FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                      May 3, 2006

NORTHWESTERN TO IMPLEMENT NURSING BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

            Northwestern Oklahoma State University plans to implement four recommendations offered by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) to improve its nursing program.

            The recommendations were made as the result of a focus visit by OBN representatives in February. As a result of the visit, OBN placed Northwestern’s nursing program on conditional approval and asked the University to implement its recommendations in the next year.

            “Northwestern is committed to a strong nursing program that will produce graduates who will have a positive impact in the health care industry,” said Dr. Paul Beran, university president. “We will immediately begin addressing the recommendations of OBN and look forward to sharing with them our progress.”

            OBN’s recommendations include:e:

·         Increasing the amount of supervised clinical time and faculty support to allow students to develop knowledge and skill necessary for the role of the RN.

·         Providing a variety of teaching methods to support student learning.

·         Ensuring that admission, progression and graduation standards are implemented consistently and in accordance with written standards.

·         Ensuring security of examinations by discontinuing computerized testing until security issues are adequately addressed.

            To facilitate the implementation of these recommendations, OBN is allowing a maximum of 15 students to enter the program for the 2006-07 academic year.

            Northwestern has full program approval status from the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission. The group approved eight years of full accreditation in August of 2003. OBN also accredited Northwestern’s nursing program in 2003 and gave the school five years continued program approval, the maximum length allowed.

-NW-

Back to News Page