NorthWest Arkansas Community College President Addresses Nursing Students

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

— The president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College recently met with nursing program students to discuss an anonymous complaint made last month about the techniques and behavior of their instructors.

Evelyn Jorgenson gave students a chance to share their concerns and asked them to cite specific examples they thought illustrated problems that had been outlined in the complaint.

“Dr. Jorgenson made notes, asked for details, encouraged open dialogue and then reviewed the specific concerns with the group to assure that their concerns were truly understood,” wrote Steven Hinds, director of public relations and marketing at the college, in an email. “She assured them that continuous improvement is a goal of the program and that every program can improve.”

The students’ recommendations then were shared with the program’s director, who in turn shared them with faculty members, Hinds said.

An email sent Jan. 7 to college administrators and signed only by “Concerned NWACC Nursing Class of 2014” stated two instructors have singled out students to “bully, harass and sabotage their efforts to learn.”

It stated instructors are simply reading PowerPoint presentations to students and students are not being taught. The email also alleged the nursing program failed 63 percent of the class last semester before the administration changed students’ grades to reflect only a 20 percent failure rate.

When contacted by NWA Media, the student who wrote the email said she wrote it on behalf of “just about every” student in the nursing program. There were 122 students enrolled in the program during the fall semester.

The student, who wished to remain anonymous, said Jorgenson seemed sincere in wanting to address the problems.

At A Glance

State Oversight

The Arkansas State Board of Nursing has not received any complaints within the past year about NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s nursing program, according to Sue Tedford, board director.

All Arkansas nursing programs leading to licensure must be approved by the Board of Nursing in order for their graduates to be eligible for licensure as a nurse. Once a program has obtained full approval, it is reviewed every five years; however, if issues arise in between visits, the Board of Nursing may review the program at that time, Tedford said.

Source: Staff Report

“She seemed to be very concerned with making sure we were heard, but she didn’t give us anything to think it would be any different,” the student said Monday.

Morale among students is worse than it’s ever been, she said.

“We’re just wanting to get through it and put this behind us,” she said.

No disciplinary action of faculty or staff members was taken in response to the complaint. There was no evidence disciplinary action was needed, Hinds said.

Hinds reiterated the student concerns were shared with the program director and faculty members when asked whether the complaint has prompted any kinds of changes within the program.

“The faculty remain committed to continuous change and continuous quality improvement,” Hinds wrote. “Continuous change results from many forms of input such as changes in the (National Council Licensure Examination), feedback from students, changes in state and federal guidelines, and feedback from clinical sites, to name a few. All feedback is valued.”

There are various methods students may choose to file grievances. No formal grievances or grade appeals have been filed in the program since the fall semester began in August, Hinds said. The spring semester began Jan. 13.

College officials say their nursing program is well respected by area hospitals.

“Hospital administrators who hire our nursing graduates continually offer positive feedback about how well prepared those individuals are,” Jorgenson said last month.