Congratulations on your interest in one of the world’s oldest and most respected occupations—nursing. Women and men have been nurses for thousands of years. Nurses can make huge differences in people’s lives. Conversely, patients and their families can make huge differences in nurses’ lives. Nurses are privileged to share in the lives of others at important human events; for example, birth and death. Sharing in these moments can be life-enhancing for nurses. Nurses are essential to the health care team. In hospitals, nurses spend far more time with patients and their families than do physicians. For most nurses, close contact with patients and their families wherever the nurse works is one of the many rewards of a nursing career that helps offset the sometimes high stress levels of the job.
Good nurses have the following characteristics and abilities:
- Intelligence
- Stamina
- Compassion
- Willingness to work in close contact with people
- Ability to interact without prejudice with a wide range of individuals
- Quick learner and in some situations, ability to make rapid decisions
- Lifelong learner
- Good with science
- Organized, multitasker, and ability to prioritize tasks
- Skilled, competent, and able
- Assertive
- Interpersonal communicator
- Humorous
- Stress management skills
Don’t worry if you feel you do not possess all of these characteristics. Education and experience will help you learn how to be a good nurse. However, if you are not willing to work towards attaining these characteristics, then nursing may not be the best choice for you.
The Dixie State College Nursing Program is undergoing a revision of its curriculum. Students will be admitted into a 3-semester, straight associate degree nursing (ADN) program beginning January 2010. We no longer will be offering a practical nurse (PN) program. Students will have the option of taking a practical nurse transitions course in preparation for taking the PN licensing examination after completion of the first two semesters of the straight ADN program.
As we make the transition to a new curriculum, we will not be admitting a class for fall semester 2010. If you were planning on applying to the nursing program for a fall semester 2010 admission, you will need to postpone your application. Please be assured that you will be completing the program at the same time as if you had started the program in fall 2010, should you be accepted and admitted into the January 2011 class. Our website will be updated to reflect information about the new program and application requirements. This information will be available to you by April 1, 2010. You also may contact Alice Clegg, nursing advisor at 435.879.4813 or clegg@dixie.edu for further information.
The Dixie State College Department of Nursing offers three levels of nursing education:
The Practical and Associate Degree Nursing Programs have been approved by the Utah Board of Nursing and have been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC) since 2002. The RN-to-BSN program is a candidate for accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.
- NLNAC, Inc.
- 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500
- Atlanta, Georgia 30326
- Phone: (404) 975-5000
- Fax: (404) 975-5020
- www.nlnac.org
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