SXU Expands Nursing And Health Science Programs

CHICAGO, IL -- Saint Xavier University’s School of Nursing is expanding by combining its nationally recognized programs in nursing and speech-language pathology with other new, interprofessional major programs, including exercise science, sports and fitness administration, and gerontology. The new School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SONHS) was officially launched on July 1. Health and science offerings will be available for the fall 2018 semester. The further development of SONHS opens a myriad of opportunities for SXU students.

By bringing together the programs of communication sciences and disorders department and nursing under one organizational structure, SONHS will work more efficiently and effectively to provide excellent education in the classroom and clinical arenas.

“The nurse and the speech-language pathologist must work closely together in many health care situations, said Peg Gallagher, Ed.D., RN, CNE., the School of Nursing and Health Sciences Interim Dean. “For example, a patient who has had a stroke with difficulty swallowing or speaking will benefit from the services of a speech therapist as well as the care of a nurse. We work together to support the best patient outcomes.”

On-campus facilities are also undergoing changes to better serve students and the community. The SXU Health Center is moving from a modular unit in Parking Lot 4 to the Driehaus Center at 3925 W. 103rd Street. Additionally, the simulation lab, now a shared lab for all SONHS programs, is in the process of moving to a larger facility in the Warde Academic Center. These resources, in addition to the Ludden Speech and Language Clinic, will help to ensure that SONHS students have the clinical experiences that are needed for professional practice.

“The expansion of the school directly impacts our students by providing them with additional opportunities to learn about new areas of healthcare,” Gallagher said in a news release. “For example, nursing has several study abroad experiences that can support the learning needs of students in other health care majors. Also, students are encouraged to take an elective from another discipline, which allows the students to learn the impact of these other disciplines on their chosen health career.”

Because quality health care requires teamwork and collaboration, it is important to provide SXU students with opportunities to learn about, and work with, students from other health care disciplines. Courses that focus on health care policy and ethics will allow students of all SONHS majors to work together, discover new perspectives and be better-prepared to contribute to the health care team.

To learn more about SXU’s graduate programs, attend the Graduate Programs Open House this fall. For more information visit SXU School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

~ Photo provided by SXU