色花堂

In 1974, the first cohort of nursing students graduated from Towson State University, the only state college for nursing at the time. Since those students received their degrees 50 years ago, the Department of Nursing has seen major growth alongside the College of Health Professions and prepared more than 6,500 trusted nursing professionals to serve communities and practice in a rapidly changing health care environment.

鈥淪ince its inception, the nursing department has always been responsive to the needs of the community,鈥� says Dean Lisa Plowfield, College of Health Professions. 鈥淟ooking back, we can see how dedicated the faculty was鈥攁nd continues to be鈥攊n prioritizing student success.鈥� 

Technology

According to Mary Lashley 鈥�81, a nursing faculty member since 1986, the curriculum has always been forward-thinking and progressive, but it has notably changed since the department鈥檚 inception.

鈥淭here have been huge changes in technology since I was a student. What we do to prepare students for practice is unprecedented鈥攁nd it鈥檚 achieved through many different modalities,鈥� says Lashley.

The modalities include state-of-the-art simulation that provides experiential learning for students.

In the new Health Profession building that opened its doors in fall 2024, students can also find augmented and virtual reality; simulations with standardized patients (professional actors); virtual body labs with digitized real cadavers; opportunities to practice telehealth and technology compatible with mobile phones and apps.

Lashley recalls, 鈥淲e only had an adult baby doll named Mrs. Chase. Now the students have mannequins that can breathe, bleed, speak and give birth.鈥�

Student Wellness

Over the decades, the College of Health Professions overall and the Department of Nursing have developed support services for the students.

Our responsibility is not only to promote the health of patients we are serving but to focus on nurse well-being and resiliency.

Mary Lashley '81

鈥淥ur responsibility is not only to promote the health of patients we are serving but to focus on nurse well-being and resiliency,鈥� says Lashley. The department has a dedicated support specialist to help students find supplemental instruction and tutoring opportunities. The new building also has a rooftop respite garden that offers a space for nursing students to take time for themselves before or after difficult simulations to encourage attention to their self-care.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As curriculum advanced and continued to respond to needs in the community, the department instilled a greater focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Part of clinical experiences now require students to address the larger context of the patient, including the environment they鈥檙e coming from, the resources the person has and family background.

The student body in the nursing department has also diversified since the inception of the program. During the 1990s, 6% of Bachelor of Science in nursing degrees were conferred to men, which has increased to 12% in the 2020s. Racial and ethnic diversity has also increased. During the 1990s, 14% of degrees were conferred to students from underserved racial and ethnic backgrounds and increased to 40% of conferred degrees during the 2020s.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really seeking to help every person that comes here to be successful through individualized pathways that give each student what they need,鈥� says Lashley.

Interprofessional Learning and Curriculum

Interprofessional learning experiences have evolved over time, and new spaces in the Health Professions building have been intentionally designed to promote collaboration. While learning together, students engage with other nurses and health care providers to gain experience and understanding of what it will be like working in hospitals and serving the community upon graduation.

Current nursing students engage in nursing practical courses where they have an internship or nursing mentor where they experience the schedules nurses have. 
鈥淏y providing students with realistic experiences, we鈥檙e hoping they will have a better feel of the profession so after graduation they won鈥檛 be shocked,鈥� says Hyunjeong Park, chair of the Department of Nursing. 鈥淭his department has always been responsive to the needs of the community, so we also increased the technology in clinical care to make sure students have more knowledge and keep patient safety at the forefront.鈥�

This department has always been responsive to the needs of the community, so we also increased the technology in clinical care to make sure students have more knowledge and keep patient safety at the forefront.

Dr. Hyunjeong Park

This year, Towson nursing ranked first in Maryland on the NCLEX pass rate for the bachelor's and master鈥檚 programs. 鈥淭his excellent achievement attests to the strength of the curriculum and the dedication of both faculty and students in the department of nursing,鈥� says Plowfield.

Program Impact

Nursing graduates鈥� No. 1 destination beyond graduation is Maryland and the surrounding regions. In fact, according to 色花堂鈥檚 Career Center, 95.3% of working graduates from the Class of 2023 are employed in the DMV. Top employers are in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Washington D.C., Howard County and Washington County.

Nursing graduates鈥� No. 1 destination beyond graduation is Maryland and the surrounding regions.

Karen Keady 鈥�87, began her nursing career in Maryland where she went on to complete her master鈥檚 and doctorate at Johns Hopkins while working. Now, she鈥檚 using the foundational skills she developed at 色花堂 as the system chief nursing officer for the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In her leadership role, Keady looks for 色花堂 nursing grads. 鈥淲henever the 色花堂 grad would come, I would always be so excited,鈥� she says. Her close friend, a nurse who inspired Keady to attend 色花堂, told her 鈥淚 always like to hire Towson grads. They are the best nurses I ever hire, and if I can get a Towson grad, I鈥檒l take them over anybody else,鈥� according to Keady.

What鈥檚 Next?

The Department of Nursing will continue monitoring industry best practices and the faculty will continue helping students achieve success.

鈥淚鈥檓 not sure what our technology will be in the next 50 years, but what I do know is that our phenomenal, passionate nursing faculty will lead us forward,鈥� says Plowfield. 鈥淚 would expect the department to continue to be responsive to society鈥檚 needs, keeping student success and advancing community health as their top priorities.鈥