Historical First: Inaugural baccalaureate students graduate from Collin College

Medical City Lewisville certified operating room nurse Joe Chua, a Collin College bachelors degree graduate and father of a 17-month-old daughter, said he did not get as much sleep as he would have liked this fall, but it was all worth it to be one of the programs first graduates.

As an OR nurse, the majority of the people I interact with have doctorate degrees, said Chua, who earned an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from Collin College in 2018 and served as president of his BSN and ADN classes. I wanted to leverage my skills as a leader and advance my education. The colleges program is one of the few RN-to-BSN programs that has extensive community and leadership components to it. We have professors who are well-versed as nurses in research, education, or leadership tracks that provide us the insight and guidance to discover the world of health care in which we exist and the communities we serve.

Chua was one of 17 students to graduate with a Collin College Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in December 2020.

This is a record moment in the history of Collin College, said Dr. Neil Matkin, Collin College district president. We could not be prouder of these students who are the first to earn Collin College bachelors degrees and who also serve on the front lines of health care.

According to Gary Huey, learning institute manager for Medical City Healthcare, evidencebased journals document improved outcomes for patients who are cared for by BSN RNs, and many hospitals in todays marketplace are Magnet facilities, considered the gold standard for nursing practices, which require BSN degrees.

Collin College offers the BSN degree with the most competitive per credit hour cost in the region, Huey said. This accredited program provides the opportunity to achieve the degree full time or part time, which permits RNs to schedule classes based on their personal needs.

Dr. Betty Veasy, director of the RN-to-BSN program, adds that students with ADNs can complete the BSN degree in one year by attending classes two days a week.

The BSN aligns with Collin Colleges strategic plan to create comprehensive integrated pathways to support student transitions, Veasy said. The colleges BSN program also supports career pathways available in the nursing profession.

According to BSN graduate Camille Carryl, this is a great program for nursing students who are contemplating going into management.

You get a well-rounded education, said Carryl, a night-shift nurse for Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health. In this program you can ask questions and learn from professors and peers with years of experience. Having someone there to guide you is irreplaceable. You dont get that online. The BSN program is affordable with exceptional training, just like Collin Colleges ADN program.

For more about the BSN degree, visit www.collin.edu/nursing/bsn.