WHS School of Nursing Readies Students to Be High Quality Nurses
By Andrew Wilson
The nursing profession in the 21st century is evolving rapidly, and no one is more aware and excited about that than the director of Washington Health System’s (WHS) School of Nursing.
“Nursing as I have known it is ever so changing,” said Jamie Golden, MSN, RN, CNE, who in addition to being director of the School of Nursing is also director of WHS’ staff education. “It is a constantly evolving profession, and that is creating tremendous opportunities for new nurses.”
Some of the reason for the opportunities in nursing is a demographic shift. Baby Boomers have either reached or have begun reaching retirement age in the past decade, plus the COVID-19 pandemic created a “perfect storm” of sorts, which caused many nurses on the cusp of retirement to decide to retire. Consequently, more nurses are leaving the field than entering, and that creates more career opportunities.
“There are so many opportunities once your nursing license is attained,” said Golden. “New nurses are able to move into specialty areas sooner than they would in previous decades.”
She says technology is another factor greatly changing the nursing profession, as nurses are using new technologies to care for much sicker patients in ways that were unimaginable 10 or 20 years ago. This can be an advantage for the more tech savvy generations.
“The newer nurses coming into nursing have grown up with technology and have an advantage as health care turns digital,” Golden said.
Nurses today need to develop very precise critical thinking skills as this is part of the core in being successful in this field. In addition to critical thinking skills, Golden says nurses today need to be familiar with analytics and scientific reasoning, as well as being prepared to take courses pertaining to science, psychology, sociology, pharmacologic and physiologic/pathophysiologic topics of study.
One thing that hasn’t changed and is still absolutely critical for success is the need for nurses to be compassionate, caring individuals. Golden describes nursing as science coupled with “the art of caring.”
“To be a nurse requires compassion, patience, attention to detail, organization, and a willingness to be flexible,” said Golden.
She says that WHS’ School of Nursing provides personal attention to each student, which helps to ensure student success over the course of the 16-month RN-Diploma program.
Combining clinical experience with instruction in classrooms and the simulation center, located in a building adjacent to the hospital, the incoming students are primarily non-traditional with an average age of 28. While that indicates many students are seeking to reboot a second career, she says new high school graduates are also enrolled and very successful.
“Nursing can be an enriching career if sought out for the right reasons,” said Golden, who sounded a word of caution as nurses’ salaries have increased greatly in recent years. “If choosing this career path primarily for the money, you will probably be disillusioned and leave the profession within a short period of time.”
For her own career, Golden says she has the best of both worlds. She comes from a family of both nurses and teachers, so this hybrid has been very enriching and rewarding. “I would certainly without a doubt choose this path all over again,” she says.
“I am so fulfilled by being director of this school that has a great reputation for producing quality nurses,” she said of the school whose students continually exceed both the national and state average of first time NCLEX pass rates. “I am so proud of these students, and what we produce in the end is incredible. If I had the chance to choose my career path again, I would choose the same path.”
The Washington Health System School of Nursing (WHSSN), recently ranked by Nursing Schools Almanac as second out of 15 of the Best Registered Nursing (RN) Diploma Programs in Pennsylvania, is a 16-month hospital-based RN Diploma program that is Pa. State Board approved, ACEN credentialed, and its accelerated curriculum leads to the eligibility of the graduate nurse to take the NCLEX exam for licensure as a registered nurse. If interested in nursing, visit the Washington Health System School of Nursing website whs.org/schoolofnursing or call today 724-223-3167 to register and join us at an Information Session held monthly.