s goals for Galen include increasing student retention rates, helping Galen become accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and maintaining and even improving the institution’s stellar NCLEX pass rates.

Dr. Corcoran believes Galen has a distinct advantage over other nursing schools. “Because of the nursing shortage, there’s a huge need for schools like Galen. Most university nursing programs compete for resources. Galen’s resources are entirely dedicated to its nursing program,” she said.

Dr. Corcoran comes to Galen College of Nursing after retiring from the National League for Nursing (NLN), the oldest nursing association in the nation, where she was the chief executive officer. Before her tenure at NLN, she was a national vice president of the American Cancer Society where she served for 14 years. She has also served as chair of Nursing Organizations Alliance, chair of the National School Health Education Coalition, and director of the board for the New York Society of Association Executives.

Galen College of Nursing announces major system-wide campus expansions

Louisville, Ky.– September 8, 2005 — Galen College of Nursing is opening a new state-of-the-art nursing campus at the City View Center Building, 1031 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky. The building is owned by Arnold, Dugan & Meyers, LLC of Louisville, Kentucky.

Galen College of Nursing has leased 23,000 square feet on the third and fourth floors of the City View Center. The building will be renamed the Galen Center.

The new East Campus will be an addition to Galen College’s Downtown Campus at 612 South Fourth Street. The investment and additional space became necessary when Galen College added an RN Associate Degree in Nursing program this past spring.

The addition of the Zorn Avenue campus will double Galen College’s current square footage in Louisville, to over 37,000 square feet, and will help create capacity for additional students.

The new East Campus will include wireless internet access throughout the campus, a state-of-the-art science laboratory, a nursing skills laboratory, five classrooms, a library, and office space for faculty and administration. These features will allow Galen College to offer all of the general education prerequisite courses that most nursing colleges require prior to admission into their nursing programs.

“The new space will help us to achieve a vibrant learning environment — a campus of choice that will attract and serve outstanding nursing students and nursing faculty,” said Dr. Marjorie Perrin, Dean.

“This investment is the catalyst which will enable the College’s continued development and further our goal of preparing students to help address the nursing shortage in Greater Louisville’s healthcare community.” said Mark Vogt, President and Chief Executive Officer, “Our investment in the new Zorn Avenue campus, and additional investment in new and enlarged campus facilities in Tampa, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, exemplifies our commitment to providing excellence in nursing education.”

Classes at the new Galen Center in Louisville, Kentucky, are scheduled to begin in October 2005.

Galen College has been working with Swope Design Group and Voelker Winn Architects in Louisville, Kentucky, to design and plan the new campus. Construction has already begun and room for future growth is included in the expansion plans. Vogt said the new campus will be designed with maximum flexibility to allow for anticipated new faculty and related support staff, as additional academic program plans unfold over the next several years.

Galen’s campus in San Antonio, Texas moved to a new location on June 1, 2005. The new and expanded space was required to accommodate growing enrollment and planned new program offerings. The new campus site is located in the Brownwood Building at 4440 Piedras Drive South in the Centerview Crossing Business Park. Within the 16,000-square-foot facility are classrooms, skills labs, a computer lab, and library. The new space was designed by Drewery-Martin Architects of San Antonio, Texas.

Galen’s Tampa campus is currently expanding to accommodate growing enrollment and new programs. The expansion will add 10,000 square feet to the current 12,000-square-foot campus. The new space will include a state-of-the-art science lab, additional classrooms, and administrative space.

About Galen College of Nursing

Galen College of Nursing is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and operates campuses in Louisville, Kentucky; San Antonio, Texas; and, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. Founded in 1990, Galen has graduated over 3,000 practical/vocational nurses.

Galen’s curriculum is reviewed and developed under the oversight of a National Nursing Advisory Board composed of nursing and education professionals from throughout the United States. The Board meets regularly to assess the outcomes of Galen’s programs, to ensure that the educational needs of students are met and that curriculums are current with the evolving requirements of the healthcare industry.

On the most recent National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (“NCLEXPN ®”) administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Galen College’s Louisville LPN students achieved a 96% first-time pass rate compared to the national average of 89.4%. The NCLEX-PN® examination is designed to test knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry level. The NCLEX® examination results are an important component used by boards of nursing to make decisions about licensure.

Galen is recognized by the United States Department of Education to offer its students federal aid to help fund their tuition and other educational costs. Each state’s respective nursing and education boards also regulate and advise Galen College of Nursing.