Nursing Department celebrates 40th anniversary.

Nursing Department celebrates 40th anniversary.

Haley Smith, Contributor

Tarleton State University’s Nursing Department is celebrating their 40th anniversary. On Saturday, to kick off the first of several events, the department is holding a small reception for all alumni, faculty and current students at 11 a.m. in the Nursing building.

“This is a gathering for everyone to meet and talk with each other. At one point everyone who attended will be recognized and introduced to the group. The main focus of this gathering is for everyone to start networking with each other,” stated Dr. Susan M. Rugari, Associate Professor and Department Head of Tarleton’s Graduate Program.

Rugari has been a part of the Nursing program. She has many plans for the future of the nursing program.

“We just underwent a strategic planning process and we have plans to manage our growth while still providing quality education for our graduates,” said Rugari.

Tarleton offers two programs; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Both programs have traditional and alternate entry options.

“Over the 40 years, the nursing department started out as an associate degree program, and in the 90’s they then changed to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. In the spring of 2012, we then started the Master’s program and had our first Masters students. We now have the undergraduate and graduate programs on three Tarleton campuses, Stephenville, Fort Worth and Waco,” Rugari said.

The associates program, originally established in 1976, now has over 1,250 alumni.

With Tarleton’s increasing number of freshman coming in and the need for nurses after graduation, the program wants to focus their attention in growth on campuses other than the main campus in Stephenville.

“We want growth in Waco and Fort Worth. In Waco, they are licensed vocational nurses working on their BSN. In Fort Worth, there are students who are registered nurses, RNs, who are working for their BSN,” Rugari said.

“Along with the students who are working on their Master’s degree in Fort Worth. We also would like to focus on growing the Master’s program here on the Stephenville campus.”

Rugari said, “I am excited to have students who want to start their education or continue it at Tarleton.”