In the fall of 2018, Regent University will open a College of Healthcare Sciences (CHS). Plans are in development for students to pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing, healthcare administration, public health, gerontology, physical and occupational therapy, phlebotomy, radiology and other in-demand medical fields.
“Regent has already launched its R.N. to B.S. in Nursing program and will be graduating its first student in May 2018,” explains Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño. “The Master of Science in Nursing program will begin in Fall 2018, followed by Doctor of Nursing Practice and traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in Fall 2019.”
Moreno-Riaño adds that Regent already has undergraduate degrees in healthcare management and gerontology and plans to offer a master’s in healthcare administration and healthcare informatics next year. With these new programs, the university wants to empower students to make a difference in this important and expanding field of study.
“The changing demands of this nation’s complex healthcare environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practical expertise to assure quality patient outcomes,” Moreno-Riaño says. “At the same time, the increasing demand for human resources in the field of healthcare sciences is projected to grow at levels outstripping most disciplines, both in terms of academic program demand and job market opportunities.”
Regent’s goal is to train future caregivers and administrators to gain an understanding of the healthcare system and develop the skills and knowledge to be a force for good in the industry. The university will deliver instruction from a strong Christian foundation to equip students to serve others with excellence as they make important medical and ethical decisions.
“There’s a strong demand for nurses,” insists Regent Founder, Chancellor and CEO Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson. “What businesses, hospitals and doctors want are nurses who have the broader knowledge that comes about with getting an advanced degree.”
“I understand there are well over a million nurses who want training,” Robertson adds. “We have cooperative agreements with local hospitals, and a group of hospitals nationwide has expressed interest in Regent training their nurses.”
Moreno-Riaño points out that Christians have long been leaders in healthcare: “During the first few centuries A.D., early Christians believed that the sick deserved help and compassion. Christians not only cared for fellow believers, but they also assisted the sick outside of their community. Because of these experiences, Christians created the first hospitals, a singular Christian contribution to healthcare.”
The College of Healthcare Sciences recently named Dr. Patricia A. Kraft as its first-ever director of the School of Nursing. Kraft also will serve as distinguished professor of nursing, while the college works to develop additional programs to strengthen the marketplace and establish Regent University as a leading institution for healthcare education.
“The Christian tradition of helping others, encouraging human flourishing, and serving society continues to this day,” Moreno-Riaño says. “Christian leadership offers a commitment to seek the highest good for patients, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders in service to God and humanity.”
For more information about Regent’s healthcare and nursing programs, visit regent.edu/nursing or call 800.373.5504.
