Galen College of Nursing Dean Elected to NLN Post

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – October 18, 2010 – Galen College of Nursing Louisville campus dean Joan L. Frey, EdD, MSN, RN, has been elected secretary of the National League for Nursing’s Board of Governors.

The position of Secretary constitutes a position on the Executive Committee of the Board which also includes the President, President-elect and Treasurer. Dr. Frey was chosen by recommendation as one of two candidates and was then elected by the NLN membership which numbers more than 34,000 educators nationwide. The term of office is a triennium from 2010 to 2013.

The National League for Nursing is a national not-for-profit organization that represents all types of nursing education programs. The NLN is the preferred membership organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Dr. Frey first served on the NLN’s Board of Governors in 1999 and has served the NLN in various capacities since 1997. She was named Dean of Galen’s Louisville campus in May 2008; has more than 20 years of nursing, nursing education, and administration experience; and is also an accomplished researcher and presenter, having presented nationally.

“While I have been very fortunate to have been elected to serve on the National League for Nursing Board of Governors over many prior terms, the recent election to the Executive Committee of the Board as Secretary is an honor,” Dr. Frey said. “I am not only humbled by the vote of confidence of many NLN nurse educators nationwide, but I am also energized to fully support the values and goals of the NLN for its members.”

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.

Spalding, Galen Form Articulation Partnership

LOUISVILLE, KY. – September 9, 2010 – Spalding University and Galen College of Nursing today announced an articulation agreement that will enable Galen associate degree graduates to transition into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered by Spalding.

This agreement will serve the Louisville community by providing additional educational opportunities to associate degree graduates. Spalding and Galen will work in tandem to offer students a chance to pursue a BSN, thereby improving their chances to advance their career opportunities in nursing. These students will experience a relatively seamless transition into their BSN studies.

“Galen, which offers LPN and RN programs, is committed to promoting the importance of life-long learning,” Joan L. Frey, EdD, MSN, RN, Galen’s Dean, said. “Articulation agreements such as this one help our graduates to not only better their own lives but provide them a way to be even better prepared to help the lives of the people for whom they provide care.”

“Spalding University has a rich tradition of excellence in nursing education, providing nurses the opportunity to earn professional baccalaureate and graduate degrees,” said Joanne Berryman, RN, BSN, MSN, FACHE, Dean of Spalding’s College of Health & Natural Sciences. “Our faculty looks forward to working with the associate degree nurses through our traditional tracks and through our new RN to BSN Program.”

Galen’s most recent class graduated July 30 at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and those graduates are now eligible to move forward in Spalding’s BSN program, as are RN graduates from previous Galen classes.

About Spalding University

Spalding University, one of the most historic institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, offers 27  degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level, providing quality, real-world learning in liberal and professional studies to over 2000 students.

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 Kelley Campus President

CINCINNATI, Ohio – June 10, 2010 – Galen College of Nursing today announced that Mary Ellen Kelley, MSN, MEd, RN, APN, CNS, has been named campus president.

Kelley has three decades of nursing and higher education leadership experience and has served as a member of the Ohio Board of Regents/University System of Ohio Registered Nursing Program Academic Validation Team. Kelley has served on numerous advisory councils, boards of trustees and college boards and has successfully led a number of nursing and allied health programs through programmatic and regional accreditation. In addition, she is an experienced grant writer, health care and curriculum consultant, and a professional workshop speaker.

“We are extremely pleased that Kelley has joined the college,” said Galen College of Nursing Vice President of Academic Affairs Tracy A. Ortelli, MS, RN, CNE. “Her combined experience in nursing and academic administration will help Galen immensely as we grow and continue to improve the education we offer to our students.”

Galen President Mark A. Vogt added, “Kelley’s roots in the Cincinnati community make her an immeasurable asset. Most importantly, her commitment to education and healthcare, along with her knowledge and professionalism, make her a perfect fit for this important leadership position.”

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 Opens New Campus

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – January 11, 2010 – Galen School of Nursing today announced it has opened a new 36,000-square-foot campus that nearly doubles the size of the school’s facilities and will soon include a state-of-the-art, high fidelity clinical simulation laboratory. A major goal in this expansion is to help address the growing shortage of nurses in Florida, a shortage that many studies suggest could reach crippling levels by 2020.

“This expansion will provide numerous additional resources for our students and help ensure we keep abreast of the rapidly changing technology in nursing,” Galen’s Dean of Nursing Sharon Roberts, MS, ARNP said. “We are committed to providing the best and most up-to-date nursing education possible, and this growth of our facilities illustrates that commitment.”

