Texas Lutheran University is pleased to announce that Dr. Amie Bedgood has accepted a permanent position as director of nursing, bringing strong leadership skills to help the program grow and continue meeting a national demand for nurses.
Dr. Bedgood joined TLU as an instructor in the fall of 2014 and was promoted to assistant professor in fall 2021, just before assuming the role of interim director of nursing. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Tyler, and a Ph.D. in Nursing Science from Texas Women’s University. She also worked closely with the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center to complete her dissertation, “Evaluating the Effects of an Educational Intervention on Improving Teamwork using the TeamSTEPPS Curriculum.”
TLU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Sarah Ferguson said Dr. Bedgood is committed to the rigorous preparation of nurses and a strong advocate of the program. As interim director, she assisted with the launch of the Associate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in New Braunfels and the work to create a direct entry Master of Science in Nursing program.
“As the permanent director of nursing, she will bring new energy while also providing consistency,” Dr. Ferguson said. “Amie moved seamlessly into the interim position this past fall and has done an excellent job. She is a calm and thoughtful leader, ready to tackle any problem that comes her way. She's also completely committed to the strength of the nursing program, all of its faculty, and student success.”
As of this spring, the ABSN program has 83 students enrolled in three cohorts with a fourth cohort starting this summer. To date, there have been 114 graduates of the traditional BSN program which also has 83 students enrolled. With current NCLEX board pass rates at 93.8%, Dr. Bedgood says 13 out of the 14 fall 2020 graduates have passed the exam so far and the remaining graduate will take the exam this weekend.
“Our program is experiencing rapid growth which is really exciting and challenging all at the same time,” said Dr. Bedgood. “Our New Braunfels campus is open and representing TLU well with its beautiful facility at Resolute Health. The Department of Nursing's overall goal clearly aligns with TLU's tagline: Learn Boldly. Live To Inspire. The program continually strives to maintain academic excellence while educating future nurses who are committed to lifelong learning and the provision of high-quality nursing care.”