Part 3 of 9

SCSU Nursing Program helps students grow while meeting healthcare’s most pressing needs.

Bernerdette Zorn was attracted to nursing early. "My baby sister was born in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), so that was my first experience with nurses," Zorn said. "From then, it was something I wanted to be part of."

Thanks to St. Cloud State University's Nursing Program in the newly-renamed College of Health and Wellness Professions, Zorn is starting her career as a NICU nurse – accepting an offer even before graduation.

Zorn was attracted to the St. Cloud State program because of its reputation, hands-on learning, and community connections. But the quality of the education, faculty support, and attention to students' career prospects has confirmed she made the right choice.

"I did my part, working hard over the years," she said. "Then my advisor stepped in, made introductions, and helped me achieve my goal."

Responding to Today's Nursing Needs

The nursing program is just one of many disciplines in the College of Health and Wellness Professions, offering a focus on real-world learning and student success throughout its programs.

"We are very excited about the It's Time initiative at St. Cloud State, which is propelling us to achieve distinction in our programmatic areas as well as in how we work with our students, how we envision their success," said Shonda Craft, dean of the college.

As a college, "we focus on holistic health – helping people be healthy in their bodies, in their minds, and in their communities," Dean Craft said. The approach is imbued in the college's facilities, which serve as a resource for the St. Cloud community, not just students.

 

 

Dr. Roxanne Wilson, acting chair of the Department of Nursing, talks to health systems to ensure students are career ready. "They asked for strong clinical skills, but also cultural intelligence" – the ability to work with people from all backgrounds. Much of the need for nursing in Minnesota is in rural areas, geriatrics, and underserved communities, so nurses need to be adaptable, and St. Cloud State University modified the program accordingly.

St. Cloud State's Nursing Program includes the most clinical hours in the state and puts extra emphasis on preparing for board exams. "We did a major change in how we prepare students in the fifth semester for taking boards and scores have gone way up," Wilson said.

Preparing for the Real-World Through Smarter Simulations

CentraCare, the leading health system in central Minnesota, is one employer with close ties to St. Cloud State's Nursing Program. "We employ 4,000 nurses, and have a significant need," said Melissa Fradette, MSN, RN, the Executive Director and System Chief Nursing Officer for CentraCare. "Fifty to sixty percent of our nursing hires come from SCSU, and they are so well prepared."

This high standard reflects the innovative education St. Cloud State nursing students receive. Its Maciej Nursing Simulation Lab rivals the best in the country, with fully-equipped hospital settings.

What makes the lab stand out is how it's used, said Dr. Jen Atteberry, an assistant professor at St. Cloud State. "We have everything, from static manikins to AI simulations, covering the ER to hospice care," she said. "We go beyond the skill, focusing on how to see patients as whole people."

This includes training scenarios that get students working in teams, teaching communication, delegation, and navigating challenging moral questions, such as when two parents have differing opinions on a child's care, for example. "We teach them how to use the environment, resources, and their own knowledge to help patients and families have the best possible experience."

Where Rigor Meets Success

If the program sounds intense, it's because it is. "The program itself is difficult," says fifth semester student Katelyn Kilanowski. Reflecting on her last two and a half years, Kilanowski highlights the demands of the program but she describes her cohort as a "family."

St. Cloud State focuses on being affordable and accessible, and works to promote camaraderie and support for students, starting with dedicated faculty who provide guidance and build students' confidence.

 

 

In addition to excellent academic programs, students are offered a full range of opportunities to help them find their fit. Through the Huskies Advance program students connect their major to their interests, as they design an educational experience to meet professional and personal goals.

"We have to write a reflection paper on our experience," Kilanowski said as she thinks back on her SCSU experience. "Just looking at that paper, I was like, oh gosh, I did really grow here."