TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) nursing program recently learned they had successfully earned continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). 

According to a release from EWC, the program complied with all accreditation standards and criteria reviewed during the focused visit following the implementation of the new Torrington campus location. The board also affirmed the next evaluation visit for spring 2023. 

EWC director of nursing Suzey Delger told The Telegram the nursing program started in 2016 in Douglas with overwhelming support from Memorial Hospital of Converse County. ACEN then accredited the program in 2018. In 2019, the program added a night group in Torrington. Due to the update, ACEN had to re-evaluate the program. In 2020, the updated program, with eight additional students in Torrington’s night program, successfully complied with ACEN standards and continued the accreditation.

After the evaluation, the board noted that the nursing program’s financial support from local healthcare organizations exceeded its normal expectations. They also stated collaboration to provide learning support without duplication of resources exceeded the usual expectations. 

Delger said she was thrilled with the program’s community partnerships. Currently, the program partners with Banner Health in Torrington, Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Neb. and Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas. Delger said she was very proud of their program and hopes to help critical access hospitals to fully staff their facilities in the future. 

Banner Health provided the funds necessary to purchase three high-fidelity manikins, electrocardiogram (EKG) machines, intravenous (IV) pumps, electric beds with nightstands, a gurney, a hospital grade crib and a simulated headboard with oxygen and suctioning.

Banner Health and Wheatland also allow their qualified nurses to work with EWC faculty as adjunct clinical instructors. Memorial Hospital of Converse County also supports the EWC nursing programs with additional donations.

Delger explained EWC’s nursing program is building on relationships with the University of Wyoming and University of Nebraska to help students succeed with earning associate degrees from EWC. With the partnerships, students will then be able to acquire bachelor’s degrees in a lesser amount of time. 

The college also celebrated the return of associate professor David Currie. Currie was originally employed by EWC as an adjunct faculty member in 2016. At that time, Currie worked at Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas. He left in 2017 to work at a nursing program in Anchorage, Alaska. 

After some convincing, Currie decided to return to Torrington. Currie is now a full-time instructor for the Torrington nursing program’s night school. Recently, Currie was appointed to the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) Board of Directors. 

According to a release from EWC, Currie was appointed to the Nominating Committee. Members of this committee review and recommend candidates for offices to the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee meets via conference calls and at the OADN Annual Convention. Currie will serve a two-year term.

According to OADN’s website, OADN is the national voice and a pivotal resource for community college nursing education and the associate degree pathway. It is their vision to expand networks that promote leadership, collaboration and advocacy to further enrich nursing education and the communities we serve. OADN is the only national organization dedicated to associate degree nursing. As the leading advocate, OADN promotes academic progression of graduates in furthering education to reach their maximum professional potential.

“This is an excellent opportunity to represent our (EWC) associate degree nursing colleagues and support OADN’s vision as the leader in dynamic and collaborative nursing education,” Currie said in the release. 

“Serving on the Board of Directors for OADN is exactly what we teach our nursing students to do. We encourage them to become leaders in the nursing profession. Serving on the OADN Board is also something I personally believe in. I believe in Associate programs. Community colleges serve as an integral part of educating nurses. I support our college as well as any other community college in the country. This is a wonderful appointment and I am honored to serve as a representative from Wyoming.”

Delger told The Telegram she was very pleased with Currie’s appointment and “can see great things in his future.”