First Cohort Graduates from Post-Baccalaureate Nursing Program

Bethel’s post-baccalaureate nursing program, which was launched in 2020, held a pinning ceremony on Friday, August 6, 2021 for its first graduating cohort. This 15-month, accelerated program is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in any field, and while these 18 graduates come from a variety of backgrounds, they are now equipped to make a career change to nursing.

Pinning ceremonies have been around for many years and were created to welcome new graduates into the nursing profession. This is exceptionally fitting, as their graduation from the program marks a significant career transition. The pins, which were awarded by nursing faculty, have an emblem with an open Bible and a flame to represent combining faith with the practice of nursing. The flame represents the Holy Spirit, and the open Bible represents the scholarly nature of nursing education.

“We are so proud of our post-baccalaureate nursing graduates. Pinning is our opportunity to really celebrate each of them and their calling to the nursing profession,” Program Director Kristi Gustafson says. “We have seen their heart and passion for helping others and can't wait to see how they will continue to have a positive impact as nurses.”

The post-baccalaureate nursing program involves a combination of clinicals, intensives, and online coursework. At the end of the 15 months, students are eligible to take the NCLEX licensure exam, and upon passing, they’ll become a registered nurse.

Reiley Klose CAPS’21 enrolled in the program to do exactly that. She studied biology for her bachelor’s degree and had initially wanted to be a doctor, but after going on a mission trip to Ghana, she decided she wanted to become a nurse. She was originally looking at Bethel’s nurse midwifery program, but then learned that Bethel had an accelerated nursing program, so she decided to enroll. She particularly appreciated the faith aspect of her classes. “This program has impacted me and my faith life. Our Lord is with us in more ways than just going to church on Sundays,” Klose says. “It’s sort of taboo to talk about religion in healthcare, but this program has done a really good job helping us learn how to intertwine faith into the practice of nursing.”

Melissa Sandahl CAPS’21 majored in math and statistics. While she was going through college, she had a job working with adults with mental disabilities as a paraprofessional and personal care attendant. She enjoyed caring for others, and that is what sparked her interest in nursing. She was looking for a way to get to her goal of becoming a nurse as quickly as possible, but still be able to go into the workforce with the knowledge she needed to be successful. That is when she found Bethel’s post-baccalaureate nursing program. The flexibility of the program and the community appealed to her. “I like being able to study with a group of likeminded people,” Sandahl says. “As you’re learning with all these people, you feel grounded in the program and with your classmates.”

The post-baccalaureate nursing program welcomed a new cohort of students in June, and Gustafson says she’s hopeful that the program will continue to grow.

Considering a career change?

Now more than ever, our world needs compassionate and knowledgeable healthcare providers. Bethel’s post-baccalaureate nursing program offers you the unique opportunity to meet that need, live out your calling, and step into a new career—regardless of what field you earned your bachelor’s degree.

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