April 8, 2021
East Texas Baptist University’s School of Nursing was recently ranked as a #1 program in Texas by RNCareers.org. To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both Texas and the country. Schools ranked on the list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
“As a Christ-centered nurse education program, the practice at ETBU School of Nursing encompasses a healthcare philosophy that is integrated with biblical faith, infused with care and compassion, and grounded on the pursuit of evidence and innovation,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn shared. “ETBU is grateful for the visionary leadership of ETBU’s Dean of Nursing Dr. Rebekah Grigsby to ensure the quality of education for the professionally skilled training of our nursing students and future BSN graduates to Marshall, Harrison County, and the East Texas region.”
To create its rankings, RNCareers.org evaluated 55 Associate in Nursing degree programs and 37 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs in Texas. Each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates were obtained in addition to the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation, and more. The results were then compared against other nursing programs in Texas to provide its state rankings. ETBU achieved a 100% NCLEX pass rate for five consecutive years from 2015-2019.
“I chose ETBU nursing because it is a highly-ranked nursing program in Texas, and it has given me the best opportunity and education I could ask for,” senior nursing major Carley Boswell said. “The ranking truly says so much about how hard our faculty work to better us as students. They see each of us as individuals, and personally get to know us. I believe that is why ETBU has such a successful nursing program. The administration here has really supported the growth and expansion of the nursing program, and it is awesome to be at a school that values their nursing program so much.”
As ETBU nursing students finish the program, most have a job offer prior to graduation, and all ETBU nursing graduates receive employment offers within three months of graduation.
“Receiving an education from ETBU equipped me to incorporate a spiritual focus into the process of healing the physical body,” ETBU alumnus and registered nurse Lauren Vaughan (’18) said. “My professors gave me the courage to be willing to pray with a patient or family member when they feel hopeless, and rejoice with them when treatments are successful. It can make a profound difference in patient outcomes if a patient feels at peace emotionally and spiritually. I am forever grateful for the time I spent at ETBU. It has completely shaped my approach to service-oriented work.”
ETBU’s School of Nursing continues to expand to accommodate the growing interest in becoming an ETBU nursing student. Two years ago, the ETBU School of Nursing moved into a fully-renovated learning and training facility housed in downtown Marshall. This year, ETBU added a second cohort, enabling groups of students to begin the program in both the fall and spring semesters. This second cohort increases the capacity of courses offered and incorporates flexibility for students as they fulfill the program requirements.
“Our move to the Marshall Grand and its versatile state-of-the-art design enables us to train our students simultaneously, thus accommodating more students and more Christian nurses entering service in the region,” Dr. Grigsby said. “As faculty, we are passionate about the success of each student. One of the things I appreciate most about being a part of ETBU is that we are empowered to give additional coaching and mentoring to every student. We teach our students to be holistic in their approach to patients, and in the same way, we see them and treat each of our nurses-in-training as a whole person and not just someone filling our seats. The students are our patients, and we approach them in the same holistic manner as a nurse should approach and care for their patient.”
To learn more about East Texas Baptist’s School of Nursing and the faculty positions available, please visit www.etbu.edu/nursing.