WMU Bronson School of Nursing gets endorsement
May 1, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University's Bronson School of Nursing recently received endorsement for its baccalaureate nursing curriculum from the American Holistic Nurses' Certification Corp.
The endorsement entitles nursing school graduates to take the holistic nursing certification examination, recognizing them as meeting qualifications and competencies in holistic nursing practice. All graduates who completed the nursing program during the 1999-2000 academic year, as well as those who graduate within the next five years, are qualified to apply for certification.
In addition, nursing school graduates will be exempt from the requirements of providing evidence of one year of practice and completing the Qualitative Assessment prior to the examination as other applicants must do.
"When nurses care for people in a holistic way, they are seeing their clients as whole beings, as mind-body, spirit connections not just as bodies to be cared for," says Dr. Marie F. Gates, nursing school director.
The AHNCC has offered this opportunity because of its belief that baccalaureate nursing schools are "change agents" and "keepers" of core values, Gates says. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing position statement espouses the idea that nursing is contextual, holistic in nature, and nurtured in human relationships; that nurses attend to the meaning of an illness; and that such a meaning is vital for the healing process. The profession's continued focus will be on the whole person across the life span, taking into account developmental, physical, and mental health and spiritual needs in a comprehensive approach to care.
The curriculum of the WMU Bronson School of Nursing was evaluated as being consistent with these views.
"Since holistic nursing is one of the foundations of our program, our school was very pleased to learn that we were enthusiastically endorsed by the AHNCC," Gates says. "The endorsement is an exciting privilege bestowed on the nursing program and recognizes our commitment to the highest quality, most comprehensive educational preparation of our nursing students."
Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 616 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu