Saint Luke鈥檚 Celebrates 30 Years of the BSN Program
1989 was a turning point for Saint Luke鈥檚 College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
In April of that year, the Missouri Board of Nursing approved a plan for a four-year degree program for the college, establishing a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree that generations of nurses have since pursued as a rigorous foundation for their own career in health care.
It was a milestone for nursing education at Saint Luke鈥檚, and the culmination of work that had begun 5 years earlier for Pat Teager, who was hired as director of nursing education by Saint Luke鈥檚 Hospital in 1984.
Teager remembered that process as part of a virtual event marking the anniversary for an audience of BSN graduates in March. Shortly after her arrival at Saint Luke鈥檚, she said she began the process of exploring different options to see how the hospital could best expand its educational offerings. Through discussions with faculty, Treager said it became clear that the best route would be for the hospital to establish its own degree-granting institution.
鈥淭hat began a comprehensive study of current trends and models, college partners, and independent degree granting possibilities,鈥 Teager said. 鈥淚t was probably 1987 when this process was complete.鈥
After approvals from hospital administration and the development of a strategic plan, the Missouri Board of Nursing approved the plan for a four-year program on April 29, 1989, to be offered by Saint Luke鈥檚 College.
The culmination of a long process of garnering support and extensive planning, the approval was a milestone in the history of Saint Luke鈥檚 nursing education. Getting there meant laying a solid foundation, Teager said, one that is evident in the continued strength and growth of the program, most recently in becoming part of 射精视频. It鈥檚 also evident in the dedication and skills of the BSN graduates who have called Saint Luke鈥檚 their alma mater since the first class in 1992.
鈥淎s the head of two different diploma programs for a total of 18 years and Saint Luke's College for two years, I am amazed at the graduates, the paths they have chosen and the difference they are making across the state, nation, and even the world,鈥 she said.聽鈥淚 feel very proud and very humble to have had a part in their education.鈥