WT’s Street School of Nursing Accredited for Continuing Education Hours

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Nurses in the Texas Panhandle and beyond now can earn continuing education hours through West Texas A&M University’s Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing.

WT’s Street School of Nursing in its College of Nursing and Health Sciences recently earned accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

“Not only are we passionate about educating and growing our future nursing workforce, but we are dedicated to continually supporting current nurses,” said Dr. Holly Jeffreys, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Ware University Distinguished Professor. “The ability to provide continuing education opportunities for nurses everywhere is just another way our WT nursing community is leading the way in nursing throughout the Panhandle and across our great state. It’s another proud moment as a Buff Nurse.”

WT will primarily provide up-to-date research and best practices for nurses who live and work in rural areas. Continuing education credits will be accessible to practicing registered nurses and nurse practitioners throughout the country.

“Nationwide, residents who live in rural areas have the most difficulty accessing and navigating healthcare systems, and consequently, have the worst health outcomes,” said Laura Reyher, director of the Street School of Nursing and WT’s Laura and Joe Street Professor of Nursing. “We’re committed to improving the health of those who live and work in rural areas, and who provide the food, fiber and fuel for our country and the world."

Worldwide, schools of nursing, health systems, nursing organizations and employers rely on ANCC accreditation to advance nursing practice and improve patient outcomes.

Accredited continuing education is the most effective and sustainable strategy to improve professional nursing practice. Hours will be offered in various formats, including in-person programs and conferences, live webinars, and recorded webinars available around the clock.

Registered nurses must have 20 hours of continuing education every two years. Nurse practitioners must have additional hours every two years in human trafficking, geriatric care, forensics evidence collection, jurisprudence and ethics, and advanced pharmacology.

Among the opportunities for nurses to earn credits are an Oct. 31 in-person workshop, “The Vulnerability Model: Clinical Meditation and Imagery Practices for Health Professionals” with nationally known experts Dr. Richard and Bonney Schaub from Long Island, New York. The Street School of Nursing also annually sponsors graduate research poster presentations and the Panhandle Nurse Practitioner Symposium, at which credits also are available.

Reyher will lead the provider unit that oversees continuing education activities.

Faculty members also will include Dr. Angela Phillips, the Mike Wartes Professor of Nursing and Health Sciences; Dr. Whitney Dowd, assistant professor of nursing; Teresa Smoot, instructor of nursing; Sherri Drinnon, the High Plains Christian Ministry Rural Professor of Nursing; and Ryann Thompson, instructor of nursing.

Credits are jointly administered by WT Education on Demand in its Office of Extended Studies and the Registrar’s Office.

For schools of nursing, ANCC accreditation promotes the highest professional standards, improves curricula for nurses, increases credibility, expands visibility and increases demand.

“The high standards of this accreditation align with our mission to provide intellectually challenging nursing programs that prepare the next generation of nurse leaders,” Reyher said. “Our vision is to enhance the health and quality of life for all communities through respect, education and skilled nursing practice, and our faculty can offer updated information to improve patient care and assist hospitals and clinics with educational opportunities for their staff.”

For information, call the Office for Nursing Continuing Professional Development at 806-651-2630.

WT nursing graduates, over the past five years, have averaged a 92 percent score on the National Council Licensure Examination, required by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to test the competency of nursing school graduates in the United States and Canada. Nationally, the average is 85 percent; in Texas, it’s 87 percent.

Providing a nurturing yet rigorous educational environment and addressing regional needs are key components of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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