The new school is approximately one mile from the former campus and will also feature seven expanded multi-media classrooms, a science laboratory, a 40-seat computer laboratory, expanded student resource center and expanded clinical learning laboratories. The new campus, located at 11101 Roosevelt Boulevard in St. Petersburg, offers easy access to I-275 and Gandy Bridge and will also provide students access to an on-site café.

In addition, the new clinical simulation center, which is scheduled to open in April, is 2,300 square feet and comprises six rooms: two simulated patient care rooms, a control room, two debriefing rooms and a lobby. The lab will feature two high fidelity METI Nursing simulator mannequins with nursing curriculum integration software manufactured by Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI), of Sarasota, Florida.

The simulators themselves are specifically designed to provide students experience in dealing with lifelike patient scenarios in a safe learning environment. For instance, if a simulator displays a fever, the student would intervene by administering the appropriate medication and the simulator will respond with a programmed response based upon the appropriateness of the student intervention. The simulators can mimic multiple variations of physiologic indicators, including pupil dilation, pulses, heart and bowel sounds, and even vocalization of symptoms. The student would interpret these responses as cues to implement nursing interventions.

“The opening of our advanced clinical simulation laboratory will enable us to prepare our students for the remarkably difficult and important work they have ahead of them,” said Tom Rimes, MSN, RN, Galen School of Nursing’s Director of Clinical Simulation Laboratory. “This state-of-the-art laboratory will allow us to address an important component of nursing education – the ability to translate nursing theory into safe and effective patient and family care. Our goal is to graduate caring, compassionate nurses who make sound clinical judgments.”

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 Opens New Campus

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – January 11, 2010 – Galen School of Nursing today announced it has opened a new 36,000-square-foot campus that nearly doubles the size of the school’s facilities and will soon include a state-of-the-art, high fidelity clinical simulation laboratory. A major goal in this expansion is to help address the growing shortage of nurses in Florida, a shortage that many studies suggest could reach crippling levels by 2020.

“This expansion will provide numerous additional resources for our students and help ensure we keep abreast of the rapidly changing technology in nursing,” Galen’s Dean of Nursing Sharon Roberts, MS, ARNP said. “We are committed to providing the best and most up-to-date nursing education possible, and this growth of our facilities illustrates that commitment.”

The new school is approximately one mile from the former campus and will also feature seven expanded multi-media classrooms, a science laboratory, a 40-seat computer laboratory, expanded student resource center and expanded clinical learning laboratories. The new campus, located at 11101 Roosevelt Boulevard in St. Petersburg, offers easy access to I-275 and Gandy Bridge and will also provide students access to an on-site café.

In addition, the new clinical simulation center, which is scheduled to open in April, is 2,300 square feet and comprises six rooms: two simulated patient care rooms, a control room, two debriefing rooms and a lobby. The lab will feature two high fidelity METI Nursing simulator mannequins with nursing curriculum integration software manufactured by Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI), of Sarasota, Florida.

The simulators themselves are specifically designed to provide students experience in dealing with lifelike patient scenarios in a safe learning environment. For instance, if a simulator displays a fever, the student would intervene by administering the appropriate medication and the simulator will respond with a programmed response based upon the appropriateness of the student intervention. The simulators can mimic multiple variations of physiologic indicators, including pupil dilation, pulses, heart and bowel sounds, and even vocalization of symptoms. The student would interpret these responses as cues to implement nursing interventions.

“The opening of our advanced clinical simulation laboratory will enable us to prepare our students for the remarkably difficult and important work they have ahead of them,” said Tom Rimes, MSN, RN, Galen School of Nursing’s Director of Clinical Simulation Laboratory. “This state-of-the-art laboratory will allow us to address an important component of nursing education – the ability to translate nursing theory into safe and effective patient and family care. Our goal is to graduate caring, compassionate nurses who make sound clinical judgments.”

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 Faculty Member Chosen for National Leadership Program

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – November 9, 2009 – Galen School of Nursing Assistant Dean Bobbi Martin is one of only 10 educators selected to participate in the 2009-2010 National League for Nursing/Johnson & Johnson Faculty Leadership and Mentoring Program.

According to the NLN, the program is designed to “help transform the future of nursing education by creating leadership opportunities for nurse educators and building diversity in the nurse educator workforce.”

