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Nursing gains new department chair

Photo by: Will Gentry

 

The nursing program at Oklahoma Christian University shifts into a different era with the addition of Kay Elder as the new nursing chair.

“Kay Elder is not new to OC, but as a founding faculty member of OC nursing she has established a reputation for high professionalism,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Scott LaMascus said. “As our new chair of nursing, I know she has some wonderful plans in the pipeline and quickly has established herself as an able leader for OC nurses and student nurses.”

Senior nursing majors have had the most interaction with Elder and are anticipating expansion in their department under her leadership.

“Kay is going to make a great director,” President of the Student Nursing Association and senior Chelsea Kritz said. “Her years of experience in the nursing field will prove beneficial to our department and it’s continued growth.”

Elder seems to have full support from most of her students in her new administrative position.

“Kay will make a positive impact on our program,” senior Katherine Troutman said. “She is passionate about her job and has the experience that will make her great at being the director.”

Alumni of the university’s program have reached out to express their thoughts on the instatement of Elder in an administrative position.

“Kay Elder will be a really great addition to the administration of the nursing department,” 2009 Alumna Elizabeth Kendall said. “She was always very focused on service and missions, which I think is an important part of any nursing program, but especially the program at OC.”

With many relationships built within the nursing program at Oklahoma Christian, Elder’s  leadership serves in implementing certain changes for the program.

“She has many years of clinical and academic nursing experience in several states and types of institutions, but more importantly she is a woman of deep and sincere Christian faith,” LaMascus said.

Elder is an Oklahoma Christian graduate with a degree in biology. She has two degrees in nursing from the University of Oklahoma and is completing a doctorate in nursing education at Oklahoma City University.

“I was recruited to come help start the nursing program at OC in 2006,” Elder said. “When our current chair was not returning this year, we did a nationwide search for applicants. I decided to throw my hat in the ring to be considered. I was offered the position. So after prayerful consideration, I decided that I would try it.”

As nursing chair, Elder is talking about expanding the nursing program at Oklahoma Christian, including a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.

“I feel that we have a strong nursing program here at OC,” Elder said. “I want to continue that strength. We have been challenged to expand the nursing program, perhaps by looking at some additional programs, like an RN to BSN program. So we’re not only looking at growing our traditional nursing students, but we’re looking at perhaps adding a second program to meet needs in Oklahoma.”

The demand and urgency for registered nurses completing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Oklahoma creates new opportunities for Oklahoma Christian’s nursing program as well.

“The National Institutes of Health put out a research study and report in 2010 suggesting that across the United States, we increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s of science and nursing up from 50 percent to 80 percent,” Elder said. “This is part of Obama’s Affordable Care Act. So these two things working together have made the BSN degree a lot more desirable.”

According to Elder, Oklahoma Christian had a 23-percent increase in nursing students this year. Elder expects that number to continue to climb in the upcoming years as well, requiring expansion of the current program on campus.

“In Oklahoma, we currently have around 35,000 registered nurses working,” Elder said. “Only about 15,000 of those currently have their BSN so we have a large pool of nurses who need to further their education. OC works with about 19 hospitals and health care groups and all of these facilities are trying to increase their percent of BSN-prepared nurses.”

Nursing graduates from Oklahoma Christian have a 90-percent acceptance rate to medical schools.

Alumni of the university continue to score above state and national averages on the registered nursing exam. Some of these alumni have returned to be an active part of the program on Oklahoma Christian’s campus.

The return of these students is beneficial to the program and current students. It allows for growth beyond the walls of Oklahoma Christian’s campus.

“It’s really exciting to see the full circle of graduates who have worked in nursing for six years who have come back to OC,” Elder said. “It really builds not only the program, but the desire and dedication to see the program grow at OC.”

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