Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2014

Since 1985, the School of Nursing has prepared approximately 1,515 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates to influence the nursing profession for Jesus Christ, domestically and globally. In 2010, the School extended its Gospel influence by developing a graduate nursing program. The inaugural class of the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program graduated in 2013. Our graduates’ impact is made possible in part through the M.S.N. program’s distinctive approach to advanced nursing practice. In the 2006 book Called to Care: A Christian Theology of Nursing , the authors describe nursing as “a ministry of compassionate care for the whole person, in response to God’s grace toward a sinful world, which aims to foster optimum health ( shalom ) and bring comfort in suffering and death for anyone in need” (p. 18). The M.S.N. program has been designed to extend shalom , through a Gospel commitment, to individuals, families, and communities in the United States and abroad. Nursing faculty members are committed and called to prepare students to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives through the two M.S.N. focus areas: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Global Health Ministries (GHM). Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) This focus prepares advanced practice nurses to provide primary care across the human life span from a biblical worldview. This specialty includes assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of common acute and chronic hea lt h problems, health promotion, client and family e duc a t i on , a nd use of evidence- based research f o r me e t i ng pr ima r y ca re and prevention needs. Students complete FNP course work in both on- campus and online formats. Graduates are prepared to address a domestic and global shortage of primary care providers and qualified to seek national certification and employment as family nurse practitioners. Global Health Ministries (GHM) This focus is truly unique within advanced nursing education. Offered in a completely online format, the program prepares graduates to approach nursing as ministry by focusing on the health and well-being of populations. Changes at the population level might include changing policies to improve access to or quality of health care or implementing community- based initiatives to improve hygiene and sanitation. By integrating the specialties of advanced public health nursing and faith community nursing, graduates are prepared to address contemporary global health issues. This focus area has a special emphasis on how to partner with vulnerable and diverse populations to improve health. We stress the dignity of all persons as created in God’s image and explore the biblical appeal to care for both physical and spiritual needs. At heart, we believe the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is the basis for individual health and community change. The mission and values of the M.S.N. program are perhaps best illustrated through student capstone experiences, whether a master’s thesis or evidence-based project. Students critically analyze a topic of current concern within the specialty, review and synthesize relevant literature, appraise research reports and clinical As a Christ-centered learning community, the Cedarville University School of Nursing is dedicated to influencing the profession of nursing for Jesus Christ, domestically and globally. In this environment, we contribute to the body of nursing knowledge and provide leadership in nursing and health care arenas. Our graduates are grounded in biblical truth and demonstrate mastery in four areas: godly living, care, culture, and information management. by Rachel (Batchelder) Parrill ’97 and Chu-Yu Huang LE DING THE W Y : GRADUATE NURSING PRACTICE GROUNDED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH 26 | Cedarville Magazine