CALLING THE SHOTS By Libbie Turner The Carr College of Nursing boasted many programs geared towards meeting the needs of its students. In 2012, Dr. Susan Kehl, dean and assistant professor of nursing, who was the graduate director at the time, took the lead in developing a family nurse practitioner program. The addition of this major created an opportunity for nursing students to equip themselves for successful careers in the future of health care. "Nationally, there's huge initiative for health care reform and a push to do everything we can on a clinical level to prevent hospitalizations," Kehl said. "We see that advance practice nurse practitioners are poised to fit into many health care initiatives." Implementing a new degree began with a needs assessment. The process continued with course selection and accreditation began. Kehl outlined what courses and requirements students would need to meet to complete the program. After creating detailed syllabi, the selection of faculty could begin. Dona Clarin was selected as the family nurse practitioner program director and began as instructor for the program with four other faculty members. "We train the students to care for students across the lifespan," Clarin said. "So we're equipping them to care for someone from the time a person is born to the time they leave the earth." In the fall of 2015, a cohort of 17 nurses began the journey towards becoming registered FNPs. The program itself was almost entirely online. Students enrolled from as far away as Florida took classes virtually while being able to complete their practicum in whatever state they held their license. Alumnus James Feher graduated as a nursing major from Harding and was in the first class of students to be enrolled in the FNP program. He said the program's understanding faculty made working and being a student doable. "The FNP program is a great fit for me because it provides an opportunity to pursue one of my career goals while allowing a flexible schedule outside of school," Feher said. ''I'm a part-time student so I am able to work full time as a registered nurse still." Though the program was primarily online, full-time FNP students spent a required week on the Searcy campus at the beginning of the semester. Students went to classes, participated in chapel and visited areas like the Harding History House. "Sometimes online programs are seen as not as rigorous, but that is not the nature of Harding or the nursing program," Clarin said. "We want them to achieve at the highest level." Graduate student Kelli Kern tukes Dr. Bruce McLarty·s blood pl"essure du,-ing PA iveek on Oct. 9 as gl"aduate student Hu111wh Ra ovel"Sl'es. Ila,-ding was the.first university to oj.fer a physician assistant prog,-am in the state ofArkc111sas. I Photo cou,-tesy of Nicole Mount On Dec. 7 Associate Dean of Nursing D1·. G,-eg Brooks uses 91"ad11ate student Carla \,falker to demonst,-ate an advanced health assessment. The idea fo1· u family nurse practitioner progrmn began in 2012, and in 2015, 17 students beyan the journey to purs11ing rnreers c1.s nurse practilione,-s. I Photo by Owen Brown 9 G .\ C .\ D E M IC S
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