The Nursing Department: A Gateway to Service

Washington Adventist University’s program of nursing is a mission oriented community that strives for excellence. Since the early 1900s, it has been one of Maryland’s legacy nursing programs. Consistent with the Washington Adventist University motto—to become the Gateway to Service—where students can learn and leave equipped to serve. This program is a prime example of this institutional commitment.

For the past two years, Dr. Tijuana Griffin has served as the Associate Director for the Nursing department collaborating with Dr. Cheryl Kisunzu. Effective in July of  2019, she was appointed and approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing to serve as the program’s Director. It was also at this time that Dr. Helen Wilson accepted the appointment to serve as the program’s  Associate Director of the department. Together, they committed to leadership, which ensures that program approval and accreditation standards are met. They are also keen to provide state-of-the-art equipment in the skills and simulation labs to give real life learning experiences for the students. Grants have enabled purchase of High Fidelity Simulation Mannequins.  As a result, the program will soon obtain its newest piece of equipment known as the pyxis. A pyxis is utilized in every hospital in the state of Maryland. Its sole purpose is to dispense medication in a safer manner. 

Washington Adventist University offers the BSN and MSN programs and both of these programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates from the nursing program have a 100% employment rate. The success of the nursing program is due to the hard work and dedication of the nursing faculty, staff and students.  In fact, 84% of students have passed the NCLEX board exams from the 2019 spring cohort and have become registered nurses.

While striving for excellence is one of the components that shape the department, service is what ties it all together. Every year at service day, students are given the chance to participate in health clinics for the community. The health fairs involve health screenings, taking blood pressures, and even self-examinations for breasts. Additionally, posters on mental health are also incorporated for those who may struggle with those issues. Not only are students putting their skills to the test, but the community is benefited. Likewise, both nursing students and staff from the department are given the opportunity of a lifetime: To go on a mission trip. In these mission trips, the team again organizes health fairs for the community. Some of the countries that had been visited thus far are Haiti, Philippines, Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

Statistically speaking, the current amount of nursing students enrolled in the BSN program are 186. Approximately 60 more students will join the program in the Spring  2020 semester. Dr. Griffin stated that “Interacting with students and seeing them grow in their success, is what I enjoy the most.” In addition, Dr. Griffin was asked if she could do anything besides nursing, what would she do. Her response was, “Nothing. I wouldn’t be doing anything else.” As a young girl, she would tend to her mother and care for her when she was ill. It’s been embedded in her blood from the beginning, and it continues to be her drive.

In conclusion, Dr. Griffin and Dr Helen Wilson were asked to give future advice for nursing students. Dr. Griffin stated the following: “You just have to love it, you must have a passion for it”! Dr. Helen Wilson recalled that the process is a challenging one, but it is also very rewarding, which forever provides the opportunity to expand the healing ministry of Christ.