Earlier this year, Martin, Assistant Dean at Galen, was selected to be part of the National League for Nursing’s Health Information Technology Scholars (HITS) program. Martin, along with Dr. Susan Garbutt of Galen, was selected based on a proposal to develop a virtual electronic medical record program to augment simulation in the clinical learning lab.

Through the Leadership and Mentoring Program, Martin will not only work with the group of participants to develop an agenda for the advancement of nurse leaders in education, but will also take on a personal leadership project.

Martin said she will develop a collaborative instruction model whereby communities of nursing schools and hospitals can employ to achieve the following goals: • Students graduate prepared to meet the needs and expectations of our local healthcare providers through demonstrating competent safe patient care. • Local healthcare providers clearly define the needs and expectations of the new graduate LPNs and RNs. • Both groups (schools and providers) collaborate to identify the gaps that are evident between the classroom and clinical practice and work together to bridge that gap.

“I’m very excited to be a part of this program,” Martin said. “It truly is an honor.”

“Being selected for this prestigious program is a great tribute to Bobbi’s dedication to nursing and nursing education,” said Sharon A. Roberts, ARNP, MSN, Galen’s Dean of Nursing. “Participation in this program will allow her to work with distinguished leaders in nursing education and grow in her role as a current and future leader in the nursing education arena. It is always through the exchange of ideas in a collegial forum that new concepts are developed which will inevitably result in changes and growth for that organization. I am very proud of all of her accomplishments and am sure this is just the beginning of many more.”

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 Graduates First Registered Nursing Class

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – November 5, 2009 – Galen College of Nursing will graduate its first class of students who have completed the RN program on Friday, Nov. 6. Thirty-five students will graduate in a ceremony to be held at St. Paul Community Center, 1201 Donaldson Avenue in San Antonio. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m.

Galen launched the RN program in August 2008, in response to the growing need for RNs. According to the Texas Hospital Association, 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.”

Judy Staley, Ph.D. (c), RNC, FNP-BC, CNS, WHNP, was named Dean of the college this past August and previously served as the college program director. “This is an exciting time,” Staley said. “We’ve been graduating competent and caring vocational nursing students for nearly 20 years. The entire college feels a sense of honor and accomplishment to graduate its first extraordinary group of future registered nurses.”

Working with Staley is Shirley Carson-Davis, Ph.D. (c), RN, FNP-BC who was recently named the RN program director.

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 Hires Online Dean, Director of Clinical Simulation Operations

LOUISVILLE, KY. – April 2, 2009 – Galen College of Nursing today announced the hiring of a Dean of Online Education and a Director of Clinical Simulation Operations.

Anita W. Finkelman, MSN, RN, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was named Dean of Online Education. Finkelman has a long history in nursing education and has worked as a consultant in course development and online education. She also served as Senior Vice President of Nursing Operations for Orbis Education, Inc., which specializes in delivering education online and through satellite campuses. Finkelman will direct and develop Galen’s evolving online education offering.

John Gillespie was named Director of Clinical Simulation Operations. Gillespie has more than seven years of clinical simulation experience at the Medical College of Georgia, Medical Educations Training, Inc., and the University of Louisville. He will work with all campuses to develop a system-wide plan for the student simulation experience. Gillespie will also train and assist faculty in the operation of computerized simulation mannequins, including mastery of its operating software, characteristics, programming, and operation of scenarios.

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 Recognized For 25 Years of National Accreditation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – December 5, 2008 – The Council on Occupational Education (COE) recognized Galen College of Nursing for completing 25 years of accredited status at the Council’s Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO, on November 7, 2008. Galen College of Nursing, which became initially accredited with COE in 1983, has undergone self-studies and subsequent site visits about every six years in order to maintain this recognition.

The award of accreditation is based on an evaluation to demonstrate that the institution meets not only the standards of quality of the Council, but also the needs of students, the community, and employers. Galen focuses solely on pre-licensure nursing education and has campuses in Louisville, Cincinnati, San Antonio and Tampa Bay. The Commission’s evaluation process includes an extensive self-study by the institution and an intensive review by a visiting team of professional educators representing the Commission’s member institutions from other states.

The Council on Occupational Education, based in Atlanta, Georgia, offers quality assurance services to postsecondary career and technical education providers across the nation. Organized as a non-profit corporation, the mission of the Council is to assure quality and integrity in career and technical education. Institutional membership in the Council is voluntary, but can be achieved only by becoming accredited; there are more than 400 institutional members at the present time.

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 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.