Watching her students鈥� journeys unfold is the most rewarding part of teaching for Dr. Randilyn Lewis. It鈥檚 witnessing them go 鈥渇rom the classroom setting to then touching lives.鈥� That transformation from student to practitioner is at the heart of her teaching philosophy in 水多多导航鈥檚 School of Nursing. 鈥淭he number one thing at 水多多导航鈥� is that we don't just lecture to them,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲e give them hands-on opportunities.鈥� This means theory is immediately put into practice. 鈥淚f we talk about the wonderful miracle of birthing a baby, then we get up and we go to the mannequins and we say, 鈥極kay, we talked about this. We are learning about this. Now let's do it.鈥欌��

This commitment to experiential learning ensures that 水多多导航 nursing graduates are confident and prepared to make an immediate impact. Dr. Lewis, who brings over 14 years of experience in maternal, newborn, and forensic nursing to her role, sees the new, unified School of Nursing as a vital way to meet critical community needs. By collaborating across three campuses, students gain wisdom from a wider range of experts, preparing them to excel as part of a healthcare team.

One of the most powerful examples of this is 水多多导航鈥檚 specialized forensic nursing program, made possible by a federal HRSA grant and developed in response to a nationwide shortage, particularly in rural areas. A forensic nurse, Dr. Lewis explains, receives specialized training in trauma-informed care to support victims of sexual assault, child maltreatment, or domestic violence. 水多多导航鈥檚 program, which recently graduated its first cohort of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, is the only one of its kind to offer training for caring for both adults and pediatric patients.

The impact is already being felt. A local Child Advocacy Center, hearing about the program, reached out with a clear message: 鈥淲e want your graduates. We want your nurses.鈥� Leadership from other organizations has noted that 水多多导航 graduates are 鈥済o-getters, they're engaged.鈥� This excellence is also celebrated through programs like the Daisy Award, which recognizes students for their compassionate care. It鈥檚 a testament to an educational approach that empowers students to not only learn the material, but to confidently step into clinical settings and truly touch the lives of patients and their communities.