Spartan Nursing Grads Ready to Impact Healthcare Outcomes
June 5, 2012
The College of Nursing at Michigan State University is proud to announce that 126 degrees were conferred for the spring 2012 graduating class.
The first cohort of Clinical Nurse Specialist Education (CNS ED) students received the Master of Science in Nursing degree among 2,166 advanced-degree candidates from MSU.
The Clinical Nurse Specialist Education concentration is delivered completely online and prepares nurse leaders to design and implement strategies that improve patient and organizational outcomes.
"MSU is proud of all of our nursing graduates and their dedication to the science and practice of nursing,” said Dean Mary Mundt. "This year we have graduated our highest number of PhD prepared nursing researchers and our first cohort in the new Clinical Nurse Specialist Education curriculum.”
The College honored the first CNS ED cohort for their accomplishments at a special luncheon on Friday, May 4, prior to a College graduation reception for all nursing graduates and MSU’s advanced degree ceremony. Students at the luncheon celebration included:
- Amy Brant, MSN CNS ED Class of 2012
- Michele Fernandez, MSN CNS ED Class of 2012 and recipient of the Master's program CNS ED Outstanding Student Award
- Linda Hansen, Post Masters CNS ED Class of 2012
- Cheryl Houseman, MSN CNS ED Class of 2012
- Julianne Jeremiah, MSN CNS ED Class of 2012
- Jennifer Thompson-Wood, MSN CNS ED Class of 2012
“I vividly remember the interview I had with Dr. Kathy Poindexter,” said Michele Fernandez, MSN CNS ED class of 2012 graduate. “She stated that some of the greatest relationships she has made are with her online students. I thought - how could student’s miles apart have such close connections? I now fully understand that statement as we witnessed each other’s professional growth and have learned the full meaning and role of the CNS.”
Upon graduation CNS ED students are eligible to sit for the ANCC certification as Adult CNS and the National League of Nursing (NLN) Education Certification.
“The College of Nursing prepares well educated nurses to provide outstanding care to patients and to assume leadership roles in the healthcare system. We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing report,” said Mundt. “Our aim is to increase the level of education in the nursing workforce and to create accessible pathways for nurses returning for further education.”
As a university with a rich history of excellence, we take pride in the academic accomplishments of the graduates who have now joined the ranks of more than 5,600 nursing alumni.
